Page 30 of Irish Rebel
She walked away, as easily, as casually, Brian thought numbly, as she might have if they’d just finished discussing the proper treatment for windgalls. She left him reeling.
He’d gone and fallen in love with the gentry, and the gentry was his boss’s daughter. And his boss’s daughter was innocent.
He’d have to be mad to lay a hand on her after this.
He began to wish Betty had just kicked him in the head and gotten it all over with.
Served her right, Keeley decided. Spend the morning indulging herself, spend half the night doing the books. And she hated doing the books.
Sighing, she tipped back in her chair and rubbed her eyes. In another year, maybe two, the school would generate enough income to justify hiring a bookkeeper. But for now, she just couldn’t toss the money away for something she could do herself. Not when she could use it to subsidize another student, or buy one of them a pair of riding boots.
It was tempting, particularly at times like these, to dip into her own bank account. But it was a matter of pride to keep the school going on its own merit, as much as she possibly could.
Ledgers and forms and bills and accounts, she thought, were her responsibility. You didn’t have to like your responsibilities, you just had to deal with them.
She had two full-tuition students on her waiting list. One more, she calculated—two would be better—but one more and she could justify opening another class. Sunday afternoons.
That would give her eighteen full tuitions. Two years before, she’d had only three. It was working. And so, now, should she.
She swiveled back to the computer and focused on her spreadsheet program. Her eyes were starting to blur again when the door behind her opened.
She caught the scent of hot tea before she turned and saw her mother.
“Ma, what are you doing out here? It’s midnight.”
“Well, I was up, and I saw your light. I thought to myself, that girl needs some fuel if she’s going to run half the night.” Adelia set a thermos and a bag on the desk. “Tea and cookies.”
“I love you.”
“So you’d better. Darling, your eyes are half shut. Why don’t you turn this off and come to bed?”
“I’m nearly done, but I can use the break—and the fuel.” She ate a cookie before she poured the tea. “I’m only behind because I played this morning.”
“From what your father tells me you weren’t playing.” Adelia took a chair, nudged it closer to the desk. “He’s awfully pleased with how Brian’s bringing Betty along. Well, he’s pleased with Brian altogether, and so am I from what I’ve seen. But Betty’s quite the challenge.”
“Hmm.” So was Brian, Keeley thought. “He has his own way of doing things, but it seems to work.” Considering, she drummed her fingers on the desk. She’d always been able to discuss anything with her mother. Why should that change now?
“I’m attracted to him.”
“I’d worry about you if you weren’t. He’s a fine-looking young man.”
“Ma.” Keeley laid a hand over her mother’s. “I’m very attracted to him.”
The amusement faded from Adelia’s eyes. “Oh. Well.”
“And he’s very attracted to me.”
“I see.”
“I don’t want to mention this to Dad. Men don’t look at this sort of thing the way we do.”
“Darling.” At a loss, Adelia sighed out a breath. “Mothers aren’t likely to look at this sort of thing the same way their daughters do. You’re grown-up, and you’re a woman who answers to herself first. But you’re still my little girl, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t been with a man before.”
“I know it.” Adelia’s smile was soft, almost wistful. “Do you think I wouldn’t know if that had changed for you? You think too much of yourself to give what you are to something unless it matters. No one’s mattered before.”
Here the ground was boggy, Keeley thought. “I don’t know if Brian matters in the way you mean. But I feel different with him. I want him. I haven’t wanted anyone before. It’s exciting, and a little scary.”
