A tear leaked out, and she sighed. “I want him back. I want this misunderstanding to end.” She paused to study her brother. “Is this how you felt, when you were separated from Aileen?”
He smiled, nodding. “Aye. Although I had the added problem of knowing I would hurt my own brother and ruin his happiness.” His gaze clouded at the memory. “No matter how delighted I was to marry Aileen, I always regretted that I hurt Declan.”
Maggie leaned forward, resting against him for a moment. “He forgave you. I can’t imagine him any happier than he is now with his Lorena.”
“No,” Kevin murmured. “Things might not be as you wish them now, Mags, but have faith they’ll turn out as you want them to. You never know. Your future with Dunmore might be even better than you ever dreamed possible.”
She sighed with pleasure. “What a wonderful thought.” After a moment, she nodded in the direction of the Bordello. “I should see Madam Nora. ’Tisn’t like her to ask for me.”
“Come,” Kevin said, with a wink. “I’ll keep an eye on you and see how Aileen is. I wouldn’t mind flirting with my wife during the day.”
Maggie giggled. “Only you wouldn’t be upset that your wife works there.”
He gave her a mock growl. “Only as a seamstress. Must have the Sirens looking their best.”
She smiled. “Aye, and I know Aileen loves to sew. She’ll be too busy to make beautiful clothes once you have your own babes.” She stilled when Kevin froze. “Kevin?” She paled at the torment in his gaze.
“We’ve been married three years, Mags,” he whispered. “And we have no children.” He clamped his jaw tight. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t speak of such things with you, my unmarried sister.”
She belted him on his arm, before stroking a gentle hand down that same arm. “Why have you never said anything before now?” Peering up at him, she saw the anguish in his gaze.
He ducked his head and closed his eyes a moment. “To speak of something makes it real, aye?” He flushed and shook his head. “I hate that I’ve failed my wife. That the one thing she wants—a child—she’ll never have.”
“You don’t know that, Kevin,” Maggie said in a soft voice. “Sometimes it just takes time.”
His gaze was filled with envy, when he stared at her. “Eamon has a baby girl. Niamh has two with another on the way. Declan has his son.” He let out a deep breath. “Ardan told me yesterday he and Deirdre were expecting their first, to be born around Christmas.” At the burst of joy in her gaze, he swallowed and let out a shaky breath. “I can’t even find joy for my own brothers and sister.”
Maggie gripped his arm and squeezed it so hard that he grimaced. “You can, Kevin. I know you, and you’re generous and kind.”
He stared at her in desolation. “Why can’t we have a child, Mags?”
His raspy voice tore at her heart. She shook her head and pulled him close, holding him for a long moment. “I don’t know,” she whispered, when his fierce hold on her finally relented. “I wish I had a magic potion, but I don’t.” She backed away. “Am I goin’ to the Bordello for the Madam or for Aileen?”
He flushed. “Aileen. She’s distraught, but she doesn’t want anyone in the family to know, and, when you call at our house, Mum always comes with you. She needs time just with you, and Madam Nora understands.”
“Come then. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.” Maggie leaned into his side, and she walked to the Bordello, with his arm over her shoulder.
* * *
Maggie sat in sullen silence near her mother, as A.J. and her father spoke in soft voices. Although she was used to A.J. being exuberant and teasing everyone present, tonight he was more subdued. Even though she was worried about Aileen and wished she could think of some way to aid her sister-in-law, Maggie knew there was nothing she could do. Instead she turned her attention to the gentle murmuring of the voices of her father and A.J., intent on listening to their conversation, as it appeared they had little desire to be overheard.
“You had no success then?” Seamus asked, his blue eyes staring intently at A.J.
“Little. I even had my Bessie investigate, and few can dig into an issue like a librarian. But she discovered nothin’ too.” A.J. sighed and leaned closer to Seamus, although the captain still spoke in a voice loud enough for Maggie to hear. “If that man is a lawyer, it sure ain’t from a place that’s reputable, and no well-known lawyer takes credit for trainin’ him.”
Seamus sighed. “But there’s no proof the man isn’t a lawyer.” Seamus raised a brow. At A.J.’s shake of his head, he muttered a curse. “I’d hoped to be rid of the man by now.”
“What more can he do to you, Seamus?” A.J. asked. “Your boys married the two decent sisters.”
Shaking his head, Seamus sighed. “I have an uneasy feelin’ is all, A.J.” He looked up, his gaze meeting Maggie’s. “You’ve heard too much, haven’t you?”
Maggie blushed but held her head high, as she nodded. “I’ve had enough of your secrets, Da.”
Flushing, Seamus fisted his hand on top of the table, as he stared at his youngest daughter, his gaze filled with regret. “It’s never been a secret that I’m looking into Chaffee,” he said. “I’d hoped you’d have some faith in me.” He paused, seeming to falter ever-so-subtly, as Maggie stared at him in defiant disapproval.
“When Dunmore returns,” she said.
A.J. let out a long sigh at the tense silence that filled the air around him. “You make it sound like a mythical time. When he returns. When he returns,” he parroted, with a shake of his
