Page 8 of Choices of the Heart

“I take it she is not unknown to you.”

“Hardly. She is my mother.”

Patrick whistled low. “Your own mother, is she? I’d not’ve thought her the sort to make such a journey based on what I’ve heard you tell of her.”

“She isnotthe sort,” Joseph said. “Not at all. And by herself even.”

“She wasn’t entirely by herself,” Burke said. “There is a Miss Kingston with her.”

Looking even more shocked, he sputtered, “Sophie?” Shoulders dropping and sighing seemingly without meaning to, he said, “Didshearrive in one piece?”

It seemed that was not the expected situation. “She did. And quite distraught over your mother’s health.”

“Asyoudo not seem distraught, I have not continued to be,” Joseph said. “Have I interpreted the situation correctly?”

Burke nodded. “I suspect she ate something that did not agree with her, then did not allow herself to rest and recover from the strain of that, coupled with the exertion needed to make such a long journey.”

Joseph shook his head and paced away. “I cannot believe she undertook this without so much as a word to me.”

“She sounds a bit headstrong, your ma,” Patrick said. “Are you fully certain your people aren’t Irish?”

“Katie has asked me that very question more than once.” His pacing took him past Burke’s chair once more. “My mother will be well, though?”

“I haven’t any doubt on that score. Once she is changed into her night clothes and comfortably situated, you can see her and reassure yourself.”

They weren’t made to wait long. Miss Kingston arrived in the sitting room, hair still mussed and fine clothing a bit rumpled. Burke suspected she didn’t usually look so catawampus.

Joseph spotted her before she seemed to notice him. “Sophie.”

She smiled broadly. “Hello, Joseph.”

“What in heaven’s name are the two of you doing here?”

“Your mother missed you,” was the answer. “Not knowing when she might have the chance to see you again, she decided to make the journey herself.”

“And you didn’t talk her out of it?”

Miss Kingston tossed her hands in the air. “Why is it everyone is so convinced today that I could talk her out of something she’s set her mind to? You’ve known her all your life, Joseph. How successful do you suspect I would have been?”

A hint of repentance touched his expression. “She is a difficult ship to turn, isn’t she?”

“Sometimes impossible.”

“Please forgive my graceless welcome,” Joseph said. “I am still in shock and a bit worried. Allow me time to wrap my mind around this, and I suspect I will be far more logical about it all.”

She, too, seemed to soften. “She does seem better. And I’ll do anything I can to help her.”

“I’m going to go look in on her,” Joseph said, making his way to the doorway. “In the meantime, listen to Dr. Jones and do whatever he recommends.”

She tipped her head a bit to one side. Her eyes narrowed. “You trust him that much?”

Joseph paused long enough to answer, “Implicitly,” before rushing up the stairs.

He trusted himimplicitly. It was a reassurance Burke needed more than he’d realized. Alexander’s letter had tossed him into deep waters of doubt. He was struggling not to drown.

“Joseph will see to all his mother’s expenses and all of yours,” Eliza told Sophie. “You really don’t need to work off any debt.”

“He made certain I knew that. I’m offering to help because I am miserable when I’m idle. The Archers are visiting with Mrs. Archer, and I’m not needed there. Please put me to work. I’d be indebtedto you.”

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