City of Darkness and Light(13)

“I suppose so,” I said reluctantly.

He got to his feet. “Then it’s settled. We’ll send a cable to your friends. First thing tomorrow morning we’ll try and book passage on the next boat that’s sailing for France. In the meantime I’ll find a place for you to stay.”

“And I’ll need to find some clothes and toiletries for Liam and me. We have nothing, but exactly how I’m supposed to pay for it…” I broke off, tears welling up again at the hopelessness of our situation.

“We can certainly dip into our small savings,” Daniel said. “But I’m pretty sure I can make the commissioner take care of us, given that this whole fiasco with the Cosa Nostra was his idea when everyone in the police force warned him against proceeding with it. Now, let me get a few minutes of sleep and I’m sure we’ll sort everything out in the morning.”

He took off his uniform and I gasped. His undershirt was scorched and torn beneath his jacket and his body liberally decorated with cuts, bruises, and burns. A lump came into my throat.

“Daniel, you poor thing. No wonder you’re hurting so much. And I’ve no salve to put on your wounds.”

“I’ll survive, I expect,” he said, flopping down on the bed next to Liam. “A little sleep will be a great restorative.”

“At least let me clean you up a little.” I took the washcloth from the washingstand, dipped it in water, and began to sponge grime from his various wounds. He winced and grunted as I inadvertently touched a burn or a bad cut. “You must go to a doctor with these. They could turn septic.”

“I’ve had worse.” Daniel grinned.

“Would you like Ryan’s pajamas to sleep in? They’re wonderfully soft.”

Daniel snorted. “It would take more of an accident than this before I slept in emerald green silk pajamas, especially belonging to a creature like Ryan O’Hare,” he said.

“He can’t help what he is, Daniel,” I replied gently. “And he is wonderfully kind. I’d never have made it through the night without him.”

“All right, enough said. I’ll give him his due,” Daniel muttered. “Now for God’s sake, woman, just let me sleep.” He pulled up the covers, snuggling down next to a still-sleeping Liam.

“Would you like anything to eat or drink first?” I asked, but he was already asleep.

“Well, Miss Vanessa, it seems that you were wrong,” I said as I slid back into my side of the bed without waking my sleeping men. “It looks as if Molly Murphy is going to Paris after all.”





Five



Daniel departed again at first light. By the time he returned I had had some breakfast and fed Liam who was playing quite happily crawling around a strange room, hauling himself upright to peer out through the window at carriages passing below.

Daniel looked quite pleased with himself when he announced that a place had been found for me. One of his lieutenants had a sister who had married well and now lived comfortably in a brownstone in the East Fifties. She had a small child of her own and would be happy to take me in until passage could be arranged for me.

“I’ve inquired at a shipping agency,” Daniel said “and there is a Cunard ship sailing in a couple of days, bound for Cherbourg by way of Southampton. I’ve asked them to see if there are any cabins available.”

“No, not an English line,” I said so vehemently that he recoiled in surprise.

“What do you have against them? Was it a Cunard ship on which you sailed to America in uncomfortable circumstances? You’ll not be traveling steerage I promise you.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s an English ship, Daniel. You must realize that my brothers were both known terrorists in the eyes of the English, although we Irish would call them fighters for freedom.”

I realized as I spoke that I had probably never told him the full details of my time in Dublin. Our relationship wasn’t on the firmest of ground at that point and Daniel had just been released from prison. I didn’t want to tell him too much, even now, knowing that he might well agree with the English authorities.

“Come, Molly. Nobody is going to blame you for the reckless acts of your brothers,” he said gently, but I shook my head. “You don’t know it all, Daniel. I was involved in that failed prison break attempt that cost my brother Joseph his life. I had to flee from Ireland. I’m probably still a wanted person in the eyes of the English. I can’t risk being on an English ship and one that would call at Southampton. You’re worried for my life here. I’d be equally worried on that boat.”