thumbs-up, but he could imagine what they said out of earshot. “College boy. Thinks he’s better than the rest.”
Why had Owen agreed to show up at that charity event in the first place? The O’Tooles meant well, but surely it hadn’t been their idea. The concept of an award had to have been thrust upon them by socialites looking for a reason for a party.
And to make matters worse, the police chief himself had threatened him. Subtle, yes, but still a threat. He decided he would not tell Captain Nicholson, not just yet. He didn’t want to be taken off this chase.
10
AT BREAKFAST FRIDAY, Annie showed Grace a page from the newspaper. “Owen McNulty, from our very own church. See his picture?”
Grace read the caption. It seemed he had been given some kind of an award at a fancy charity ball. “Officer McNulty? How could someone from down here end up in high society and be the honored guest at a place like that?” She knew America was different from Ireland, but still.
Annie pointed at the newspaper. “He did belong there. He’s from a wealthy family.”
The Hawk chewed the crust on her slice of bread and looked at both girls in turn. “Sometimes folks—even those who have a great deal of money—choose a simpler lifestyle. Sometimes God calls them to go somewhere, to do something that they didn’t expect. You girls still have a lot to learn, it would seem.” She rose and excused herself.
Grace exchanged glances with Annie. “What got into the Hawk?”
Annie tilted her head back and laughed. “I love that. The Hawk!”
“Seriously, Annie.”
The girl rose and gathered the dishes. “I expect she is simplyserious about aiding girls like us. That’s all.” She paused. “This Owen McNulty. He’s quite a catch, isn’t he?”
“He’s a policeman.”
“So?” She tossed her head. “Policemen don’t marry?”
Grace drew in a breath. “He’s nice, but I’m not interested. The police are not trustworthy, believe me.”
“Some, maybe. But not him.” She pointed to the newspaper again. “Look. He was honored by the police. So he must be an honorable man. Who could want more?”
Grace gave up. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about what the peelers had done to her. And her mother. There was no way Annie would ever understand. Besides, unless there were men like Reverend Clarke who were of marriageable age, she would stay single. And that would be fine with her.
After yesterday’s adjustment, the children seemed willing to accept Grace as nanny, but that did not mean they were always cooperative.
Grace struggled to braid Hazel’s hair while Holly complained loudly about having to wear woolen stockings. “Hold still, Hazel. No, Holly. ’Tis winter, so. Just put them on like a good lass.”
Linden bounced a ball on the playroom floor. “I wanna go to school.”
Even though both his sisters had been going to school for the last few months, Linden seemed especially disturbed about it now. Perhaps it was for Grace’s benefit. Maybe the pending arrival of the new babe was making him sour. Or he didn’t like having a nanny. Grace wasn’t sure. “You’re not old enough yet,” Grace told him.
“Yeah, but I get to go.” Holly glared at him, hands on hips. This was not helping.
“Not fair!” Linden was about to lose control. Grace had already begun to recognize the signs.
She took his hand. “Your time will come, laddie.”
Linden, however, still seemed terribly aggrieved by it all. “Father says I have to be a man.”
Holly twirled in her new school dress. “You can’t go, Lindy. You’re just a baby.”
Linden marched over and delivered a blow to Holly’s cheek before Grace could untangle her fingers from Hazel’s hair.
“Oww,” Holly wailed.
“Miss Gracie! You hurt me!” Hazel screamed, holding the side of her head.
Linden growled like an old dog.
The ruckus was enough to wake hibernating animals. It was all Grace could do to regain order before parading
Why had Owen agreed to show up at that charity event in the first place? The O’Tooles meant well, but surely it hadn’t been their idea. The concept of an award had to have been thrust upon them by socialites looking for a reason for a party.
And to make matters worse, the police chief himself had threatened him. Subtle, yes, but still a threat. He decided he would not tell Captain Nicholson, not just yet. He didn’t want to be taken off this chase.
10
AT BREAKFAST FRIDAY, Annie showed Grace a page from the newspaper. “Owen McNulty, from our very own church. See his picture?”
Grace read the caption. It seemed he had been given some kind of an award at a fancy charity ball. “Officer McNulty? How could someone from down here end up in high society and be the honored guest at a place like that?” She knew America was different from Ireland, but still.
Annie pointed at the newspaper. “He did belong there. He’s from a wealthy family.”
The Hawk chewed the crust on her slice of bread and looked at both girls in turn. “Sometimes folks—even those who have a great deal of money—choose a simpler lifestyle. Sometimes God calls them to go somewhere, to do something that they didn’t expect. You girls still have a lot to learn, it would seem.” She rose and excused herself.
Grace exchanged glances with Annie. “What got into the Hawk?”
Annie tilted her head back and laughed. “I love that. The Hawk!”
“Seriously, Annie.”
The girl rose and gathered the dishes. “I expect she is simplyserious about aiding girls like us. That’s all.” She paused. “This Owen McNulty. He’s quite a catch, isn’t he?”
“He’s a policeman.”
“So?” She tossed her head. “Policemen don’t marry?”
Grace drew in a breath. “He’s nice, but I’m not interested. The police are not trustworthy, believe me.”
“Some, maybe. But not him.” She pointed to the newspaper again. “Look. He was honored by the police. So he must be an honorable man. Who could want more?”
Grace gave up. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about what the peelers had done to her. And her mother. There was no way Annie would ever understand. Besides, unless there were men like Reverend Clarke who were of marriageable age, she would stay single. And that would be fine with her.
After yesterday’s adjustment, the children seemed willing to accept Grace as nanny, but that did not mean they were always cooperative.
Grace struggled to braid Hazel’s hair while Holly complained loudly about having to wear woolen stockings. “Hold still, Hazel. No, Holly. ’Tis winter, so. Just put them on like a good lass.”
Linden bounced a ball on the playroom floor. “I wanna go to school.”
Even though both his sisters had been going to school for the last few months, Linden seemed especially disturbed about it now. Perhaps it was for Grace’s benefit. Maybe the pending arrival of the new babe was making him sour. Or he didn’t like having a nanny. Grace wasn’t sure. “You’re not old enough yet,” Grace told him.
“Yeah, but I get to go.” Holly glared at him, hands on hips. This was not helping.
“Not fair!” Linden was about to lose control. Grace had already begun to recognize the signs.
She took his hand. “Your time will come, laddie.”
Linden, however, still seemed terribly aggrieved by it all. “Father says I have to be a man.”
Holly twirled in her new school dress. “You can’t go, Lindy. You’re just a baby.”
Linden marched over and delivered a blow to Holly’s cheek before Grace could untangle her fingers from Hazel’s hair.
“Oww,” Holly wailed.
“Miss Gracie! You hurt me!” Hazel screamed, holding the side of her head.
Linden growled like an old dog.
The ruckus was enough to wake hibernating animals. It was all Grace could do to regain order before parading
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