1863 Saratoga Summer Read online

  Happy to have the boy in her arms, Sinead grinned at him. “Aye, Rob. I did say that, didn’t I? But sometimes, circumstances prevent folks from doing what they planned.”

  “What’s a circumstances?” he asked, with a face screwed up with confusion.

  Connor laughed aloud. He turned to the young woman on the landing. Egan was staring at her, his face appreciative of her loveliness. “Is there anyone else in the house, Isabel?”

  With her gaze locked on Egan, she shook her head back and forth. Her hair pulled from his knot in the back. She tucked it behind her ears. “They left us here. The Dewitts went to their summer home in Albany when they got word of the troubles. No sooner than they departed, the servants ran off and joined the people roaming the streets.” Her voice trembled with fear and reaction to what happened.

  “You were a strong, brave lass to stay here by yourself,” Egan softly murmured, taking her hand and leading her down the stairs. “And it seems you took good care of the wee laddie, here.”

  Connor smiled and glanced at Sinead. “That you did, lass. Sinead and I are most grateful to you.”

  “What’s grateful, Mama?” Robbie asked, clapping his hands in excitement at all the attention.

  Connor laughed and swung the young boy up into his arms. “Now, here’s a laddie I can take to…”

  Isabel bobbed a small curtsy then, with a disapproving look, spoke directly to Connor. “You called Jane, Sinead. The Dewitts don’t allow that in their presence.”

  “That’s her name and we’ll be calling her that from now on, I’m thinking.” Connor smiled back at Isabel, whose face lit up with a big grin to match the one on Connor’s face.

  Robbie reached up to take Connor’s chin in both hands. He edged it around to face him. “You’re dirty, you know. Mama Jane will clean you up. She doesn’t like dirt.”

  Sinead sighed and said, “Och, Robbie, you’re the delight of my life.”

  Connor and Egan bellowed with a repressed gaiety. Everyone was safe, for the moment.

  ~*~

  The excitement of their return to the mansion was over. Although exhausted, everyone had eaten his fill from the scraps left in the iceboxes. Once the food was consumed, Connor, Egan and Bowes were exiled to the upper regions of the house by Robbie to see his room and toys.

  Sinead and Isabel stayed downstairs to clean the kitchen. “We’d better clean up just in case the mistress of the house returns.” Isabel exclaimed, rushing to put things in their proper places.

  “Well, I’m a bit miffed,” Sinead countered, banging pots as she dried them. “Actually, I’m more than that. I’m downright angry.” She slammed a metal dish on the counter. “To think the DeWitts went off and left the lad, not caring what might happen to him.”

  Isabel nodded in agreement. “Why, no sooner than they got word about the rioting in the streets, they packed their belongings and half the household goods. At least, those with any value,” Isabel snarled, scrubbing one of the already cleaned pots.

  Sinead briefly stood stock-still then leaned on the counter. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  Isabel’s face reddened. She sneered then scowled up at Sinead. “They were frantic to leave. They left some of the silver and all of the paintings behind. Took three carriages and four carts to get them on the road.”

  Sinead shook her head. Her Irish temper flew several notches higher, and she marched across the room, slapping a pan between her hands. “I just don’t understand how they could leave Robbie behind with such unrest in the city. Here. Alone. With just a young lass like yourself to watch over him.”

  “He wouldn’t go with them. He stamped his feet and insisted they wait for his Mama Jane. Put on a real tantrum.” A smile broke out on Isabel’s face. “It was quite a sight to see.” She briefly chuckled. “I have to tell you this, though. The Mister did try to catch the child, as he calls him. He was going to take him with them regardless of anyone’s feelings in the matter, including the Missus. When the Mister reached out to grab him, Robbie slapped his hand away and ran out of the room. He flew up the stairs and hid in that upstairs closet off the linen room.” Isabel straightened and puffed out her chest in a show of pride in Robbie. She smirked, and waved her head back and forth in peacock fashion.

  Sinead didn’t know whether to laugh at Robbie’s antics or cry. “Didn’t anyone go after him?” Agitation made her stride to Isabel and glare with narrowed eyes. “Search for him?”

  Isabel sniffed with disdain. “Oh, they pretended to search high and low. Sent that fool major-domo to seek the child out. Robbie stayed quiet as a mouse until I found him. I coaxed him out of the closet. By the time I got him down the stairs, kicking and screaming, they’d already left the house. I couldn’t find them anywhere.”

  Sinead gasped. She held her breath for a moment, distressed by the news, which she found incomprehensible. “They didn’t try to find out if he were safe? They didn’t wait?”

  “No, they didn’t.” Isabel looked up at Sinead, her face filled with sympathy. “They took some of the servants with them, those that would go with them. The ones they left behind took off for the streets, either to protect what they thought was theirs or their relatives, I imagine.”

  A corner of Isabel’s lip curled in a sneer. “Or to get into the rioting and looting. They’d already taken things from here.” She turned away. “You know how they are sometimes…”

  “But you stayed, Isabel—when you could have gone to your parents’ home and possible safety.” She touched the girl’s arm and pulled her closer. “You stayed…”

  “Of course, I did. I couldn’t leave the little fellow alone with no one to look after him.” Her eyes gleamed with determination, courage and pride. “If anything had happened to him, I’d never forgive myself.”

  “And I’ll never be able to thank you enough,” Sinead replied, taking hold of Isabel’s hand and holding it to her cheek.

  Squeezing Sinead’s hand, now, with urgency,” Isabel spoke softly. “Jane, now that you’re here, I would like to go home to my parents. I’m sure they’re quite worried, probably sick about it by now. In the morning is fine.”

  “Of course. You go ahead. As long as my husband and I are here, we will see to Robbie’s care. And he loves my father. We’ll keep him amused.” With sweetness and total sincerity, Sinead smiled down at the young girl. “You have always been kind and generous to Robbie, never more than now, and I thank you so much more than you’ll ever know.”

  Connor entered the kitchen. The room seemed to grow smaller with his presence. “Have you ladies done all you need do here? ‘Tis time to rest and make plans for tomorrow.”

  The gaslights in the kitchen flickered, playing over his dark hair. Shades of brown with touches of red and yellow gave him a halo. He was handsome, almost to the point of taking her breath away, so very masculine. She could feel a blush rushing up the sides of her face, along with a fear of more attraction to this man.

  “Aye, we’re done here. Should we all gather together in one room?” Sinead asked.

  “Nae. I think I need to talk to you first. Alone.” He smiled at her, a look of wonder on his face, as if he were judging her by some secret standard.

  “I’ll go upstairs and get Robbie ready for bed,” Isabel replied, a smile threatening to break out. She walked toward the door.

  Connor put his hand out to stop her. “The lad is already asleep on a sofa in the library. I think we’ll all sleep downstairs this night. It’s too dangerous for any of us to stay alone in the upper regions of the house.”

  Both women nodded.

  Sinead mumbled, “Perhaps, we’d better pack some of Robbie’s clothes and bring them downstairs, just in case.

  “’Tis a good idea, lass.” Connor smiled at her with a tender expression on his face.

  “I’ll do it,” Isabel said. “You do your talking…” She strode from the kitchen, a small smile on her face, which she tried to hide.

  Sinead put a ha
nd on her hip. All the resentment she’d built up over the past few months of fearful waiting, plus all the tumultuous activities of the past few days, culminated in the presence of the man facing her. She snapped, “Well, what is you’ll be saying to me? I’m tired and in need of sleep.”

  Connor tilted his head in disbelief and stared down at her. “I’ve been talking to your da.”

  Frightened by the thoughts he conjured up in her mind, her need for sarcasm grew. She wouldn’t allow herself to be beholden to this, or any, man. Not any more. “Och, that must have been an interesting conversation…”

  Except for the narrowing his eyes in the response to her anger, the expression on Connor’s face didn’t change. He continued with what he intended to say. “Neither your da nor I believe this rioting will end with just one day of horror. We’re sure there’s more to come.”

  She adopted even more of an ungrateful attitude. She was unable to stop herself. “And how would you be knowing that, after only being here for a few short days?”

  “They’ve been the longest days of my life.” Connor’s anger flared. “But enough of this carping with the long blade of your tongue. My instincts tell me people so aroused will not stop until forced to do so by a greater force than theirs.”

  “Och, must be your manly instincts at work. Well, ‘tis those very manly instincts that got you into the trouble you’ve been having since your arrival.”

  “Lass, I’m not standing here to argue with you. You’re my family now and I want to protect you and my new son.” Frustration made his words harsh, as if he was forced to do his duty to his new family.

  “The best way you can protect us is to go back where you came from—to Ireland. Once the Dewitts become aware of the fuss you and your brother created since you landed, they’ll see to it Robbie no longer stays in my care, much less yours. Don’t you understand? The child has no mother or father of his blood.”

  “Whatever the circumstances, I am the boy’s father now. I will protect him, and you, with my life. I take my responsibilities to heart, whether you want me to or not.” He crossed his arms over his chest, in a gesture of stubbornness. “Besides, going back to Ireland is impossible at this very moment.”

  Connor snorted in disgust. “We’re lucky if we can get out of this city before more tragedy strikes, as it did yesterday and today.”

  Sinead put her palms on her hips, squeezed them tight until her knuckles whitened. She bent her body toward him. Her eyes grew steamy and closed into narrow slits. She tilted her head in defiance. “We are not leaving this city, not now or ever. At least, not Robbie or me. You can go where you will.”

  A slow smile crept to Connor’s face, but his gaze mirrored the seriousness of his tone. “Your da and Egan told me of the devastation done by folks in the area of his boarding house. They saw it first thing in the morning and saw worse in the city when they were driving to reach us. It is their conviction more rioting will follow in the next few days.”

  Sinead’s lips curled in a downward sneer. She lowered her eyes, tossing off a sharp grunt in his direction.

  Connor leaned against a tall cupboard and crossed his arms chest-level. He appeared relaxed but something in his stance seemed tense and watchful. “Turning away from an argument never accomplished anything. I’m willing to listen to your thoughts on the matter at hand.”

  “You don’t understand.” Her face flushed, Sinead spun to face him, her posture rigid. “I dare not leave or take my son away without permission. As it is, the Dewitts have plans to sue me before a magistrate for Robbie’s sole custody.”

  “Sue you? The lad’s mother?” Connor stared. “You’re right, I don’t understand or perhaps I understand more than you think I do.” His stare intensified. “Why would they wish to do a thing so base?”

  Sinead’s pretended anger collapsed, along with her rigid posture. Tears slipped from her eyes and trickled down to her chin. She wiped them away with the back of her hand. Almost in defeat, she said, “You don’t understand. You just don’t…”

  “Try me…” He took a step toward her and held out a hand.

  “The Dewitts’ son-in-law was in a serious accident on his way home to Lucinda’s side. Something frightened the carriage horses—you know the way horses are—and they ran away with the carriage. It overturned going around a corner. The driver couldn’t control them.”

  “And?” Connor asked, waiting for her to continue.

  “Mr. Cavanaugh was tossed out of the vehicle onto the cobblestones. He was rushed to the hospital, his body terribly broken.” Sinead choked back a sob. “Lucinda went into labor and Robbie was born before his time.”

  More tears of anguish slid from Sinead’s eyes and over her cheekbones. She blinked several times in succession. Her breath caught in her throat.

  Connor wanted to comfort her, to kiss the tears from her face. He almost laughed at himself, wondering where such a thought came to mind, unbidden. He managed to keep his demeanor stern. “Continue, please. I would know the entire story.”

  Her face bathed in agony, Sinead said, “Lucinda Cavanaugh died shortly after giving birth to Robbie. Her last words bade me to care for her son as if he were my own and to bring him up in a Catholic household, as she promised her husband.”

  Sinead took a deep breath before continuing. “When Lucinda, the sweetest, most gentle woman who ever lived, married Mister Cavanaugh, she signed a paper agreeing to bring her children up in the Catholic faith. Even in her dying, she did not go back on that promise.”

  “And you honored your pledge to her, didn’t you?”

  “Aye. At first, it seemed a burden, but then a pleasure. I did it with all my heart, for I love Robbie. He is the brightest light shining in the window of my mind.”

  Connor moved closer and resumed his probing. “I take it the care was in keeping with Mister Cavanaugh’s wishes as well?”

  “Aye. When he returned to Cavanaugh House he was so crippled and in pain, he cared not one whit about arrangements for his son. At first, he had no desire to even look at him, but within months, Robbie wormed his way into his father’s affections and became his da’s total reason for living.” She looked up at Connor. “Robert senior doted on the lad.”

  Connor sighed. The story didn’t please him. It sounded to him as if the Cavanaugh’s made a young girl promise something far too difficult to comprehend. He wondered how he, himself, could make it right.

  She went on with her story. “When Robert realized he was dying, he married me in order to leave Robbie in my care.”

  Connor frowned. “Then why are you living here with the boy and not in the house his da must have left you?”

  Sinead looked up, surprised at Connor’s questions. “Robert forgot to change the will he and Lucinda agreed to sign. The will stated that should he die before his wife, his house should be sold, his wife should return to her parents’ home—unless she remarried.”

  She shrugged and, in a soft voice, pleaded with Connor for understanding. “They agreed the money from the sale of the house and whatever fortune Robert might leave be saved for the care of the wife and child.” She hung her head in defeat.

  Connor began to understand the problem. He wondered about the Dewitts. He tilted his head to one side and studied his new wife with wiser eyes. When he spoke to her, it was with gentleness in his tone. “The most important thing at the moment is seeing to the safety of us all. ‘Tis with that end in mind we’ll be leaving these premises in the morning, especially if there’s danger afoot.”

  Like the good servant she had become over the years, Sinead shook her head and said, “I can’t leave without permission.”

  “No magistrate living would be punishing you for seeing to the lad’s safety, particularly since the Dewitts left him to his own devices at a dangerous time.” Connor walked directly to her and lifted her chin in his hand. “Plus, lass, since you were Cavanaugh’s wife when he passed and you have remarried, judges in courts might see your position in a n
ew light.”

  Sinead’s face brightened when the thought took hold of her. “Aye, ‘tis true. I will think on this further.”

  “You may not have the time to worry about it if what your da thinks will happen does, in truth, happen.” Connor placed an arm around her shoulder and drew her a bit closer. “It is only a matter of time before the gangs and crowds of unruly, riotous people turn on the wealthy inhabitants of the city. If they begin to invade this area, we leave.”

  “Where will we go?” Sinead held her ground, although very aware of Connor’s arm. It felt very comforting.

  “First, to the Dewitt’s summer home in Albany, where we’ll inform them we are going further north to the springs of Saratoga.” He stared up at the kitchen ceiling and sighed. “Although I’d rather just avoid them, manners dictate we stop to see them.”

  He lifted Sinead up onto the counter then smiled. “We will stay at your da’s home there.”

  Sinead frowned and shimmied further back on the counter. “My da’s home?” She chortled. “He has no home in…” Her voice faded with each word and she stared at Connor with an inquiring squint.

  He smiled down at her and raised one hand to rest on the cabinet behind her. “Aye, he does have a home there. He told me. And from the looks of you, you didn’t know, did you?”

  She groaned in disbelief. “Nae. Each summer since I’ve been living here, the Dewitts go to their home in Albany. Robbie and I went with them the last summer before Mister Cavanaugh’s death.”

  She shook her head and smiled to herself. “My da never mentioned what he did during that time. I just assumed he continued with his carriage business, for I never saw him.”

  Connor reached out to put his other hand on her shoulder. Sinead stared at his hand for a second, and he removed it. Again he tilted his head, this time toward her. “Obviously, your da kept watch over you and Robbie without telling you he was doing so. We’ll find out later, for sure.”

  “He has a house in Saratoga?” Sinead tilted her head in contemplation. “How very strange!”