The Bairn of Brianag

My breath went out of my body. The momentary silence that followed seemed endless to me; it was if the heavens had stopped turning to hear what my father's answer would be.

He took a bite of his food and looked thoughtful. "I believe we shall," he said. "We can spare the afternoon to visit. What say you, madam?"

"I am sure that the lass and I have many things to do here at Gillean-"

"You may stay here at Gillean if you wish. The lass will come with us," said my father, and I breathed again, swallowing hard to stifle the cry of joy that would have erupted from my throat.

I swallowed a sip of tea and slid another glance toward my mother; she was looking at her plate but not eating, her lips pressed into a tight line. I pushed aside a quiver of dread and looked at my father. His gray eyes twinkled at me, and I smiled at him, then lowered my gaze, the thrill rising into my throat again. I would see Robbie today.

____________________________

After breakfast, Kevin and Papa left the house, and I was alone with my mother. I followed her into the drawing room to receive my instructions.

"You shall work on the rug today," she told me.

I clenched my teeth. Of all the forms of needlework, I most hated hooking a rug. My mother knew this. I suppose she thought it was good for me, being forced to do work that I hated; perhaps she believed it would teach me self-discipline.

"Yes, Mama," I said.

She sat on a sofa; I went to sit on the stool behind the frame that held the workings of the rug. The wools, dyed in jewel colors, lay in a basket next to the frame. I picked up the needle.

"It is high time you were married, Jessamine," she said to me.

I kept my head down. "Yes, Mama."

There were young men in our own district whom she attempted to push me toward; Alexander Garth was one. He was the same age as Kevin, a near neighbor and the heir to a sugar plantation in the West Indies. I knew that my father had spoken to his and that our parents had attempted to push us toward each other some time ago; but neither of us had found anything about the other to be amenable. He was handsome enough, to be sure, and kind; but in my eyes, no one would ever measure up to Robbie.