She walked away, and Jamie followed her with his eyes. He’d make sure she was escorted safely on board a ship in Brisbane, of course.

Against his will, he lifted his gaze to Reeve’s impressive house. He could feel the brass medallion beneath his shirt, burning into his flesh.

They’d come a long way, he and Reeve, since that day in Dublin when their mother lay dying. Jamie sighed. He’d been a thief, but he’d never begged. By God, he’d never held out that beggar’s badge and asked another man for food to fill his belly.

And neither had Reeve.

Jamie drew a deep breath and started back toward the house. He’d apologize to Bliss first, and explain about Eleanor and Elisabeth as best he could, and then he would set things right with his brother.

Bliss stood staring out her bedroom window, watching Jamie stride toward the house from the stand of gum trees at the far end of the lawn. Only a few minutes before, she’d seen Peony making her way back from that same place.

She turned on her heel, one thumbnail caught between her teeth. She didn’t understand why she was so surprised, and so wounded, when she’d known what kind of man Jamie was almost from the first.

She dragged one of her trunks out of a closet and was taking folded garments from the bureau and dropping them inside when the door opened and Maggie stepped in.

With a sigh, Bliss’s sister-in-law sat down on the edge of the bed and said, “Planning to run away again, are you?”

Bliss turned to glare at her. “There are times when it’s sensible to—to chart a new course for your life.”

Maggie nodded. “Yes, but you’re not doing that. At least listen to what Jamie has to say—”

“So now you’re on his side?” Bliss demanded. “Not an hour ago, Maggie McKenna, you were furious with him!”

Maggie lowered her eyes. “Reeve was right. I should have minded my own business. I got upset because I like you so much, Bliss, and I knew you were hurt, and how I would feel if Reeve kept something like that from me—”

Bliss sniffled. She’d done all the crying she was going to do over Jamie McKenna, and all the forgiving as well. And that was that. She should have followed her first instinct and gone to America.

Her mother had found a new life there. She could have done that, too. Resolutely, she went back to her packing.

Maggie crossed the room and took drawers and camisoles and petticoats out of the trunk as fast as Bliss could put them in. In total frustration, Bliss put her hands on her hips and cried, “Hellfire and spit, Maggie, will you stop that!”

Maggie laughed. “No,” she answered just as there was a rap at the door. “Come in, Jamie,” she called, with a smug little smile.

Bliss dived into the armoire and closed the doors. She wasn’t going to deal with one more cussed McKenna even if she had to hide there all night.