The Fire's Center (43 page)

"You can help with the children as governess, though I shall expect you to stay on at the clinic until I can find someone to replace you."

Riona looked up sharply. "And my medical studies?"

Lucien looked at her in complete surprise, as if the thought would never have occurred to him.

She shrugged and sighed. "Well, I suppose that was just another foolish dream, wasn’t it?"

"No, no, you do have the most amazing talent, Riona. I'm sure Dr. Kennedy can always find some time to train you. He’s shaping up into a very good doctor," Lucien said stiffly.

"Never mind, it doesn’t matter now," Riona said wearily, resting her head against the bedstead. "Thank you for finding a place for me to stay. What happens to me hereafter is my own concern, not yours. I will remain at the clinic as long as I can, but I assure you I shall keep out of your way as much as possible while I do so. Good night, Dr. Woulfe, and goodbye."

She rose to escort him to the door. For a moment he looked as though he would linger, protest, but in the end he heaved a silent sigh, and stepped out of the room without so much as a backward glance.

She watched his retreating back through tear-blurred eyes for a moment, then shut and locked with a decided click that sounded like the death knell of all her hopes and dreams.

He was gone. It was over. She stumbled blindly against the dresser and then clung to it for support, her legs barely able to hold her up. She groped her way along the wall, shoulders heaving, one fist crammed in her mouth to stop her wailing lest Lucien hear her and think her even more of a fool than he undoubtedly already did.

It was over. He was gone.

She had walked through the fire's center to win Lucien's love, but she was the one who had been burned. Now there was nothing left but the bitter ashes of regret.

Riona threw herself on the bed and wept until she prayed her heart would break and end her misery at last.

Don't miss the second part of Riona and Lucien's adventures in

The Unquenchable Fire, coming soon from HerStory Books:
http://HerStorybooks.com

Author's note

I hope you've enjoyed this story of Ireland and the Famine. If you want to read more about it, here are a few suggestions:

The Great Hunger
, Cecil Woodham Smyth, Hamish Hamilton, London: 1962; and
The Great Famine:
 
Studies in Irish History, 1845-1852
, edited by R. Dudley Edwards and T. Desmond Williams, The Lilliput Press, Dublin: 1994.

These are just a few of the excellent books available regarding this most tragic event.

Riona's and Lucien's adventures, and those of the Connolly family, continue in Book 2 of
The Fire of Love
series,
The Unquenchable Fire
, coming soon from HerStory Books,
http://HerStoryBooks.com