Renee Ryan - Mistaken Bride

Was someone out there missing the tiny infant? If that was so, why hadn’t she, or perhaps even he, come forward to claim the child? What terrible event had occurred to warrant abandoning a newborn in the ship’s galley?

They may never find a definitive answer.

And Bridget had another pressing matter to address, one she hoped would bring Will certainty if not relief.

As she stopped in front of her youngest sister, Bridget couldn’t help but notice how good Maeve and Grace looked together, how natural.

Maeve had left her hair falling in loose curls down her back. Like Bridget and Nora, she wore her new dress, as well. Hers was a French plaid, the orange, yellow and green setting off her coloring. Her rich strawberry-blond hair had turned a soft ginger in the sunlight and she looked as pretty as a picture as she smiled down at the baby.

Maeve would make a wonderful mother, evidenced by the careful attention she showed Grace now. Bridget once again experienced a pang of regret. Had Daniel wanted to marry her, had he followed through with his promise, she could be holding her own baby right now.

Bridget didn’t take the time to linger over the thought. “Maeve, where’s your husband?” Impatience made her voice just short of shrill. “I need Flynn at once.”

“What’s the rush?” Maeve’s eyes widened. “Has someone been hurt?”

“No, nothing like that.” Bridget shook her head decisively. “But I need Flynn’s help right now.”

“Whatever for?” Maeve’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

Holding on to the last thread of her patience, Bridget quickly explained Will’s situation. Nora added what she thought she remembered about the girl who’d fallen from the forecastle. Between the two of them they laid out the sequence of events as best they could recall.

When they finished Maeve’s gaze turned thoughtful, then sad. From that look alone, Bridget knew her sister remembered the day the girl in question had died. Maeve never forgot a patient, nor did Flynn for that matter, but this one’s death was especially heartbreaking.

“Do you remember her?” Bridget asked, trying her best to keep her voice steady. “Did you ever discover her name? Was she Bridget? Bridget Collins?”

Maeve’s eyes misted slightly, a small switch in mood, easily missed if Bridget hadn’t been looking. “As the ship’s doctor, and custodian of all the medical records on board, Flynn would be the one to ask.”

Bridget wasn’t fooled by her sister’s evasive words. Maeve knew the answer, but wasn’t saying anything more.

“Please, Maeve. It’s important. Will has been searching for his bride all morning, wondering why he can’t find her. Wouldn’t it be best for him to know the truth, whatever it is, even if it’s bad news?”

“You know I can’t give you that information, Bridget.” An apology settled in Maeve’s eyes. “I was only an assistant in the infirmary. You’ll have to ask Flynn.”

“Ask me what?”

Bridget swung around at the sound of the familiar deep voice, her gaze landing squarely on Maeve’s new husband, Dr. Flynn Gallagher. Or rather, her gaze landed on Dr. Flynn Gallagher’s black cravat.

The man was taller than any of the Murphy sisters, even Nora. He was muscular and lean like William Black, just as handsome and so in love with his new wife that he reflexively looked to Maeve for the answer to his question as though she was the only one in their tiny group.

Maeve nodded to Bridget. “Go on,” she urged. “Tell him what you just told me.”

Practically shaking with impatience, Bridget went through the story again, faster this time and without waiting for Nora’s input. Just as she drew to the end of the tale she caught sight of Will exiting the building he’d entered only a few moments before. Head down, jaw firm, he approached yet another group of passengers.

He must have been unsuccessful in the shipping office.

“There.” She pointed to Will. “That’s him, the man approaching that small cluster of people.”

Her hand moved instinctively in his direction, aching to soothe away his worries. She started out.

“No, Bridget.” Flynn stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “You’ve done your duty. Let me handle the rest.”

“But—”

“I insist you stay here with your sisters.” He shared a look with his wife, one that seemed to communicate a message only the two of them understood.

Maeve quickly stood, handed the baby to Nora and then drew alongside her husband. Side by side they made a dazzling pair.

“It’ll be all right, Bridget.” Maeve touched her arm and smiled. “Flynn will handle the matter with great care, like he always does.”

Flynn dropped a tender kiss to Maeve’s forehead. “I’ll be back shortly.”

He left them to stare after his retreating back.

Bridget had always considered herself an obedient woman, one who usually adhered to the Christian precepts of ideal female behavior. Her manners were impeccable, as well. Consequently she shocked even herself when she trotted after Flynn, all the while ignoring Maeve’s cries to leave the matter alone, that it didn’t concern her. The same words Nora had used earlier.

She knew it didn’t concern her. And yet, somehow, after all that had happened, it did.

She picked up her pace.

With determination on her side, and the element of surprise, she bypassed Flynn at the last possible moment and approached Will first.

As though sensing her standing behind him, he turned to face her at the very same moment she spoke his name.

He seemed stunned to see her again. “Bridget?”

Breathless from her rapid trek across the docks, her words came out in a jumbled rush. “I have brought someone to help you find your bride, or at least give you more information.”

The look in his blue, blue eyes plainly said: What are you talking about?

“The ship’s doctor,” she said in reply, her heart pounding with the force of her urgency. “I have come to introduce you.”

She didn’t have time to explain further before Flynn closed the distance between them.

Will lifted his gaze from her to Flynn then thrust out his hand. “William Black.”

With his characteristic professional manner, Flynn took the offered hand. “Flynn Gallagher, the doctor in charge of the infirmary on the Annie McGee.”

Will wasted no time getting to the point. “Do you know what happened to Bridget Collins on the voyage over?”

The ensuing silence pressed in on them all. Will looked so concerned, so in need of kindness. Bridget almost went to him and wrapped her arms around him.

“I believe I can enlighten you.” Flynn’s expression was that of a man about to give the most terrible news of all.

Will must have understood what was about to come because he asked, “Is she…dead?”

“I’m afraid that she—” Flynn cut off the rest of his words and looked down at Bridget. He frowned at her briefly then returned his attention to Will. “Perhaps we should continue this conversation aboard the Annie McGee. Just the two of us.”

Bridget opened her mouth to object, but Flynn stopped her with a look. “My dear Bridget,” he said, his voice filled with equal parts authority and understanding. “You must wait with your sisters while I escort Mr. Black to the infirmary.”

And with that one sentence her dear brother-in-law had revealed his intentions. He had no plans of allowing her to accompany them any further. Perhaps, like Maeve and Nora, he didn’t think the matter was any of her business.

Did Will agree? She glanced into his vivid expression and discovered her answer. He didn’t want her in the infirmary with him, either.

Horrified to feel the sting of tears, she lowered her gaze and concentrated blindly on the wooden dock below her feet. She knew the matter was none of her business, and yet…