I can see this reading, but I do find it a bit hard to square with what we know of Mr Merrick - who I really like, so perhaps I just don't want to! Patrick's mother I can imagine being rather more cold-blooded about the whole thing; she doesn't like Ginty certainly (though I think Claudie is meant to predate Ginty? Patrick just hasn't mentioned her before now) and might welcome his interest turning elsewhere, as long as it's not very serious.
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I can see this reading, but I do find it a bit hard to square with what we know of Mr Merrick - who I really like, so perhaps I just don't want to! Patrick's mother I can imagine being rather more cold-blooded about the whole thing; she doesn't like Ginty certainly (though I think Claudie is meant to predate Ginty? Patrick just hasn't mentioned her before now) and might welcome his interest turning elsewhere, as long as it's not very serious.