The first book in the Skye O'Malley series, 1980

“What the hell do you mean she can have no more children?”
demanded Dubhdara O’Malley of his brother. The O’Malley,
chief of Clan O’Malley, was a big man, six-foot-four, arms
and legs like thick tree limbs; ruddy, sunburnt skin, snapping
blue eyes, and a mop of dark hair that was just getting a sprinkling
of silver. “You priests are always prating that the purpose of marriage
is to procreate. Well, I’ve done what the Church wanted, I’ve gotten
children on her, and not one of them a living son! Now you tell me
I must stop? But I don’t suppose you’ll be granting me an annulment
so I can wed with some fresh and healthy blood? Faugh! You make
me sick!”

Father Seamus O’Malley, looking almost his brother’s twin
though not quite as dark of skin, viewed Dubhdara with genuine
sympathy and understanding. He knew how he felt, but there was
just no help for it. His sister-in-law couldn’t take another pregnancy.
The midwife had been quite certain about that. Another child would
take Lady O’Malley’s life. That would be outright murder.

The priest drew a deep breath. “You’ve been married ten years,
brother, and in that time Peigi’s been pregnant ten times. She’s
miscarried three. This birth nearly killed her.”

The O’Malley whirled, bitterness flooding his rugged face.
”Aye,” he said. “She’s miscarried thrice-and all boys too! The only
one of my sons she managed to birth lived barely long enough for
you to baptize, God assoil his wee soul. And what am I left with?

Girls! Six girls! Five of whom are as plain of face as their mother.
Faugh! Damn! I thought surely this time…”

He paced the room angrily, caring nothing that his harsh words
were overheard by the woman who lay, half dead and weeping with
bitter disappointment, in the next room. She had prayed so hard for
a son. She had made a novena every month of her confinement. She
had fasted and sacrificed, giving to those less fortunate than herself.
And what was the result of her piety? Another girl, and the knowl-
edge that she would now never be able to bear her husband a son.