“How dare you speak to me like that?”

  “As a man of sense, how could I not?”

  “Maddy, come here.” Temperance held out her hand. “We’re leaving.”

  Flaherty slowly smiled. “And just how do ye plan to climb down if ye’re afraid of heights?”

  “I never said I was.”

  “Ye did not have to, lass. ’Twas plain as day to anyone watching ye.”

  She swallowed against the tight lump in her throat, and asked the question she had an overwhelming urge to know the answer to: “Have you been watching me, Flaherty?”

  “Aye.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not blind, lass.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Maddy-lass, has yer ma hit her head lately?”

  Temperance snorted, then immediately tried to cover up the fact that he’d made her laugh when she was trying to stay mad at him.

  Instead of laughing with her, he frowned. “’Tisn’t funny, lass. I’m worried about yer brainbox, and ye’re standing beside me insisting that ye’re going to leave, hauling yer daughter down the ladder, when I’m concerned that ye’ll drop her when ye pass out from yer fear of heights.”

  “I am perfectly capable.”

  He closed the small gap between them and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “I never said ye weren’t, lass. If ye are bound and determined to leave, let me take Maddy down first. Ye’ll have to sit and wait for me to come back and help ye descend the ladder.”

  “But Maddy will be all alone down there.”

  “According to ye, she’ll be safer on the ground than up here in the dark with the shadows and gargoyles.”

  He was right. She did not want her daughter on the roof at all.

  Temperance inclined her head. “You do make an excellent point.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that ye’re a—”

  “Anyone need help climbing down?” Garahan was grinning at the two of them from his perch at the top of the ladder. “We heard the commotion and came to offer assistance.”

  “Who is we?” Temperance asked.

  “Patrick O’Malley and meself. He was the one who suggested we both come looking for ye when I told him Maddy was up here with Flaherty and ye’d gone to fetch her. I’ll hold on to Maddy and climb down, while O’Malley waits at the bottom of the ladder in case I lose me hold on her.”

  Flaherty retorted, “I’ll be bringing the lass down. Then I’ll be climbing back up for her ma. Is that clear?”

  Garahan laughed in his face. “As mud.”

  Maddy wrinkled her nose. “Mud isn’t clear.”

  Flaherty sighed. “Ye have the right of it Maddy-lass. Now then, since Garahan is already here, and O’Malley is waiting on the ground to help, why don’t I carry ye over to the ladder? Ye’re to hold tight to Garahan while he takes ye down.”

  Maddy was quick to agree. “He can help me because he’s not arguing with Mum.”

  Garahan sounded as if he were choking and about to burst into gales of laughter. Flaherty glared at his cousin, sending a silent message to shut his mouth, or it would be shut for him.

  Flaherty led Maddy over to the ladder, where Garahan waited. “Put yer arms around Garahan’s neck and do not let go. Understand?”

  “I uverstand.”

  *

  “Yer ma is worried about ye being up here with meself and the gargoyles. ’Tis the quickest way down if Garahan takes ye. When ye get to the bottom, let Patrick take yer hand and stay with him. He’ll protect ye the same as Garahan and meself would.”

  Maddy stared at her feet long enough that Flaherty worried that the little girl would refuse to go. Finally she asked, “Why would they help me?”

  “Why wouldn’t we?” Garahan asked. “Flaherty loves ye like ye were his own. As his cousins, we vow to protect whoever Flaherty takes a shine to.” He looked over his shoulder and called down, “Isn’t that right, O’Malley?”

  “Aye,” his deep voice boomed. “Now hurry it up—we’ve shifts to man, and a duchess’s worries to soothe.”

  Temperance grabbed hold of Flaherty’s free hand. “What’s wrong with the duchess?”

  “Do ye mean ye don’t know?”

  “I’ve been up here. How would I know?”

  Garahan cleared his throat, and Flaherty scrubbed a hand over his face. “She’ll be worried about yerself and Maddy because by now she’s heard that ye were screeching at me.”

  “I never raised my voice to you!”

  Flaherty smirked. “How is it then, that Garahan and Patrick heard ye clear as day?”

  “Sound carries from the rooftop,” Patrick rumbled from the bottom of the ladder.

  “There ye have it, lass,” Flaherty said. “Sound carries.” Turning to Maddy, he asked, “Are ye ready?”

  “It’s wee cailín!”

  Flaherty grinned. “That ye are, mo chroí.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “Me heart.”

  She wrapped her arms around Flaherty’s knees. “Will you be my papa?”

  He couldn’t speak for a moment and had to collect himself. God help him, he wanted to be her da almost as much as he wanted to be husband to her ma. But it was not up to him. Temperance had to accept him for who he was…the duke’s sharpshooter! He rarely missed whatever he aimed at. The duke counted on his skill to protect his family. Temperance had not confided much, if anything, about her first husband, but Flaherty had heard the man was rumored to have perished in a cave-in at a coal mine. Would she accept him if he left the dangerous job he’d sworn an oath to?

  That was a question for another time. Not now. Now he had to hug Maddy and help her grab hold of Aiden. “Garahan’s waiting.”

  “Will you say yes, if Mum does?”

  “In a heartbeat.” He passed her to Garahan, and she immediately wrapped her arms around his cousin’s neck to the point where Garahan sounded like he was gagging.

  “Not so tight, Maddy,” her mother implored her.

  “Aye, Mum.” She loosened just a bit, but it was enough for Garahan.

  “There’s a lass. Hold tight, don’t look down, and above all—don’t let go!”

  “I won’t!”

  Flaherty watched the little charmer bury her face against his cousin’s neck and make herself into as tiny a ball as possible. Without turning around, he said, “Ye’ve raised her to be a brave lass, Temperance. Her da is smiling down on ye right now, as pleased as I am.”

  She placed a hand to his chest. “Do you think so?”

  “Aye, mo ghrá.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Me love.”

  Temperance leaned into him, close enough that his lips were a whisper away.

  “We’re safe on the ground!” Garahan said.

  O’Malley called out, “Kiss her already, so ye can return to your posts!”

  Flaherty did not bother to ask how his cousin knew he was about to kiss the lass, nor did he bother to answer him. Temperance did not bat an eyelash at O’Malley’s suggestion. She was waiting to see what he would do.

  “Kiss me back, lass.” Molding his mouth to hers, he sampled Heaven for the second time and sighed. Easing back from her, he tipped up her chin and stared into her brilliant green eyes. “Whether or not ye believe me, Temperance, ye are me love, and yer daughter is me heart. I’ll never intentionally hurt ye, and I bloody well would never lay a hand on Maddy if that’s what has ye worrying and not accepting me offer of marriage.”

  Temperance licked her lips and closed her eyes. “I haven’t been kissed in three years.” She slowly opened them. “Today, you kissed me twice.”

  He slid his arm around her waist, anchoring her to him. “The first time involved a promise. Just now ’twas me vow. Will ye think about it? Will ye open yer heart and give me the chance to prove me love for yerself and yer darling girl?”

  “Get yer arse down here, Flaherty!” O’Malley barked.

  Maddy’s giggle floated up to them. “You said a bad word!”

  Temperance laughed, a joyous sound that wrapped around Flaherty’s aching heart like a hug from the lovely woman herself. Her expression turned to one of concern. “Where will we live? Where will I work? How can I keep Maddy from learning all of the guards’ colorful expressions?”

  “Bugger it, Flaherty!” Garahan called.

  Flaherty winced. “Watch yer language! There’re little ears down there.” Turning his attention back to the woman in his arms, he answered, “We’ll live here on the duke’s estate. His Grace has gifted each of the married men in his guard a cottage. As to work, do ye have to? I can support ye.”

  “I do not know if I can be idle for more than an hour.”

  He sensed that she did not mean it as a slight against his ability to provide for her, but a need to keep busy. “Well now, I’m thinking Her Grace would be happy to have to ye continue to lend a hand in the nursery. Both Helen and Emily have been feeling poorly and will be moving slower than normal for the next few months until their babes are born. Richard and Abigail are fast, now that they’ve got their feet beneath them.”

  “Maddy learned to run as soon as she could walk.”

  “So Ma has always claimed about me brothers and meself.”

  “We’d have to ask Maddy, and you’d have to ask His Grace.”

  Flaherty surprised her by patting his waistcoat pocket. “I’ve already spoken to the duke.”

  She was staring at his hand when she asked, “Are you looking for your handkerchief?”

  He chuckled. “Nay, lass. I’ve the special license His Grace procured for me safe in me pocket. We can be married whenever ye like—as long as ’tis soon. I can’t give ye the protection of me name until we’re wed.” He traced the tip of his finger along the curve of her cheek. “I vow to protect ye and Maddy with me life, Temperance. Say yes.”

  “Yes.”

  He crushed her to him and sealed his pledge, and her acceptance, with all of the pent-up need inside of him. When he could bear to end the kiss, he promised, “I’ll plan to see the two of ye are safe, happy, and loved for as many days as the Good Lord has in store for me. I’ve family enough to step in and protect ye, should anything happen to me.”

  Temperance slid her arms around his neck and urged him closer. He obliged, and this time she initiated the kiss. Her passion echoed his own as she tasted him fully, tracing her tongue over the rim of his mouth and nipping his bottom lip.

  “God help me, lass.”

  The whack on the back of his head had him spinning around, with Temperance behind him. “What in the bloody hell is wrong with ye, Garahan?”

  “For feck’s sake, Flaherty, if I can’t be kissing me wife, ye can’t be kissing Temperance.”

  “She just agreed to be me wife!” Flaherty growled.

  “Well now, that’s another thing altogether,” Garahan said with a smile. “Ye can kiss her once more, then get yer buggering arse to yer post! Eamon is on his way to take his shift on the roof.”

  “I don’t need yer permission to kiss me wife.”

  “She’s not yer wife yet, boy-o.”

  “He’s right, Flaherty—”

  “Rory,” he corrected her.

  Temperance smiled up at him. “He’s right, Rory. We’re not married yet.”

  “Why don’t we spread the good news and see when the vicar can marry us?”

  “Ye’ll need to speak to His Grace,” Garahan warned.

  Flaherty grinned. “He handed me a special license a few hours ago.”

  “Well then. Ye’ll need to speak to Her Grace.”

  “We will. Well?” Flaherty said. “What are ye waiting for? Ye need to get to yer post.”

  Garahan was laughing as he descended the ladder.

  Flaherty took advantage of the moment and kissed the breath out of his wife-to-be. When she sagged against him, he rasped, “Close yer eyes and hold onto me, lass. Don’t look down. Don’t let go.”

  “I won’t let go in this lifetime for however many days God has in store for the three of us.”

  Flaherty secured her in his arms. Using his body to shield her, he descended the ladder and kissed her again.

  “Took ye long enough to get down,” Garahan grumbled.

  “Where’s Maddy?” Flaherty asked.

  “She told O’Malley she needed to ask Constance to bake an iced teacake for her ma and Just Flaherty.”

  “You still need to ask her, Rory,” Temperance said.

  “That I will, lass. That I will.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Susana Harkness was fuming. “How could he prefer that haggard, skin-and-bones harpy to me?”

  The cook did not bother to reply, which irritated Susana even more. She stomped over, raised her voice, and said, “I asked you a question.”

  The older woman shook her head. “Any louder and everyone in the taproom will hear you. Do you really want to drum your brother out of business?”

  Susana leaned close. “I do not care in the least if he loses this inn. I do not want to work here. I was meant for a far better life than this, and I plan to see that I get it!”

  The cook ignored the outburst and continued to stir the pot of stew. “Shouldn’t you be making the rounds and taking orders from our guests?”

  “I am not a serving girl!” With that, Susana spun on her heel and stalked out of the kitchen.

  A few moments later, her brother strode through the doorway. “Where’s Susana?”

  The cook sighed. “She just left in a huff after reminding me for the umpteenth time that she was not a serving girl.”

  The innkeeper frowned. “It’s been hard on her since our parents died. I know she can be difficult, but I need her where I can watch over her. I cannot leave the inn and take her to London.”

  “You’re a good man, Tom Harkness,” the cook told him. “You pay a fair day’s wages and treat your employees well. I’m going to risk making you mad, but you should know Susana just told me that she was meant for a better life and was going to see that she got it.”

  Tom raked a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. “Which way did she go?”

  “The side door that leads around back.”

  He nodded. “I’ll divide Susana’s tasks among the others.” He paused in the doorway, slapped his hand against the wall, and looked over his shoulder. Anger was evident in his posture and his expression, but he controlled it. “Thank you for telling me.”

  “She has had her heart set on snagging one of the duke’s men for a while now.”

  Tom’s fierce frown was worrisome, but his tone was even when he asked, “Which one?”

  “Flaherty.”

  He nodded and left.

  *

  Susana snuck into the back of the stables. The rough-looking man her brother had recently hired was mucking out stalls. She sashayed over to where he worked spreading fresh straw in the stall he’d just cleaned. Pitching her voice low, she purred, “I have been looking for you.”

  His gaze met hers and she saw a flare of heat in his dark eyes. “You found me.”

  Not the reply she usually received. Men usually bent over backward to do whatever she asked. Of course, she repaid them with certain favors she was well used to doling out, and most of the time she enjoyed the quick tumble most expected in return. She knew she was beautiful and had a shapely body that men craved.

  She inhaled and watched the flash of heat she was watching for. He was interested, but did not want to cede control. She had played that game before and won.

  “I need a favor, and you look to be strong enough and intelligent enough to do it for me.”

  He slid his gaze from the top of her head, settling it on her full breasts and hips, until she had no doubt what he wanted. “What do I get in return?”

  “My brother doesn’t pay me enough to purchase hair ribbons. I do not have any coin to pay you with, but I’m certain we can come to an agreement.” She moved close enough to feel the heat pouring off his body and nearly laughed, knowing she had him in the palm of her hand.

  Susana dipped one shoulder and felt her gown slip low on one side. She had her necklines lowered to show off her large breasts to any and all interested in sampling them. From the desire in the eyes of the man ogling her décolletage, she knew he wanted a taste of her.

  Maybe she’d give him one. She turned her back to him and glanced over her shoulder. “If you want a sample of what I’m worth, follow me.”

  He set the pitchfork against the wall, removed his gloves, and put his hands on her waist. “I may have time for more than a sample.”

  Neither one of them saw or heard the young stable hand who walked around the corner toward the empty stalls, in time to hear her sultry laughter as she pulled the man toward the tack room at the back of the stables.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Flaherty escorted Temperance to the rear door of the building and held it open for her. “I’m certain O’Malley has already spoken to Their Graces by now—’tis his job as the head of the duke’s guard to keep them informed. But I don’t want Maddy to hear it from anyone else first. Can ye bring her over to the stables? I’m certain Garahan will allow me a few more minutes before I head out to guard the perimeter.”

  Temperance brushed a kiss to his cheek and hurried down the hallway, calling for Maddy as she neared the kitchen.

  “In here, Mum!” Her daughter’s smile was radiant, and her eyes sparkled.

  “Have you already heard the news?”

  Maddy pursed her lips and shook her head.

  Temperance had a feeling that word had spread to the kitchens already, but she did not want to spoil her daughter’s mood. Summoning all of the hope and happiness she’d felt when she accepted Flaherty’s offer, she knelt in front of her daughter, took hold of her hands, and asked, “Do you remember what you asked me earlier?”

  Maddy frowned. “I asked you lots of things.”

  “Flaherty would like to ask you something. He’s waiting by the stables.” Temperance straightened, caught the knowing look on Constance’s face, and smiled. “I need to borrow your helper for a short time. We’ll be back shortly.”