Temperance wondered what Flaherty would have to say when she asked him if he meant for their marriage to be in name only. They had yet to discuss expectations. As she entered the bedchamber she was sharing with Maddy, she knew she’d find out soon enough.

  Climbing into bed, she smiled when Maddy rolled over and snuggled against her. There were going to be big changes come tomorrow. Maddy would be sleeping in her own bed. Temperance listened to the sound of her daughter’s snores and realized tomorrow was already turning out to be fraught with difficulties.

  Chapter Twenty

  The duke walked into the servants’ dining room and nodded to his men. “Thank you for stepping up once again to lend aid to our villagers. They have come to rely on your aid, as I have.” When O’Malley pushed back from the table, the duke placed a hand to his shoulder. “Your report can wait until you have eaten your fill. Take your time. I’ll be in the library.”

  A short while later, the duke looked up at the knock on the open door. “Come in, men. I trust you ate every crumb.”

  Garahan chuckled. “Ye know us too well, Yer Grace.”

  “Constance is an excellent cook,” O’Malley added.

  The chorus of ayes pleased the duke. “We’re lucky she was not tempted to leave with the other servants.” It still rankled that his elder brother had all but bankrupted the dukedom and tainted the family name. But it had taught him one thing—to toil until he’d refilled the family coffers. With the help of his younger brother, they had restored their family’s good name.

  “If ye’re ready,” O’Malley said, “I’ll let the others give their reports separately, as they each led a separate search party.”

  The duke inclined his head. “Proceed.”

  Eamon O’Malley gave his summary first. “I can tell ye the men riding with me got to see firsthand that Yer Grace has well-trained geldings in yer stables.”

  “Indeed. What happened?”

  “A vixen shot out from beneath a hedgerow and tore across the road in front of our horses. Spooked half the horses, but not the ones from yer stables, Yer Grace.”

  The duke smiled. “I hope they have been bedded down for the night and treated like the champions they are.”

  “Aye, Yer Grace,” O’Malley replied. “I took me men to the west of the village, and though it would have been a sight to see, we did not run into any vixens—human or fox.”

  The duke smiled, watching the reaction ripple through his men. They were bound by blood and their vow of fealty to him. He’d nearly lost Patrick, as head of his guard, due to his unbridled fear after his twins were nearly kidnapped. He’d let pride, and his unreasonable expectations at needing O’Malley to be in more than one place at a time, color his better judgment. Thankfully, they’d come to an understanding. He’d offered O’Malley a second chance, though the stubborn Irishman felt he did not deserve one.

  Eamon O’Malley’s serious expression had the duke wondering if the man’s wife was still suffering from nausea. That made three women under his protection—and his intrepid private guard—that were expecting: Eamon’s wife, Garahan’s wife, and his own darling duchess. No wonder there had been a bit more tension among his men when Flaherty added another rescued woman, and her daughter, to those they’d vowed to protect.

  “Anything untoward occur during your search, Eamon?”

  “Nay, Yer Grace.” He paused, then grinned. “Unless ye count one of the tenant farmers’ sons chasing after their milk cow.”

  The duke could not hold back his smile. “Gertrude again?”

  “Aye,” Eamon replied. “They cannot afford to let her run off. Gertrude’s milk churns into the tastiest butter—”

  “Don’t forget the cream she provides that Constance whips up and serves with her scones,” Flaherty added.

  “Are you men still hungry?” the duke asked.

  “Nay, Yer Grace.” O’Malley frowned at his cousins. “But they’ll always make room for scones.”

  He chuckled at hearing the chorus of ayes from his men. “Any trouble during your search, Flaherty?” the duke asked.

  “None. We’ve good men who stepped up from the village, and our tenant farmers. I’m proud to continue to work with them.”

  “As to that, men, I’m grateful and proud of the protection you provide on a daily basis. The recent threat to the foundation we’ve built had me reevaluating your core mission. I know most of you have already heard part of it, but let me reiterate and assure you that your wives and babes are just as important and in need of your protection as my duchess and the twins.

  “My brother and I have fought alongside you men, our footmen, and tenant farmers when we were under attack. When our call goes out for reinforcements from Captain Coventry or Gavin King of the Bow Street Runners, no matter which one of my estates requires it, you band together and work alongside whoever arrives. You defend not only my family, but your own. My thanks will never be enough, but you have it. In return for your unstinting loyalty to me and mine, you shall have mine for you and your families.”

  The intensity and gratitude gleaming in the eyes of his men showed their trust and dedication to him—giving the duke yet another reason to show his faith in their decision by agreeing with Flaherty’s earlier request. “As I have been given a second chance to rebuild what my brother Edward and I thought we had lost, I agree with your suggestion regarding O’Brien, Flaherty.” The looks of awe and relief were expected, but welcome just the same. “After speaking to him, I believe he will be a welcome addition to your ranks here—on a trial basis. See that he is proficient in all manner of weapons, though it may take a bit longer while his arm is healing.” His lips twitched as he slowly smiled. “By the by, excellent aim, Flaherty—but I expect no less from my sharpshooter.”

  Flaherty grinned. “Any man intelligent enough to admit to his mistakes, and vow not to make them again, is a man worth knowing.”

  “Now then, Garahan. I understand Harkness left your search party before you found his sister. Is there anything in particular you learned after finding Miss Harkness weeping over her ruined slippers?”

  “She’s headstrong, self-centered, and, if I am not mistaken, will have just received her first dressing-down from the brother who has always doted on her. Flaherty and I did not stick around to hear it,” Garahan answered.

  “And?”

  “I’m thinking she’s realized the damage she had done to not only Greene and O’Brien’s reputations, but Temperance and Maddy’s, her brother’s, and her own.”

  “I understand how Harkness felt,” the duke remarked. “And the reason he blamed himself for his sister’s actions. I have been in his shoes, though it was my brother—my sister is another tale for another time. Her issue was her overexuberance once she recovered from being held at knifepoint.”

  O’Malley cleared his throat. “I seem to recall Baron Summerfield having a different opinion on the matter regarding her exuberance.”

  The duke chuckled. “Indeed. Any further information or observations, O’Malley?”

  “Harkness has promised his sister will make amends to Temperance and her daughter by admitting she made up the gossip she spread about them. She promised to share the news with any and all visitors to the inn. She will also stop by every shop in the village to apologize for sowing the seeds of dissension.”

  “An excellent start,” the duke replied. “What of Greene and O’Brien?”

  O’Malley replied, “I stopped in to speak with Harkness after Garahan and Flaherty dropped her off. The man was loath to admit it, but finally confided that the attention Susana was getting by using her face and form went to her head. She’s promised to speak to the vicar and repent.”

  “I had not expected that,” the duke admitted.

  “As I witnessed her epiphany,” O’Malley said, “I was not surprised. She truly had not given a thought to her actions before that moment. Apparently, her brother’s disapproval—loudly stated—meant more than his approval.”

  “Thank you, men, for your steadfast loyalty to me and mine. I’m grateful, and I know Harkness is too. As I discovered, it isn’t always our love and approval that the ones we are guiding need. Sometimes it is the stark reminder that they are in the wrong and need to realign their thoughts, words, and deeds to become the person they were meant to be.” Flaherty, Eamon, and Garahan were staring to the point where the duke had to ask, “Don’t you agree?”

  “Aye,” Flaherty answered. “I may not speak for me cousins, but as I’ll be a da tomorrow, I’ve taken yer words to heart and only just realized ’tis what me ma and da did for me brothers and meself growing up.”

  Garahan squared his shoulders and laughed. “Faith, I’m glad I have time to get used to doing battle with me own son or daughter.” Turning to Flaherty, he grinned. “I’ll be praying for ye, Da.”

  The duke chuckled. “O’Malley, I expect you’ve put the plans in place for the footmen to stand guard when the vicar arrives to marry Flaherty and Temperance so you can all be in attendance?”

  “I have.”

  He thanked the men and dismissed them. Following them out of the library, he took the stairs two at a time. His duchess was no doubt expecting to hear his report, while he was looking forward to talking her into waiting until he undressed her before giving it. He was smiling when he knocked and then entered their bedchamber.

  “Have I told you today how very much I love you, Persephone?” She furrowed her brow as if she could not recall. Unable to wait to hold her in his arms, he scooped her off her feet and kissed her soundly. “Minx!”

  Persephone was laughing when she finally answered, “Why yes, my darling duke. I believe you said that just this morning when you pressed your lips to my belly.”

  He eased back to stare into her dark eyes. “How remiss of me not to say it again. That was hours ago.”

  She turned her back to him. “Unbutton me, and I’ll let you make it up to me.”

  “With pleasure, my love.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Temperance followed Maddy into the kitchen in time to see Constance pulling loaves of bread out of the oven. “Let me help you with that.”

  The cook shook her head. “I have it, thank you.” Brushing her hands on her apron, she beamed at the two. “Are you ready for your big day?”

  Maddy bounced on her toes. “I am.” She leaned close and in a stage whisper confided, “Mum’s nervous.”

  Francis entered the kitchen. “Morning, everyone. Are you ready for this afternoon?”

  Temperance put a hand to her stomach. Before she could reply, Constance asked, “Maddy, would you and Francis please set the table in the main dining room?”

  “We’d be happy to,” Francis said. “Wouldn’t we, Maddy?”

  “We would!” Delighted to be asked, Maddy led the way, while Francis carried the tray from the room.

  Constance poured a cup of tea and nodded at Temperance. “Sit down and tell me what has you so concerned this morning. You have not changed your mind, have you?”

  Temperance bit her lip and sat. “No.”

  The cook set the cream next to Temperance. “Fix your tea, have a few sips, and tell me. If you are this rattled, and it’s not even seven o’clock in the morning, you’ll be a complete wreck by noontime.”

  Temperance added a splash of cream to her tea and sipped. “I haven’t told Flaherty about my late husband yet.”

  “He knows you were married and that your husband passed away. What more does he need to know?”

  “It’s been over three years since he’s been gone, and I’m not certain that I can…or will be able to… Botheration!”

  Constance reached over to pat Temperance on the hand. “I have an idea of what might be plaguing you…the marriage bed.”

  Temperance sighed. “I said vows and have kept them, even after Paul lost his life in that mine.”

  “I hope you don’t mind my asking, but is it Flaherty’s being a giant of a man that worries you?”

  Temperance shook her head. “My husband was built like Flaherty, and an inch or so taller.”

  Constance refilled the cup Temperance did not realize she’d already emptied. “Well then, a little Maddy-bird told me that she’s seen him kiss you and that you were smiling.” When Temperance felt the heat rise up from her toes, Constance sighed. “From the way you’re flushing, I would venture to say that you enjoy his kisses.”

  Temperance rested her elbows on the table and put her head in her hands. “Too much! What if… You see, I’m worried that… I do not want him to feel as if—”

  The cook nodded. “This calls for something extra sweet. Here’s the jam and cream I just whipped.”

  Temperance eyed the bowls and waited for Constance to set the plate of scones in the middle of the table and sit. “I’m afraid I’ll compare them.”

  Constance nodded. “I had a feeling it was something like that.”

  “I’m afraid to tell Rory, and at the same time, I’m afraid not to tell him.”

  “You do realize that not many widows are lucky enough to find another man who vows to love her and another man’s child? But you have. Flaherty’s heart is pure gold. Everyone has noted the way he cannot take his eyes off you every time he sees you. And we all know that your curly-haired moppet stole his heart. I hope you won’t feel slighted when I confide that I think he fell for her first.”

  Temperance felt the knot in her belly ease. “I do know it, and it warms my heart. Paul never had the chance to meet Maddy. He would have doted on her.”

  “Have you ever noticed that men are as prone to gossiping as women?”

  Temperance frowned. “I have never been around a group of men before. By the time my husband returned from the mine, he was usually exhausted. It took a bit of time to scrub the coal from him. Then it would be time to eat, and he’d fall into bed exhausted, only to begin again the next day.”

  “When the duke and duchess first arrived at Wyndmere Hall, they arrived with the entire guard. Sixteen of the tallest, broadest, handsomest men than I had ever encountered before. Each and every one of those men were charmers. During their shift changes, they would stop in the kitchen and ask if I had a few extra scones for a starving man.”

  Temperance laughed. “I can imagine them asking, but cannot envision cooking for that many men at one time—aside from the staff and His Grace.”

  “It was a challenge, but at the time Mollie and Francis were helping me.”

  “Mollie?”

  “She married one of Patrick’s younger brothers, Finn. They are stationed at Penwith Tower on the coast of Cornwall.”

  “I see.”

  Constance moved the plate of scones closer, and Temperance took the hint and helped herself to one, then added jam and a spoonful of cream on top. As she bit into the delicious confection, the cook regaled her with stories of the men and their antics.

  “Sparks flew from the moment Gwendolyn stepped down off the carriage. She was hired to take care of the newborn twins.”

  “Sparks, you say?”

  The cook put her hand over her heart. “Oh my, yes. And of course his brothers had something to say. It was as if they knew he was smitten with the nanny and were pushing him to declare himself. Once things settled down, and the duke’s extended family were added to those the men were to protect, the duke decided to divide up his men and assign them to his properties, and those of his distant cousins, the viscount and the baron.”

  Nibbling on her second scone, Temperance asked, “Did the men stop talking about one another?”

  Constance laughed. “They became more obvious. When the men in the duke’s guard fall in love, they fall hard and fast. Which is a blessing, because with their duties, they do not have a lot of time to spare.”

  “I see—and you believe Flaherty really cares for me too?”

  “I’ll tell you after you answer a question honestly. How do you feel when he kisses you?”

  Temperance bobbled her teacup, but caught it before it crashed onto its saucer.

  The older woman smiled. “I thought as much. My best advice to you is to tell Flaherty how you are feeling and what has you worried.”

  “And you do not think he will be angry with me for even suggesting that I might be thinking of my husband while we… Before we… When—”

  “Since it has you tied up in knots, yes, you should. From what I know of the Flahertys and their cousins, I suspect he would see it as a challenge to ensure that you think only of him when you are in your marriage bed.”

  Temperance could not feel the top of her head, and was grateful for the anchor Constance provided when she grabbed hold of her hand.

  “The Irish are passionate men.” Constance winked at her. “Be very grateful that you’ll be married to one.”

  When Temperance found her voice, she rasped, “I believe I will.”

  Constance rose from her seat, put her arm around Temperance, and gave her a hug. “Trust me, I know that you will. I’m certain those two are finished setting the table by now. Will you tell them it is all right to come back in the kitchen?”

  “Oh, I did not realize they were waiting.”

  “You needed to share your worry, and I am always happy to listen. Now, off with you. Fetch those two so we can have breakfast ready for the staff and Flaherty.”

  “What about the other men in the guard?”

  “They’re married and have their first meal of the day in their cottages with their wives. Last night, the duke asked me to prepare a special basket with your evening meal to be delivered to your new cottage.”

  “Flaherty mentioned the duke and duchess’s overly generous gift.”

  “His Grace gifted each one of the men and their wives a cottage when they married. The cottages are not far from here, on the road leading to the tenant farms.”

  “And you’re certain there is one for Flaherty, Maddy, and me?”