Chapter Nineteen

Dermott was two hours into his shift guarding the perimeter when he heard hoofbeats pounding toward him. Immediately on guard, he turned toward the sound, relieved to note it was Tarleton, one of the men Coventry had sent to add to their numbers. Tarleton had been responsible for keeping an eye on the comings and goings from the village, especially near Trenchert Manor.

The man reined in and dismounted. "Trenchert is on his way to pay a call on the earl."

"Is he now?" Dermott's temper threatened to flare as he remembered the late Lord Eggerton's warning not to let Trenchert anywhere near Lippincott Manor. "How soon will he arrive?"

Tarleton frowned, raked a hand through his hair, and shook his head. "Not long. He'll be arriving in his state coach. With a team of four, they'll cover the half a dozen miles easily…quickly."

"Did you notice anything else? Additional men arriving at Trenchert Manor?"

"Nay. I've been keeping close watch on the stables in particular. No new horses or carriages have arrived since I took up my position." He scanned the area around them, nodding to one of the large oak trees on the earl's estate. "One of my favorite perches is in the old oak tree near the corner of the house. It has the best view of the stables and the front door of Trenchert Manor."

"In a pinch, 'tis one of me favorite places to keep watch," Dermott agreed. "I've been known to climb a tree to get a better vantage point meself. Did ye chance to hear any conversation?"

"The stable master ordered the stable hands to ready the carriage and the team. The man in charge of the stables is not a young man. He moves a bit slower than I would think a man with Trenchert's reputation would be willing to make allowances for."

"Do ye think he'll be slow to respond to the viscount's order to ready his carriage?"

"I don't," Tarleton admitted, "but the stable hands seem to move at the same pace as the stablemaster."

"Good to know," Dermott said. "They'll be here soon, but we'll have time enough to set up our blockades and get into position."

"Do you need me to warn Varley and Stratford?"

"That would save time," Dermott said. "I need to go inside to speak to the earl before going to the perimeter where they're stationed to warn them."

When Tarleton mounted his horse and headed off to speak to the others, Dermott gave a sharp, short whistle. A few moments later, Sean was sprinting toward him from the outbuilding on the other side of the stables, Michael headed to him at a run from the west side of the manor house, while Garahan called down from the rooftop where he was stationed, "Do ye need me to come down?"

"Nay. We need ye up there to alert us when a coach and four approaches."

"Bloody hell," Garahan muttered.

Thankfully, Dermott's cousin did not shout out what he had surmised—Viscount Trenchert was planning to pay the earl a call. The O'Malley brothers stood side by side vibrating with anticipation. Dermott didn't waste any time going over their plans—they had formed them the day the earl received that first missive from Eggerton. Instead, he got right to the point: "Trenchert's on his way."

Garahan was already in his position on the roof, and the O'Malley brothers sprinted to the stables to get the pair of wagons they would use to block the north entrance and the south entrance that led onto the earl's estate. By now, Tarleton would be speaking to the two men guarding the perimeter. Dermott was to warn Flaherty, who was stationed inside near the back entrance. It would be up to Flaherty to get word to Bart, stationed on the second floor near the women, while Dermott spoke to the earl and the viscount.

Dermott ran for the back door, pulled it open, and rushed inside. Flaherty was standing at attention, braced for whatever was headed their way. "I heard yer whistle," he said. "Trouble?"

"Aye," Dermott said, "Trenchert's on his way. Is the earl in his study?"

Flaherty shook his head. "He and the viscount are in the library."

Dermott rushed along the hallway, nodding to Mrs. Wyatt as he passed the kitchen and burst through the door to the main side of the house.

Finch's surprised expression changed to one of determination. "Trenchert is on his way." It was a statement, not a question.

"Aye. Send word to the rest of the staff. I'll speak to their lordships before I return to me position between the stables and the house."

As planned, Dermott raced to the library, knocked twice, and opened the door. Lippincott and Chattsworth were already on their feet moving toward him. "Where is the bloody blackguard?" the earl demanded.

"On his way," Dermott said. "I'll alert Bart and the footmen standing guard by her ladyship's sitting room and the nursery."

"I'll head to the nursery," Lippincott said. "Chattsworth will go to my wife's sitting room. Don't worry, we'll protect Georgiana as well."

Dermott's heart urged him to storm out of the library and warn Georgiana himself, but he knew that wasn't possible and would stick to their protection plan. He would assume his position, when under attack, at the back of the manor house near the stables. Stratford would be on guard for anyone skulking near the eastern tree line, while Varley would be patrolling the western perimeter. Though it pained Dermott to do so, when his heart urged him to go to the lass a second time, he shoved the need deep. Now was not the time to scrap the plans they had labored over, weaving their web of protection around the women and their lordships. It was time to defend!

*

Georgiana heard acommotion outside of the sitting room at the same time the door opened, and the earl and the viscount rushed in. "There is no reason for alarm," Lippincott said.

Aurelia narrowed her eyes, pinning her husband with her gaze. "Then why not knock politely, as you always do before entering?"

Calliope asked Aurelia, "Does this remind you of the time Wyndmere Hall was under attack and Edward rushed into Persephone's upstairs sitting room to warn us?"

"Yes," Aurelia drawled. "Right before he told us to stay put."

"Enough, wife!" Lippincott's voice sounded harsh to Georgiana. In the sennight she had been staying at the manor, he had not shown a proclivity toward violence, but she could not help but wonder if the earl would raise more than his voice.

Aurelia tilted her chin up, and in a clipped voice said, "I think you should leave before you say something that would curdle my milk!"

Calliope glared at her husband. "If you do not want our babe to have a sour stomach too, you should accompany Edward to wherever it is that you do not want us to go."

Georgiana was fascinated at the reaction of the men—both blanched at the mention of curdled milk and their wives nursing their sons. "Forgive our husbands, Georgiana, for forcing Calliope and I to speak of such things in front you," Aurelia said. "As an unmarried woman, you would not be accustomed to such talk."

"Do not give it another thought," Georgiana said. "When Mum was alive, I used to accompany her on the rounds to visit Papa's tenant farmers and their families. I am accustomed to being on hand during similar conversations while passing out soothing herbals and various remedies my mum would prepare as gifts whenever a new babe was born on our estate."

Aurelia turned to stare at her husband, whose color was returning. "Still, I would feel better if you say you will forgive me. Had my husband not vexed me in the extreme, I would have been more circumspect in my speech."

Georgiana agreed, if only to soothe Lady Aurelia. She had also learned at a young age not to upset women when they were carrying or nursing their babes. "Of course, your ladyship."

Odd that she would remember that fact years later. A warmth filled her as she recalled more memories from her time spent at Eggerton Hall—that was, until her mother died. From then on, Papa had insisted they spend more and more time in London.

"Bart and two footmen will be stationed outside, Aurelia." The earl's pained expression convinced Georgiana that though he was frustrated, and had been angry just a few moments ago, he would never lift a hand in anger toward his wife. "Please think of our babe and stay put."

Aurelia shook her head. "I think it would be better if we moved to the nursery now, rather than when Edward or William wake up hungry. You wouldn't want us dashing down the hallway, would you?"

The viscount shared a look with the earl before saying, "Excellent notion, Aurelia." The men motioned for the women, who quickly followed them to the door.

"Miss Eggerton," the earl urged, "hurry now."

Georgiana joined the others, and they were soon ushered into the nursery. Their ladyships' maids did not seem surprised to see their lordships escorting their wives. Was being in danger a common occurrence at Lippincott Manor? Before she could ask, Lady Calliope leaned close, and in a low voice told her, "Do not worry. Jenny and Mary Kate are accustomed to acting quickly when trouble comes knocking."

"Er… I am not worried." Georgiana managed to get the words out, but it was clear no one believed her. She realized her hands were trembling, and held them to her waist to still them. "Well, mayhap I am just a tiny bit concerned."

"If necessary, the men will fall back and stand guard inside," the earl assured her. "However, neither Chattsworth nor I believe that will happen."

"Thank you for soothing Georgiana's fears, my darling." Aurelia stood on the tips of her toes and brushed a kiss to her husband's cheek.

His voice deepened as he asked, "And have I soothed yours?"

Aurelia tilted her head to one side, studying the earl. "You may soothe them now."

Georgiana watched in fascination as the earl's gaze darkened, and he pulled his wife into his arms. As he bent to kiss her, a wail from one of the cradles had him pulling back to brush the backs of his knuckles to his wife's cheek. "Feed my son."

A second cry from the other cradle had both women bidding their husbands a hasty goodbye to take care of their babes.

With the closing of the door, Aurelia whispered to her maid, "See what you can find out, Jenny."

"I will try, but if anyone can pry information out of one of the duke's guard," Jenny said with a glance at Calliope's maid, "Mary Kate will be able to wheedle it out of Seamus Flaherty. He's stationed by the back door."

Mary Kate slowly smiled. "I can tell Bart that you require a special tonic for your monthlies—your woman's time—from Mrs. Wyatt. That should embarrass him enough to allow me to scoot down the servants' staircase and return immediately."

Aurelia nodded. "Excellent notion, Mary Kate, but do not forget to bring up the dark brown bottle from the cupboard in the pantry."

Calliope's eyes twinkled. "Isn't that where you keep the blackberry cordial?"

"Of course," Aurelia said. "What else would soothe what a woman suffers once a month?"

"Whiskey," Calliope replied, causing both their ladyships to dissolve into laughter, which had their sons wailing louder.

A heavy knock on the door had Jenny moving to answer the door. Bart stood in the hallway, worry creasing his brow. "Do you need me to fetch Mrs. Wyatt or Mrs. Jones for her ladyship?"

The knowing look the countess shared with the viscountess had Georgiana realizing their plan to ferret information out of Flaherty was about to fall smoothly into place. "No thank you, Bart," Lady Aurelia replied. "Though I do need Mary Kate to bring up a special herbal from the cupboard in the pantry, it's for my—"

Before she could get the words out, Bart's face flamed and he stammered, "O-of course, your ladyship, whatever you need. I'll escort you to the servants' staircase. Flaherty will be standing guard at the bottom."

Aurelia beamed at the young man. "Thank you, Bart."

Mary Kate hurried out of the room as the heir to the earldom rooted around and latched on and began to nurse. As the viscount's heir did the same, a peaceful quiet descended in the nursery, until the only sounds were the creaking of the pair of rocking chairs and their ladyships' whispering to their sons.

A longing for something she had not thought she wanted to experience filled Georgiana. She'd only had one or two suitors that she had been interested in. The others were her father's idea of a proper husband. But when rumors of her father's penchant for wagering over cards started up again, and as no one could resist passing on gossip resurrecting his tendency to gamble in the past, the suitors vanished, both Papa's and her own. She was forced to set aside thoughts of marriage and family once and for all.

Jenny motioned her over to the pair of settees on the other side of the room. "Won't you sit down, miss? I need to set out clean linens and nappies. The little ones are always too hungry to wait to be changed before they eat."

A pair of brilliant green eyes and the handsome face of a certain Irishman filled Georgiana's mind, and she wondered if Dermott wanted to have a family. The sound of deep voices out in the hallway reminded her of the danger they were in. Should she even think about bringing a babe into this world when there was a very good chance Dermott may be injured—or worse—on a daily basis?

She listened to their ladyships quietly conversing while they burped their babes. The sight reminded her that her childhood dream, of a husband and half a dozen babes, was still something she wanted, that her heart longed for. Could she have that with Dermott, or would he refuse to consider having a family as long as he was a member of the duke's guard? What gave her the right to even ask?

She knew that Dermott was a strong, honorable man, and he had been patient and solicitous of her. Would he willingly leave the duke's employ, or would it require his suffering a grievous injury before he would even consider leaving the guard?

Georgiana needed to know the answer before they wed. But how in the world would she broach the question with Dermott without seeming as if she required him to make a choice between herself and his loyalty to the duke?

The light knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Mary Kate returned with the bottle Aurelia requested. Her ladyship smiled. "I believe it's time we all shared a bit of Mrs. Wyatt's blackberry cordial. Don't you, Calliope?"

"Most definitely, although you and I should only have a small glass. The others can have more than one."

"Oh, I don't think—" Georgiana began, only to be interrupted by Aurelia.

"That is quite all right," Aurelia replied. "We've already decided for you, Georgiana. You need to settle your nerves—after all, you are going to marry Dermott later this evening."

Georgiana's eyes widened. "Are you certain that will still be happening?"

Lady Aurelia smiled conspiratorially with Lady Calliope. "Quite certain. As soon as the men have taken care of whatever is going on, we shall need to have the footman bring hot water to your bedchamber for your bath. We shall pamper you as a bride deserves to be pampered."

Jenny brought over the tray of glasses Georgiana had not noticed on the table beneath the window and proceeded to serve the cordial. When Mary Kate had passed out the glasses, Lady Aurelia raised hers in a toast. "To our husbands, and the men of the duke's guard, who diligently protect us with their lives."

Their lives. Would Dermott sacrifice his before they wed? The very idea had her hand trembling to the point where Lady Calliope told her, "Please do not worry. Our men and those in the duke's guard are stronger than you can imagine. They have wills of iron, and a deep, abiding faith to match."

Lady Aurelia added, "Dermott will be more than ready to do his duty to you tonight…" Her voice trailed off, and she tipped her head to one side. "As your mother passed away when you were young, was there a female relative who spoke to you about what happens in the marriage bed when you came of age?"

Georgiana felt her cheeks heat. "Er… No, though at Papa's urging, our cook was quite thorough in explaining what to expect."

"Do you have any questions?" Calliope asked.

Aurelia quickly added, "We would not want you to fear what lies ahead of you in the marriage bed. Contrary to what you may have heard, where there is respect and affection, after sealing one's vows, there is so much more two people who have pledged their hearts and bodies for the rest of their lives can experience." She sighed. "It is magical."

Georgiana blinked as a tiny spark of hope ignited inside of her. Perhaps she and Dermott would experience the same. "I confess I had not heard what you suggest, though it gives me hope for the future," she admitted.

"Well then, drink up, ladies," Aurelia urged. "Jenny will pour you another, and Calliope and I will have a tiny bit more—half a glass—while Mary Kate tells us what she found out from that handsome, auburn-haired guard with the dreamy blue eyes."