Chapter Twenty-Five

"H ow much time do we have?"

"Is that yer roundabout way of asking me to make love to ye again then, lass?"

She giggled and shook her head. "You need every ounce of your strength today, Thomas. Please be careful."

"I always am, but now I have even more reason to be." He slid his hand from her waist to her belly. "Ye take care of yerself, and do not overexert yourself, lass. Ye could be carrying our babe."

Her eyes misted behind her lenses, and he had to kiss her just once more. He tucked her against his heart, where she'd spent most of the night nestled while she slept. He knew because he woke up every time she scooted her backside against him. It was a lesson in control, at the cost of sleep, and well worth it to spend the night with her in his arms.

"O'Malley!"

The irritated sound of his cousin's voice echoed in the hallway outside of their door. " Shite! They sent Garahan to pry me from yer arms."

"Let go of yer wife and open the door!"

Caroline snorted with laughter, and O'Malley grinned and kissed the freckles on her nose. "Yer snort is still adorable."

"What's keeping ye, Garahan?"

"Bloody buggering hell!" O'Malley said. "They've sent Flaherty, too."

"If ye don't open the door on the count of three," Garahan growled, "his lordship gave us permission to break it down."

Flaherty scoffed, "I didn't hear him say that."

Caroline dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"I heard that," Garahan grumbled. "Ye had all night, but 'tis time to get to work, boy-o. If I had to leave me wife all soft and warm in our bed, then by God, ye will, too!"

"Garahan's not pleasant in the mornings," O'Malley warned her. "Though a few of Mrs. Green's scones usually soften him up. He's tolerable by midday."

A fist pounded on the door. "Open the fecking door, O'Malley." Garahan lowered his voice and said, "On three, Dillon."

O'Malley motioned for Caroline to stand in the corner behind him.

"One, two—"

O'Malley swung the door open on three. Garahan barreled into the room and tripped over his outstretched foot.

Flaherty skidded to a halt and snorted with laughter. "Help me get him on his feet, O'Malley. Then we'll stuff him with scones."

Garahan was on his feet, glowering at O'Malley, until he heard Caroline's muffled laughter. "Faith, forgive me, lass. I didn't realize ye were standing right behind yer husband, or I would not have tried to break the door down. I'd never hurt ye."

She smiled at Garahan and asked, "Do you always wake one another with threats?"

Flaherty laughed and answered, "When it seems prudent." He elbowed Garahan and said, "I wanted to give ye five more minutes, Thomas, but ye know Garahan. Since he and Prudence moved into their new cottage, we have to pry him away from it."

"We had to wait for it to be built," Garahan added. "It was only finished a few weeks ago, and Prudence and I are enjoying our privacy."

"I see, and ye have no problem invading ours?" O'Malley asked.

Caroline slipped her arm around his waist and lifted onto her toes to kiss his cheek. "You'd better go, Thomas. I'll see you when you stop by to check on us."

"So ye'll be spending the day with Prudence and Lady Phoebe?"

"Yes, and Percy and Phineas. I promised."

"Those two will make certain to keep ye on yer toes, lass," Flaherty told her.

"Thank you, Dillon. I'm looking forward to it."

"Watch out," Garahan warned, "they're wily."

"Thank you, Ryan. I'll be sure to keep an eye on them."

When O'Malley didn't make a move toward the door, Garahan growled, "Kiss yer wife and move yer arse ! A messenger arrived a few moments ago. Could be from Tremayne."

O'Malley pulled Caroline flush against him and kissed the breath out of her. "I'll be back to check on ye, wife. Stay out of trouble."

She sighed and stared at him.

"Lass?"

She sighed again, but this time nodded.

"Let's go, Garahan," O'Malley barked. "What are ye waiting for?"

When they reached the bottom of the servants' staircase, the baron was waiting for them. He nodded to the men and smiled at O'Malley. "I trust you enjoyed your evening off."

Garahan rolled his eyes, and Flaherty shook his head.

"Aye. I made the most of me time away, yer lordship," O'Malley replied.

Summerfield's lips twitched, and he cleared his throat. "This just arrived from Tremayne. O'Ghill caught Anderson trying to abduct Melanie and Olivia when they were picking flowers in the vicarage garden this morning."

"Bleeding bugger," Garahan bit out.

"Where is he now?" Flaherty asked.

Summerfield replied, "Cooling his heels in the empty stall at the smithy."

"I hope Coleman hasn't changed the straw recently."

The baron smiled. "For someone of Anderson's ilk, being locked up in a barn in itself is an insult. Soiled straw just adds to it."

"Has Tremayne sent for the constable?"

"Aye. Apparently, Anderson hired three more sharpshooters, who arrived during the night. Masterson caught one of them—the man wasn't about to go off to the gaol without taking his partners in crime with him."

"So, they've rounded up all of Anderson's lackeys?" Garahan asked.

"Aye. The constable was asked to bring his wagon, as he'll have four prisoners this time."

"What do ye think will happen to Anderson this time?" O'Malley asked.

The baron shrugged. "I wish I could say for certain that he will spend more time away from Society, contemplating his actions. With the prince regent as a close friend, who knows? I've already informed Timmons. He will let the footmen and the tenant farmers know that the crisis has passed. Thank you, men. I'm ready for things to return to normal around here."

"Aye, yer lordship," O'Malley agreed.

"I'm going to give Phoebe the good news."

O'Malley waited until Summerfield was out of earshot before assigning shifts. "Garahan, if ye'll take the first shift on the rooftop, Flaherty can guard the exterior. I have another sennight guarding the interior, until the stitches are removed, and then I'll be able to resume me full duties."

Garahan and Flaherty shared a knowing look, and Garahan said, "Ye have another duty that's more important."

"Than me vow to the duke?"

"Aye." Flaherty grinned.

"In nine months' time me son, or daughter, will be needing a cousin to play with," Garahan told him. "Best see to it, O'Malley."

O'Malley let out a whoop and hugged his cousin. "Congratulations, Ryan. If ye're lucky, he or she will look like yer darling wife."

"And if yer luck holds," Garahan told him, "ye'll have a daughter or son with red hair and freckles."

As one, Garahan and O'Malley turned and stared at Flaherty, who held up his hands. "I'll not be getting snared in the parson's trap!"

Garahan laughed. "I wouldn't bet on it, boy-o. What do ye think, O'Malley?"

"Flaherty won't know what hit him until he's standing in front of Vicar Chessy saying his vows."

"Feck off!" Flaherty said.

Garahan put his arm around O'Malley's neck as they watched Flaherty yank the back door open and storm outside. "Dillon is such a sentimental bugger."

O'Malley snorted with laughter. "Who would know better than yerself?"

"Ye would," Garahan said. "Remember yer duty, Thomas. I don't want me son or daughter to grow up without a cousin they can boss around."

"Ye're such a soft touch, Garahan."

"That I am. I'll see ye at shift change."

O'Malley was smiling as he ascended the back staircase. He had just enough time to kiss his wife before he manned his shift on the second floor.

Life was good.