Page 85 of Rogue of My Heart

The sisters gaped and snorted in offense, shaking their heads and huffing.

“I don’t object to marriage,” Marie said, narrowing her eyes at her brother. “I’d rather like the excuse to have a man in my bed.”

Lady Coyle groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. Marie’s sisters laughed.

“Come to think of it, you’re right there,” Colleen said.

“I wouldn’t mind a strapping, virile man at all,” Shannon agreed.

“As long as he’s a Leo,” Chloe added. “Or Aquarius. I suppose Aries would do.”

“Good. It’s settled, then,” Fergus said, a little too forcefully, as though the sisters had just walked blissfully into a trap. “Pack up your things and bring them back to the castle immediately. I’ll have all your old bedrooms prepared for you.”

“Now hold on just a moment,” Colleen led the protests.

“This isn’t fair,” Marie huffed.

“We’re perfectly fine at the cottage,” Shannon said.

Fergus held up his hands against the onslaught of protest. “Enough of that, now, ladies,” he said, silencing them all. By his side, Henrietta had to hide her mouth in her hand to stifle her laughter. Marie bristled at the gesture, but Fergus went on before she could say anything. “I’m determined to marry you four hellions off,” he said. “And to do that, even though it might kill me, I’m going to have to host gatherings and invite suitable men from respectable families to do things like dine with us.”

“Ugh.” Chloe grimaced. “I despise the word ‘respectable’.”

“Yes, I can imagine you do,” Lady Coyle said in a flat voice.

Fergus sent her a weary look, then focused on his sisters once more. “You’ll all move back to the castle. We’ll entertain and do all the things an earl and his family should do.” Marie and the others groaned in protest. “But,” Fergus went on, holding up a hand, “because I know how much of a trial this is for you, I have a peace offering.”

“What sort of a peace offering?” Shannon asked, one brow raised.

“Michael,” Fergus called toward the hallway, summoning his head footman.

Michael appeared in the doorway a moment later, as if he’d been waiting around the corner, listening for his cue in a stage production. He wasn’t alone when he entered the room, though, and he wasn’t empty-handed. Marie gasped and pressed a hand to her stomach as Michael and the other footman, Sean, entered the room, each of them wheeling two bicycles with them.

“Dear God above, those aren’t what I think they are,” Colleen said, leaping toward the footmen.

“Bicycles,” Chloe squealed, following her. Her expression lit to absolute joy. She immediately snatched one of the newfangled contraptions from Michael and gazed at it, enraptured. “Oh! These are the new safety bicycles Mr. Starley invented. I’ve been reading about them everywhere. They’re becoming all the rage in smart circles.”

“Oh, good heavens,” Lady Coyle groaned as though she might faint. “Lord O’Shea, what have you done?”

Marie didn’t wait around for the answer. She and Shannon rushed toward Sean, taking the last two bicycles from him. Marie’s heart raced as she pored over the amazing invention. She’d played with bicycles where one wheel was enormous and the other was small, but both wheels of the machines Fergus had purchased were the same size. They were part of the new design that involved a chain to turn the wheels. The bicycle in her hands was clearly meant for a woman to use, as the chain had a metal covering to prevent skirts from catching in the mechanism.

“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she gasped, running her hand over the leather seat.

“It’s clearly a bribe,” Shannon said, though she couldn’t pull her eyes off her bicycle.

“You are correct, dear sister,” Fergus said. “I am giving each of you one of these machines in exchange for your cooperation in moving back into the castle and marrying men whom I deem suitable.”

“You’re not going to pick them out for us, are you?” Colleen said, snapping her head up and narrowing her eyes.

“Only if you make it necessary,” Fergus said. “Otherwise, I’m more than willing to take suggestions.”

Marie snorted at that, but her heart was still too full of her new plaything to pay much mind to her brother. She wondered how difficult bicycles were to ride. She’d seen illustrations, read instructions, and figured she’d do all right, but there was only one way to tell.

“I want to take it for a ride right this very moment,” she said, glancing to her sisters.

“So do I,” Chloe gasped with equal excitement.

“Go right ahead,” Fergus said. “Provided you ride those things down to the cottage to pack your belongings and have them sent back to the castle.”