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“Far from a scratch, wouldn’t you agree, Lippincott?

” The viscount stepped into the room, took one look at Flaherty, and shook his head.

“Are you trying to outdo your cousins? I believe there is now a three-way tie for the worst injury incurred in the line of duty between yourself, Sean, and Darby. I’m not sure which one of you has suffered more while protecting the duke. ”

“Truth be told, yer lordship, not one of us was protecting the duke at the time,” Flaherty reminded him.

“I was shot protecting Dermott’s wife while stationed at Lippincott Manor.

Sean was injured walking out of the rear entrance to the duke’s town house on Grosvenor Square.

Darby was jumped from behind on the streets of London. ”

“All while seeing to your duties to my brother,” the earl said.

“Aye, but—”

“No use arguing with Lippincott,” the viscount said. “Now then, any problems with your balance or your vision?”

“None, your lordship.”

“Excellent.” Chattsworth turned toward Mary Kate and asked, “How is your ankle? Should you not be sitting with your foot on a pillow?”

“Aye, yer lordship,” Flaherty grumbled. “That she should.”

Mary Kate frowned at him, but it seemed to have no effect on the man. “I really don’t think—”

He startled the breath out of her when he scooped her into his arms. “We’ve had this discussion before, lass.

’Tis obvious to some of us that ye don’t think before ye act.

” Turning to the earl and the viscount, he said, “With yer permission, I’d like to take me bride-to-be to her bedchamber so she can rest with her foot elevated. ”

“I do not think that wise, William,” Lady Calliope replied, entering the kitchen with Lady Aurelia hot on her heels. “Aurelia and I leave you alone for half an hour and you’re ready to let Flaherty carry Mary Kate to her bedchamber without a chaperone?”

“Not well done of you, Flaherty.” Lady Aurelia was not smiling.

He was used to her smiles, not her frowns. “The lass is being difficult.”

Frustration twined with fear of the unknown as Mary Kate wondered what it would be like for Flaherty to carry her to her room—or their room, once they were wed.

She needed to ask if he were still planning on marrying her later tonight, but had to clarify a salient point first. “And you weren’t being difficult, making MacReady wait for you to stop talking so he could finish closing your injury? ”

“It seems you both have been giving poor MacReady fits,” Calliope said.

“But I—”

Chattsworth glared at Flaherty. “Would not think of gainsaying my wife.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Then please carry Mary Kate to the room at the end of the hallway,” Calliope instructed him. “You know we keep a cot in that room and have set it up just like the duke’s London town house and Wyndmere Hall in the Lake District.”

“We have done the same at Lippincott Manor,” Aurelia added. “Keeping a ready supply of healing herbs, tinctures, and stacks of linens to care for the numerous wounds all of you seem to acquire while protecting our families is a must.”

“We learned just how important from our time at Wyndmere Hall,” Calliope added, “thanks to Constance and Merriweather, the duke’s cook and housekeeper there.”

“I’ll walk with Flaherty,” Garahan said, “to make sure he doesn’t drop Mary Kate.”

The very idea had a giggle slipping out before Mary Kate could cover her mouth with her hands, which earned another frown from her intended.

“Too late,” he murmured close to her ear. “I heard that.”

“Follow me, Seamus,” Garahan said. “I just refilled me flask.”

“Did ye now. Well then, lead the way, and I’ll gladly relieve ye of a sip or two.”

Giving in to the warmth radiating from Flaherty’s body, Mary Kate realized she was tired from her ordeal. She sighed and laid her cheek against his heart.

He brushed a kiss to her temple. “There’s a lass. Let me take care of ye.”

“But you’re hurt, too.”

“Why don’t we agree to argue after we’re wed?”

Garahan opened the door to the room at the end of the hall. “With all that’s happened, do ye still plan to marry tonight?”

“No,” Mary Kate replied.

“Aye,” Flaherty said at the same time.

Garahan snorted. “I’ll speak to their lordships to see if either one has sent word to the vicar. Then again, the village gossip chain is usually rife with news, so mayhap we should ask Mrs. Romney what she’s heard.”

“Would ye want to wait to marry if ye were in me shoes?”

“I have been in yer shoes, and ye know I didn’t wait. Melinda needed the protection of me name.”

“Well then, I expect ye to back me up when I suggest that to the earl.”

“And the viscount,” Garahan added.

“Aye, and the viscount.”

“What about their ladyships?” Mary Kate asked.

“I’m sure they’ll be stopping in to check on you in a few minutes. Neither one would want to leave ye alone with me or Garahan for long—let alone both of us at the same time.”

“How right you are,” Lady Aurelia agreed as she entered the room with Calliope right behind her. “Now, what’s all this talk about marrying tonight?”

“Their lordships agreed earlier,” Flaherty reminded them.

“All things considered—” Lady Calliope began, only to be interrupted by Flaherty.

“Begging yer pardon, yer ladyship, but given all that’s happened, I think the protection of me name would guarantee no one else would dare try to abduct Mary Kate.”

Lady Aurelia nodded. “He has a good point.”

Mary Kate sat up. “Does anyone want to know what I think?”

Flaherty got down on one knee beside the cot and brought her hand to his lips. “Don’t ye want to marry me, lass?”

Undone by the hint of worry in his voice, she sighed and watched as he lifted her hand to his lips a second time.

Only this time, his lips lingered, and she felt herself falling deeper under the spell of the handsome man who’d by turns irritated and captivated her.

She gave a gentle tug on his hand, and he leaned closer.

When their lips were a breath apart, she whispered, “Yes, I do want to marry you, Seamus.”

Mary Kate poured everything she felt—and hoped for—into her kiss. Seamus took control and passion erupted between them. Her head spun, and her heart pounded. Lord, the man could kiss!

“I believe I’ll send for the vicar.”

Mary Kate was not certain if the earl or the viscount made that remark, not that it mattered. What did was the man who held her as if she were precious.

“Thank ye, yer lordship.”

“I’ll stay behind as chaperone.” Aurelia’s voice sounded distant, though in truth it was hard for Mary Kate to hear anything over the buzzing in her head.

Flaherty nibbled at her lips. “No need to stay on my account, yer ladyship.”

Garahan laid a hand on Flaherty’s shoulder. “Time to get cleaned up, me boy-o.”

“There’s plenty of time,” Flaherty replied.

Garahan tightened his grip, and Flaherty rose to his feet. “Think of yer bride-to-be,” Garahan said. “Sure and she’ll be wanting to soak in a hot tub.”

“Why don’t you ask the footmen to carry in the copper tub from the storeroom, Garahan?

” Lady Calliope said. “Flaherty, please speak to Mrs. Romney about the hot water to fill it. When you two have taken care of that, one of you can ask Hargrave or MacReady to see to it a bath is filled for Flaherty.”

“I haven’t anything clean to change into,” Flaherty told them.

“We came prepared and have brought O’Malley’s spare uniform for you.” Aurelia made a shooing motion, then asked the men, “Well? What are you waiting for?”

Flaherty was smiling when he lowered his lips to Mary Kate’s one last time. “I’ll be back and am looking forward to more than one kiss, lass.”

Hand to her breast, heart in her eyes, Mary Kate could only nod.