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Flaherty frowned. The rumors began not long after he’d been assigned to Lippincott Manor, and Mary Kate had remained at the neighboring estate, Chattsworth Manor.

Sly talk soon followed, revolving around her haunting the stables whenever the new farrier arrived to tend to the horses.

Flaherty scoffed—in his opinion, the man was too puny to shoe horses for a living.

He raked a hand through his hair, and winced as the movement stretched the healing wounds in his back.

He had best remember to duck the next time some blackguard shot at him.

Resolved to end the mystery, and confront Mary Kate as to why she’d abandoned him, he squared his shoulders and made his way to the kitchen.

It was past time to find Dermott’s wife and make amends.

Georgiana would be there at this time of day.

She may not have mastered cooking or baking, but she was always willing to lend a hand in the kitchen.

For Dermott’s sake, Flaherty hoped some of the cook’s talent in the kitchen would rub off on his cousin’s wife.

Mrs. Wyatt looked up as he stood in the doorway. “You’re looking well, Flaherty. How do you feel?”

He couldn’t help but smile at the concern in the older woman’s voice. The earl’s cook had a big heart that had her voluntarily taking care of every one of the men in the duke’s guard. It did not matter if the men were stationed at the manor or any of the other duke’s residences.

“Better every day, thank ye.”

The Lord works in mysterious ways. His cousins had fallen in love with the women they’d rescued.

Flaherty had rescued Mary Kate, and while he’d been attracted to the lass, he hadn’t felt compelled to offer her marriage.

And why not? he wondered before shoving that question aside to address the more pressing matter. Apologizing.

He smiled at Georgiana. “I need to speak with ye for a moment, if ye have the time.”

Dermott’s wife brushed her hands on her apron. With a glance at the cook, who nodded approval, Georgiana followed him out of the room into the long hallway. Halfway down, he paused and held out his hand, which she took.

“I need to apologize to ye.” She was already shaking her head when he insisted, “Ye need to listen. Please?”

When she stilled, he dug deep to pull out the emotions he’d been ignoring. Guilt-laced gratitude. “Forgive me for letting ye think I was still feeling poorly.”

Instead of interrupting him, she remained silent.

He continued, “I have to admit, I was feeling a bit irritated that ye hadn’t listened to me that day and waited for me escort.

And more, I was worried that ye’d wandered off when ye knew full well—” He paused to scrub a hand over his face.

When she giggled, he grumbled, “What part of ye getting kidnapped, and disappearing to God knows where, do ye find amusing?”

Georgiana bit her lip and struggled to stop laughing. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please continue.”

He held on to his temper—barely. “Where was I?”

“You were about to yell at me.”

“Flaherty would not dare raise his voice to ye.” Dermott strode toward them and glared at their clasped hands. “Let go of me wife!” Flaherty dropped her hand, and Dermott added, “He wouldn’t survive the beating.”

Flaherty was about to disagree when Georgiana said, “If you would let Seamus finish, Dermott, I think he was about to apologize after he got through reminding me of events that keep me up nights—my selfish need that day to clear my head with a long walk. I never gave a thought to the danger that had been lurking nearby for days—or the consequences, should one of those dangers lie in wait for one of us.”

Turning back to Flaherty, she patted his arm. “Whenever you’re ready to continue, I’m listening.”

With a brief glance at his cousin, Flaherty said, “I may have been thinking ye needed to feel bad on me behalf for a bit longer, as I wanted ye to remember the consequences of not listening to me.” The fear that gripped him that day returned.

“Ye’d been kidnapped, and I feared I wouldn’t find ye before ye were spirited away. ”

“I will never forget that you were shot protecting me, Seamus.” Tears gathered in her eyes, and he felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach.

“Don’t be crying over a few lead balls in me hide. I’m not dead yet, lass. I’m sorry if I let ye think I was still in pain.”

“Ye’d best finish yer apology, Flaherty—I need to have a private word with me wife,” Dermott interjected.

“Hah! Ye’ve got that look in yer eye, Dermott.

Ye’d best not be taking time for more than a few kisses.

I’m meeting Sean behind the outbuilding in a few minutes.

” That pulled his cousin’s attention away from his wife, as Flaherty intended.

“He’ll be testing me reflexes and stamina by going a few rounds with me. ”

Dermott nodded. “Good idea. Then he’ll be speaking to his lordship for ye?”

“Aye, and I thought to speak to the earl again afterward.”

Dermott pulled his wife close to his side. “The earl will have already heard about the bare-knuckle bout by now and show up for part of it.” With his arm around his wife, he nodded and started to walk away.

Flaherty knew he’d best get the rest of his apology said quickly.

“I need ye to forgive me for not taking into account yer tender feelings, Georgiana. I would never have wanted ye suffering lack of sleep, or night terrors, on me behalf. I’ve mended and am ready to resume me place in the guard.

” She didn’t speak right away, and guilt hammered him. “I’m truly sorry, lass.”

She slowly smiled. “Of course I forgive you, Seamus. I promise not to ignore instructions from you—or any of the other guards—again. I’m so sorry you were shot on my behalf.”

“Twice,” he murmured.

“For feck’s sake, Flaherty!” Dermott grumbled. “Let it go! Ye’re lucky the blackguard didn’t aim for yer head!”

“Or me arse,” Flaherty added.

Dermott’s laugh rang out. “Fecking eedjit .”

Flaherty shrugged. “If the bugger had shot me in the backside, I’d have hated not being able to sit for the last few weeks.”

Georgiana giggled, and Dermott grumbled, “Watch yer words around me wife’s tender ears, and quit monopolizing her!”

Flaherty swallowed a chuckle. “I beg yer pardon for me language, lass.” He nodded to Dermott.

“Satisfied?” His cousin grunted, and Flaherty asked, “If ye could put in a good word for me with our cousin Sean, I’m thinking I owe Mary Kate a visit.

The last time she was here, I was a bit under the weather. ”

Dermott stared at him for a moment before agreeing. “That ye were. Weak as a newborn babe.”

Flaherty growled. “I had just been shot.”

“Excuses, excuses.” His cousin snickered, pulled his wife into the room at the end of the hall, and closed the door.

Their muffled laughter ended abruptly, and Flaherty felt a hard tug of jealousy.

His cousins had somehow managed to not only rescue lasses who were grateful, but who fell hard and fast in love with them.

Had he misunderstood Mary Kate’s feelings?

Would he have fallen in love with her if she had stopped harping on Garahan saving her life—ignoring Flaherty’s more daring rescue?

Why couldn’t Mary Kate understand that it drove him to the brink of sanity that she always referred to James as the man who rescued her? If only she could understand how badly he needed to be the one she thought of first. Besides, Garahan was a married man! The jealousy was eating him alive.

It was time to tell her how he felt and demand she do the same! He’d not continue to court a woman who had no feelings for him.