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Mary Kate’s eyes welled with tears at the way their ladyships eased the worst of her worries, and a tiny bit of the fear that she would do something wrong later tonight.

“I never imagined that I would have someone willing to talk to me so honestly about what to expect in the marriage bed. I will always remember your frankness and kindness, your ladyships. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Calliope and Aurelia hugged her. “Now then, turn around one more time,” Aurelia said. When Mary Kate complied, she clapped her hands together. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, Calliope?”

“Beautiful,” Calliope agreed. “The three-quarter sleeves hide the bruises.”

Mary Kate grimaced. “I had forgotten about them. Will it bother Flaherty?”

“Yes, but he will be doing his best to soothe your worries tonight.”

The knock on the bedchamber door, and the announcement that the vicar had arrived and Flaherty was waiting, had their ladyships responding, “We’ll be right down.”

Tugging on Mary Kate to get her moving, they walked out of the room and down the stairs.

At the bottom of the steps, the viscount was waiting. He offered his arm, tucking her close to his side as he escorted her to the sitting room. “You look lovely, Mary Kate. We’d best hurry. When I left, Flaherty was wearing a hole in the sitting room carpet waiting for you.”

The next half an hour passed in a blur. Mary Kate was fairly certain Flaherty said his vows, and that she managed to repeat hers. She came vibrantly to life when his lips met hers. Every part of her tingled from head to toe, while her husband kissed the breath right out of her.

When he ended the kiss, she blinked and stared into eyes that held myriad emotions so chaotic, she wondered how he managed to appear so calm. She was trembling inside. Was it from his kiss or the worry that somehow she’d fall short of his expectations of the coming night?

She cupped the injured side of his face and pressed her lips below his scar. Overwhelmed with the feelings rioting inside of her, she rasped, “I love you, Seamus.”

His eyes blazed with passion for a heartbeat, before the heat banked to a simmering warmth. “There’s the lass I love.”

Garahan hugged his wife and pressed a kiss to her temple. “The first of the Flahertys to fall.”

Michael O’Malley wrapped his arm around his wife and chuckled. “Who wants to wager ’tis Rory who falls next?”

His brother Sean slipped his arm around his wife. “I’m in, but I’m placing me bet on Dillon!”

Dermott O’Malley smiled down at his wife and kissed her forehead. “Ye’re both wrong—’twill be Fenton. He’s the wiliest of the Flaherty brothers. Thinks he’ll never get caught.”

Seamus stared down at Mary Kate and brushed a lock of hair that had caught on her long, dark eyelashes. “Faith, I know that I’m a sorry sight at the moment with threads holding me cheek together, but I’m thinking I’ll be able to distract ye later when we—”

She put her hand over his mouth. Seamus and his cousins roared with laughter while their wives prodded or poked them to get them to stop laughing.

Instead of letting him think he’d gotten the better of her by embarrassing her in front of everyone, Mary Kate leaned close and purred, “Mayhap I’ll be distracting you. ”

Not willing to let him have the last word, she removed her hand and nipped his bottom lip before molding her mouth—and her body—against him.

The men cheered and their wives tried to shush them, but Mary Kate’s boast was turned around on her when Flaherty slid his hand to the base of her spine, urging her closer still, and slid his tongue between her lips to taste her fully.

Pinned against her husband, she was swept up in the silent promises he made to her with lips and tongue. A heartbeat later, she sagged against him when he ended the kiss.

Flaherty braced her against him for a moment, then swept her into his arms. “Thank ye all for a fine wedding. If ye’ll excuse us…” He left the rest unsaid and strode out of the sitting room.

Mary Kate protested, “Seamus, we cannot just leave .”

He chuckled. “We just did.”

“But their lordships, their ladyships! Your cousins and their wives—”

“Are all well aware of what happens after a couple weds, lass,” her husband rumbled.

“Let them enjoy the meal they’ve planned for us.

I’m certain Lady Calliope and Lady Aurelia will have sent a tray of food to the guest bedchamber the viscount told me was ours to use for the night.

I’m expected back at Lippincott Manor tomorrow, though his lordship did say that I wasn’t expected to resume my duties for three days. ”

“Then why do we need to leave?”

“We cannot very well share yer bed in the servants’ quarters on the third floor. ’Tis too small.”

She had to agree. “I had not thought of that.”

Flaherty took the steps up two at a time, tightening his hold on her. “Not to worry. I did.” He stopped in front of the last door on the left. “Open the door, lass.”

Mary Kate turned the knob and opened the door.

He stepped over the threshold and spun around. “Lock the door.”

Her hands shook, though she did as he asked.

“Now then, bride of mine, I’m thinking ye need to follow through with yer promise to distract me.”

She smiled and lifted her lips to his. “Kiss me, Seamus.”