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G ood news travels fast, bad news faster. The next morning when Mary Kate and Flaherty went down to eat breakfast, there were whispers among those already eating. Everyone stopped talking as they walked into the common room.

“Ah, Flaherty, Mrs. Flaherty,” the innkeeper said. “Please have a seat and your meals will be right out. I trust you slept well.”

Flaherty’s gaze swept the room before he answered.

“Aye. Thank ye.” He pulled out Mary Kate’s chair and waited for her to sit before helping her scoot it closer to the table.

With a sigh, he turned and looked at another table, where an older couple sat.

He met their curious looks with a nod, then did the same with every last person in the room.

Once he had, he crossed his arms and grunted, “Out with it.”

The older man chuckled. “I always appreciate a man who can understand the situation with just a glance. You and your wife were the topic of conversation, Flaherty, especially after two messengers changed horses and rode out of here as if their lives depended upon them delivering their urgent missives.”

Flaherty reached for Mary Kate’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I sent missives to London and the Lake District. Where were the messengers earlier today headed?”

“The Lake District and the Borderlands.” When Flaherty shook his head and started to sit, the older man added, “It was wise not to wait to send your missives yesterday.”

Mary Kate laughed. “My husband is a cautious man.”

“Excellent. By the way, name’s Horne, and this is my wife, Mary.”

One by one the others in the room introduced themselves, congratulated Flaherty and Mary Kate on their recent marriage, and wished them well with whatever problems they were currently facing.

As they were finishing their meal, Horne helped his wife to her feet and walked over to stand beside Flaherty. “Watch your back, and ask the Lord for wisdom. A man can never have too much wisdom.”

Flaherty thanked them and watched them leave. When they were finally alone, he chuckled. “That was surprising.”

“Not really, Seamus. I do believe those of us who are not members of the ton outnumber those who are.”

He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I have married a wise woman. Well, what do ye think our chances are? Will the duke agree to listen to me proposal?”

“Flaherty! Where in the bloody hell are ye?”

“Garahan?”

“I knew it, Melinda!” His cousin strode into the common room with his wife’s arm tucked against his side. “Didn’t I tell ye the eedjit would not make Mary Kate travel too far yesterday?”

“I never thought otherwise, James.” Patting her husband’s hand before she slipped her arm free, Melinda walked over to where Mary Kate was sitting. “Do you mind if I join you for a cup of tea? It was chilly when we left our home this morning.”

Flaherty motioned to one of the serving girls, who returned with a pot of tea and more teacups. As Garahan pulled out a chair for his wife, Flaherty nodded toward the back of the inn. “I need a word with ye.”

“No matter what ye hear, or who comes into the inn,” Garahan warned the women, “neither one of ye leave this table.”

“We wouldn’t think of disobeying you, James,” Melinda replied.

He frowned at his wife before he kissed her. “I’m wise to yer tricks, Melinda. Ye’re feeling secure and would not hesitate to leave if ye got a maggot in yer brain to do so.”

“How can you speak to Melinda that way?” Mary Kate demanded. “She does not deserve your censure, when all she asked was to join me for a cup of tea.”

Garahan frowned at her. “It always starts with just a cup of tea.” He was halfway to the back of the room with Flaherty when he paused to call out, “I’m meaning what I said, Melinda.”

“I love you too, James.”

Garahan ignored the snicker of laughter from Flaherty and answered, “Faith, I know it.”

*

“Why aren’t you worried that he did not tell you he loved you?” Mary Kate asked.

“That’s his way of saying he loves me when we are in public,” Melinda explained. “Once you and Flaherty have been married for more than a sennight, you’ll find a way to speak of your feelings without necessarily using the words, too.”

“Right now, I’d settle for a way to fix this disaster I’ve created without trying,” Mary Kate confessed. “All I did was fall asleep yesterday.”

“I have never heard of such a thing causing such a disruption before, but stranger things have happened,” Melinda replied. “I hope you don’t mind, but James insisted that we accompany you and Flaherty.”

“Where?” Mary Kate asked.

Melinda reached out and placed her hand on Mary Kate’s arm. “Wherever you are going. James insists that he will watch Flaherty’s back. As if only the Irish can truly protect one another’s backs, because no one else would understand the trials and strife they have been through.”

Tears welled up and spilled over before Mary Kate could stop them. “I know Flaherty would never have asked, but it will mean the world to him that James would offer.”

“Once my darling makes up his mind, there is no stopping him,” Melinda confided.

Mary Kate sighed. “Flaherty is the same way, which is why I have to come up with a way to fix this mess his pride has gotten us into. Flaherty does not know, and I’d appreciate it if you would not say anything, but I sent a missive to Her Grace.”

Melinda smiled. “I have no doubt that Lady Calliope and Lady Aurelia will be doing the same, without alerting their husbands to that fact. It will be up to the wives to help mend this breech before it becomes too wide and the parties on either side of it refuse to speak to one another.”

“I am so glad you have come. How was her ladyship this morning? I feel so bad that I did not have the chance to say goodbye.”

“She understands, and by now she and little William, and the viscount, have probably settled in at Lippincott Manor.”

“Oh?”

“Michael and Garahan spoke ahead of time. Once Garahan made up his mind to stand alongside Flaherty, he and Michael put the plan together for the viscount and his family’s protection.

Those on the viscount’s staff who have been trained to step in when one of the duke’s men are injured, and the tenant farmers who were instrumental in saving Harriet’s farm when under attack, have rallied around Garahan.

They will act as escort with Michael, who will insist the viscount and his family seek shelter with the earl and his family. ”

Mary Kate nodded. “And Michael and those from Chattsworth Manor will stay on?”

“I believe he will—otherwise, how can he state his case for Garahan and Flaherty?”

Mary Kate hesitated before asking, “You do not believe that Sean or Dermott would leave the families without protection, do you?”

Melinda shook her head. “Trust the men in the guard to do all within their power to continue to protect the duke’s family. They have been training others in the event that they are badly injured. Flaherty was just over a month ago. It is always best to be prepared.”

“I have watched Michael and James training with a few of the tenant farmers and footmen—Bart, too. I never thought Flaherty would abandon his post.”

Melinda sighed. “You still have not realized that he did it to protect you, not because of any other reason. Their lordships have to realize that their wives are not the only ones deserving of protection. We are equally deserving of protection. And that is what Flaherty is railing against, the viscount’s misguided assumption that Flaherty would pretend what happened the day before had not occurred. ”

Needing to soothe feathers that were becoming ruffled, Mary Kate hoped to distract Melinda, saying, “Harry O’Malley’s son is growing into a fine young man. Do you think he has aspirations of working alongside his stepfather in the duke’s guard?”

Melinda paused to think about it. “I assumed he would have wanted to take over the family farm. He has been working alongside his mum since his father died unexpectedly.”

“He’s young yet and still has plenty of time to decide,” Mary Kate reminded her.

“Because of O’Malley and the others working for the duke, Bart will have a chance and a choice.”

Mary Kate’s belly churned. “I hope that Flaherty’s looking out for me hasn’t taken his choice away from him.”

“Family should stick together. I believe James has led the way for the others to follow and fall in line. Whether or not they will do so by leaving, or standing their ground and going head to head with the viscount, remains to be seen.”

Mary Kate was more than concerned by Melinda’s statement. “You don’t believe the other men would disrespect the viscount, do you?”

“If he disrespected—mayhap dismissed is the better word—their wives as he did to you, yes, I believe they would. James more or less echoed what your husband said to the viscount, giving his lordship something to think about—seriously. As Garahan walked out, there is a very good chance that Michael will follow, after he sets their secondary guard in place and escorts the viscount’s family to Lippincott Manor.

The men are equally trained in everything except bare-knuckle fighting. No one excels at it like our husbands.”

Mary Kate’s worry increased. “Then Sean and Dermott may walk away from their posts as well?”

“As I said, there is a chance, but who knows? Cooler heads may prevail. Especially if Lady Aurelia has anything to say about it. Nevertheless, no one will leave unless and until the secondary guard is in place. Having the viscount and Lady Calliope already stationed at Lippincott Manor will make it that much easier for them to be protected.”

Mary Kate was only marginally reassured. “Flaherty also sent word to Coventry and King, asking them to send reinforcements right away.”