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“L ass, ’twould be best if ye and Melinda go with O’Shaughnessy to Grosvenor Square.”

Mary Kate shook her head at Flaherty. “I’m staying with you.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her close.

“Ye’re a distraction, lass. I’d be more worried about how ye’re feeling, and whether or not ye were hungry, when I should be paying attention to whatever King and Coventry have to say on the matter of fair treatment for the wives and families of the men in the duke’s guard. ”

She laid her head on his shoulder. “You really cannot concentrate when I am near you?”

Flaherty shifted her in his arms until he could trail kisses along the curve of her cheek, then pressed his mouth to hers urgently.

When he ended the kiss, she sagged against him. “Very well, but I do not like being separated. What if they decide to toss you behind bars for leaving your post?”

He chuckled. “Not a likely occurrence. Besides, ye know that I do not like being separated from ye either. ’Tis why I’d hoped we would end up employed together at one of the duke’s residences.”

“What if the viscount apologizes—would you consider working for him?”

She watched her husband clench his jaw and curl his hands into fists before he relaxed enough to respond, “I don’t know.”

“I see. You’re asking me to set aside a close working relationship with Lady Calliope, who has become a friend, because of the viscount putting his wife before yours?”

“Aye. If ye cannot understand the fact that he did not value yer life as much as his wife’s and expected me to feel the same, then there is no way I can expect ye to understand how I feel.”

She stroked the side of his face and traced the tips of her fingers along the strong line of his jaw. Rising on her toes, she pressed a kiss to his cheek beneath the stitches. “I do understand. I just wish I did not. I loved working for Lady Calliope and taking care of little William.”

“Garahan and I were discussing the possibility of renting rooms in Coventry’s building. Two apartments were recently vacated.”

He watched for his wife’s reaction. It wasn’t long in coming. “I thought it was a popular location, being so close to Grosvenor Square.”

“Aye, lass, but after what happened to Coventry’s man, Masterson—gunned down on the front steps of the building—two of the residents asked to sever their lease agreements. Coventry complied.”

“I overheard Garahan mention that Masterson is healing well.” Flaherty shrugged, and she continued, “I haven’t been in London for a while. Tell me again who else lives in the building?”

“James’s brother Darby and his wife Aimee. Then there’s four of Coventry’s men: Hennessey, Masterson, Bayfield, and Tremayne.”

“And the captain and his family?”

“Aye, lass. Miranda and Coventry have a daughter, Emma, who is three—I think—and her son Michael, who is four and ten, mayhap five and ten by now.”

Considering the possibility of living in close proximity with Melinda and Aimee Garahan, and Miranda Coventry, Mary Kate realized she might enjoy residing in Coventry’s building. “I think I’d like that.”

“Flaherty! Is your wife ready to leave?”

Mary Kate threw her arms around her husband’s neck and kissed him lavishly. “I’m coming, Mr. O’Shaughnessy!”

“Just O’Shaughnessy, ma’am. Are you prepared to listen and not argue with me, Mrs. Flaherty?”

“Why would I argue with you, O’Shaughnessy?”

He rolled his eyes. “Yer maiden name is Donovan, is it not?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re Irish?”

She laughed. “I am.”

“And yet you ask why I thought you would argue with me?”

She bit her lip and fought not to smile. “I see your point. Is Melinda ready to go?”

“Aye, she’s saying goodbye to Garahan. I hope she doesn’t take as long as you did.”

“Mary Kate!”

She spun around. “Aye, Seamus?”

“Don’t devil O’Shaughnessy with yer insensate questions,” Flaherty warned.

“My questions are never foolish and always make sense,” she replied.

“Let’s get this over with,” O’Shaughnessy mumbled. “I’ll be standing guard with the others when we arrive at the duke’s town house,” he warned when Melinda arrived.

He hesitated, and Mary Kate wondered if there was something bothering the man. “Is there something at the town house that has you worried? Should Melinda and I worry?”

“Nay. My wife is there.”

“Melinda and I would love to meet your wife, O’Shaughnessy.”

“She’s on the shy side and has not been as fortunate as you in life,” he explained.

She sensed there was quite a bit more to their story, but did not pry. “Then we shall make certain to treat her with extra care. Shan’t we, Melinda?”

Garahan’s wife agreed. “Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness. Mrs. O’Toole and Mrs. Wigglesworth have been kindness itself the few times I was there.”

“They were to me as well,” Mary Kate said. “In fact, I cannot remember ever hearing that those two lovely women were anything but kind. I believe they have worked for His Grace’s brother, and their father before that.”

“Do I have your word that you will look after Mary until I can fetch her later?” O’Shaughnessy prodded her.

“Absolutely,” Mary Kate agreed.

“I promise,” Melinda answered.

“You ladies have hearts of gold, just like my Mary.”

“We’re grateful for your escort, O’Shaughnessy,” Mary Kate said.

“Thank you. Next to Garahan and Flaherty, I feel safe with you,” Melinda murmured.

“Well then, let’s be off. I’m certain that Mrs. O’Toole will have something sweet to serve with a nice cup of tea.”

*

Flaherty and Garahan watched them depart from a distance. “O’Shaughnessy’s a good man. My brother Darby and I trust him with our lives—and our wives.”

“We’d best start this discussion now,” Flaherty urged. “I’m already missing me wife.”

“Did ye mention living in Coventry’s building to her?” Garahan asked.

“That I did. Mary Kate seemed to like the idea, especially getting to know Aimee and Miranda.”

“’Twill be a fine life we can build here in London, Flaherty.”

“Aye. Even if we no longer work for the duke.”

The men walked toward King’s office and were admitted to the room. They nodded to the men gathered and waited for the questions to begin.

*

King and Coventry nodded to the two imposing men dressed in black who walked into the room as if they owned it.

A glance from King was the signal for Coventry to begin the proceedings.

They had an agenda and a duke’s life hanging in the balance, along with that of the cousins of the men who stood before them.

A glance at the identical closed expressions on their faces gave Coventry little hope that they would be easily swayed.

Bloody hell, the crux of the matter was that he agreed with what Flaherty and Garahan were angling for—equal concern and treatment for the wives and families of the men in the duke’s guard.

By default, that included his own wife and family.

Flaherty placed a fisted hand over the Celtic harp and embroidered Eire—the only color on the unrelieved black of the uniform adopted by the sixteen men guarding the duke.

A nod and a heartbeat later, Garahan did the same.

Was it their signal that all that they did, they did for the ones they loved, or was it for something even deeper? A love for their native country?

King cleared his throat, and Coventry greeted the men. “Thank you for coming. As you must realize, this situation is a delicate one, with many lives depending on how you answer our questions, and how willingly the duke is to see the situation resolved.”

“His Grace should have shared his thoughts with Chattsworth,” Flaherty grumbled.

“His lordship,” King reminded him.

“A man earns respect, King. Ye have mine,” Flaherty replied. “The viscount had mine, but lost it when he showed no care or concern for me wife’s condition after nearly dying”—his voice broke, and he shook his head—“beside me.”

Flaherty shifted his gaze to Coventry. “Ye know ye’ve had me respect since the day ye hired meself and me brothers, captain.

I cannot believe that ye would not support Garahan and meself in our bid to have our wives treated equally.

If we’re going to die to protect the duke and his family, we sure as hell are going to do the same for our families—and that includes yers. ”

“Aye,” Garahan said. “Can ye not see how intertwined our lives and yer own have become since ye married Miranda and gained Michael as yer son?”

The captain did not hesitate to agree. “My feelings about the situation are not in question. Your actions and resignation are.”

“Well now, ’tis easy to separate yerself,” Flaherty said.

“I’m thinking that once ye notice the hole in the fabric of the duke’s guard, ye’ll realize that ye should have spoken up right away about how yer own wife and life are just as much in jeopardy as ours—and Garahan’s brothers, me brothers, and our sainted O’Malley cousins. ”

When Coventry did not comment, Flaherty added, “Would ye put Emma’s life below the duke’s twins?”

Coventry’s single-eyed gaze was riveted on Flaherty’s. “You already know the answer. I would not.”

“Ah, too bad King doesn’t have a wife or family to consider how he would feel,” Garahan muttered.

King frowned at Flaherty, Garahan, and Coventry. “You are supposed to be acquiring the information His Grace requires to make a decision.”

“There is no need to ask any further questions,” Coventry replied. “I stand with Flaherty and Garahan in this. His Grace needs to realign himself with what is right.”

King raised an eyebrow. “And?”

Coventry glared at him. “The lives of the wives and families—most of whom are still babes—of the men in his private guard are of equal importance to the duke’s twins, the earl’s son, the viscount’s son, and the baron’s soon-to-be heir or daughter.”

“What do you propose to resolve this problem, then?” King asked.

Garahan spoke up. “The viscount needs to apologize to Mary Kate and Flaherty.”