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F laherty elbowed Garahan as they walked down the hallway toward King’s office. “Tell me again why ye think the viscount will apologize?”

Garahan shoved him with his shoulder. “Feck no. I’ve already told ye twice.”

“What if he won’t apologize? Mary Kate said it wouldn’t matter, but she misses Lady Calliope something fierce.”

“Coventry’s got our back, and King was coming around to our way of thinking. Have a little faith, Flaherty.”

They stopped in front of King’s door. Flaherty knocked and they were immediately ushered inside. Coventry and King flanked the viscount, who looked uneasy. Flaherty took it as a good sign.

Their eyes locked. He nodded to the viscount, greeting him, “Yer lordship.”

“Flaherty.”

You could hear a pin drop, but neither he nor the viscount looked away. It was as if they were alone in the room.

“I came here on a mission, Flaherty: to apologize and offer a position guarding my home, my wife, and my son. Calliope is desolate without Mary Kate.”

Flaherty waited. The viscount had yet to apologize.

“So it’s just Flaherty ye’re concerned about?” Garahan asked.

“I intend to ask you to swap places with Flaherty, but he needs to agree first.”

Garahan shook his head and poked Flaherty in the side. “Well?”

“I’m waiting,” Flaherty grumbled.

Chattsworth sighed. “This is not easy for me.”

Garahan snorted, and Flaherty wanted to punch his cousin—but not in King’s office. Later. “’Tis why I normally avoid having to apologize,” he said.

Chattsworth’s pained expression relaxed.

“You were right. I was only thinking of my wife and son—not you or Mary Kate. It was not that I think you or she matter less—I don’t.

It was your brush with death that scared the bloody life out of me.

With your talent with weapons—including your fists—it never occurred to me that you could be caught unaware and end up trapped in a burning building, bound and unconscious.

How in the bloody hell would I have a hope of escaping if it were me?

What would become of Calliope and our son? ”

The viscount turned to Garahan and nodded.

“The both of you have fought admirably, and at great cost to yourselves to protect and defend my family.” Meeting Flaherty’s gaze once again, Chattsworth continued, “An apology does not seem quite enough.” He hesitated, then added, “You have my eternal gratitude, and Calliope’s.

Whatever you need, consider it yours. Please accept my sincere apology for not thinking beyond myself and my family. ”

“I’d be thinking yer pride had a bit to do with it,” Garahan suggested.

Flaherty winced inwardly, expecting the viscount to turn on his heel and leave.

But he didn’t—he agreed. “According to my wise and lovely wife, I have more than my fair share of pride. I’m setting it aside and humbly begging you to accept my apology and offer of employment—if Garahan accepts transferring to Lippincott Manor. ”

Garahan frowned.

“Before you get your back up, Garahan, your skills are equal to Flaherty’s.

But Mary Kate has been more than a lady’s maid to Calliope—she’s become a trusted friend.

” Garahan nodded, and Chattsworth rushed to add, “I’ve spoken to Lippincott and Lady Aurelia, and they agree.

They would love to have you and Melinda at Lippincott Manor.

I’m sorry if my stiff-necked pride made you feel as if you and your wife mattered less.

That could not be further from the truth. ”

Flaherty got tired of his cousin’s silence. “Accept already, so I can.”

Garahan grunted. “I’m certain Melinda would not mind, and it wouldn’t be a hardship to work with Sean and Dermott.”

Chattsworth offered his hand to Garahan, who shook it. “Flaherty?”

The nick to his pride hadn’t healed, but when Flaherty accepted the apology, the crack in the foundation of the duke’s guard would be filled…

stabilized. “If ye’ll accept me apology as well, for not realizing ye were only thinking as I was—of yer wife and family.

” When the viscount inclined his head, Flaherty added, “Mary Kate will be beyond happy when I share the news. Thank ye.”

“Now that that’s settled,” King said, “you should deliver the news in person.”

Coventry agreed and stared at the viscount. “I believe a second round of apologies are in order, Chattsworth.”

“Calliope would have my head if I did not apologize to your wives, men,” Chattsworth said. “Let’s go.”

*

Little Emma Coventry was sitting between Mary Kate and Melinda, sipping from her half-filled cup of tea.

“You are doing so well, Emma,” Aimee Garahan said. “I was not quite so steady holding a teacup at your age.”

“I usually spilled,” Miranda told her daughter. “Papa will be so proud of you.”

“Where is he?” Emma asked, setting her empty cup on her saucer with a loud clink. She flinched and lifted it up to inspect the bottom. “I didn’t chip it, Mum.”

Mary Kate smiled, and Melinda congratulated the little girl.

“Papa’s late.”

Miranda brushed a strand of hair out of her daughter’s face and tucked it behind her ear. “You know that Papa had important business to attend to on behalf of His Grace.”

Emma put her elbows on the table and leaned her chin on her hands. “The duke is always taking Papa away from us.”

“Your father is proud of his duties to His Grace. You should not doubt that as soon as he is able to, your father will come home.” Miranda leaned close and pressed a kiss to the end of her daughter’s nose. “I’ll bet he can smell the second pan of gingerbread we just put in the oven.”

“Just for him,” Emma said with a grin.

“Just for him,” Miranda agreed. “Now then—” A loud knock on the door had her rising to see who it was. She opened the door and gasped. “Lady Calliope, Lord Chattsworth!” She stepped to the side. “Please, come in.”

The viscount reached for her hand and bowed over it. “Thank you, Mrs. Coventry.” His gaze swept the room and landed on Mary Kate. “Ah, Mrs. Flaherty, I am happy to find you here. Might I speak with you a moment?”

She nodded, and the viscount slipped his arm beneath his wife’s elbow and escorted Calliope over to the table.

“Please have a seat, your ladyship,” Miranda urged.

“Thank you. I confess to being desperate for a cup of tea—if it is not too much trouble.”

The women started talking all at once while Miranda reached for the teakettle. “Just give it a few minutes to steep. Would you care for a slice of gingerbread while you wait?”

Calliope smiled. “That sounds lovely, thank you.”

Once his wife was seated, the viscount held out his hand to Mary Kate, who stared at it for a moment as if unsure what he expected from her.

Finally, she placed her hand in his, and he bowed over it.

“I ask your humble forgiveness, Mrs. Flaherty. I never meant to insinuate that your life and that of your babe’s were not of the utmost importance to me.

You have been with my wife from the beginning and have become an integral part of our lives. She has been distraught without you.”

Mary Kate was not sure what to say first—should she accept the apology and tell the viscount how much she missed working for the viscountess?

The door opened and Coventry, Flaherty, and the Garahan brothers walked in. “The viscount and I have come to an understanding,” Flaherty said. “’Tis all right to say whatever comes to mind first, Mary Kate. I’ll not be the first man to cast a stone—ye of all people know I’m not perfect.”

Mary Kate nodded as she wondered if her husband would ever admit to his jealousy and temper. Not wanting to make the viscountess wait, she said, “I have missed you, Lady Calliope, but I promised Seamus that if he resigned, I would find employment wherever necessary. I’m accustomed to working.”

The viscountess rushed over to hug her. “Would you reconsider returning to your position if Flaherty changed his mind?”

She looked to Seamus for a hint as to what he wanted her to do. After all, she’d given him her word and would not go back on it.

He met her questioning look with a nod. “Answer with yer heart, lass. Ye know ye want to.”

Confused, Mary Kate was not sure what had been discussed, but she had the distinct feeling that her husband wanted her to return to her position at Chattsworth Manor.

“Let me assure you, Mrs. Flaherty,” the viscount said, “that your husband and I have both admitted to making more than one mistake in life. The second biggest mistake I made was not thinking beyond my worry for my wife and son.”

“Oh?” Mary Kate said. “What was the first?”

Flaherty smacked a hand to the middle of his forehead. “Lass, ye aren’t supposed to be asking that!”

“Well, you and his lordship may have come to an understanding, but I haven’t. I gave you my word—are you asking me to rescind it?”

Flaherty sighed. “I am.”

“Then you are admitting that you were wrong to make me leave without telling Lady Calliope goodbye?”

“Aye, lass. I have already apologized to her ladyship.”

Mary Kate frowned at him. “Have you apologized to his lordship? He was only thinking of his wife and son, and you cannot fault him for that. Can you?”

“I came to that conclusion meself, but had to bring up the point to his lordship so we could come to an understanding,” Flaherty admitted.

Mary Kate sensed how difficult that discussion must have been for her proud husband—mayhap even more so for the viscount.

“Forgiving someone not only heals whatever happened between two people, Seamus, but it lightens the heavy burden one carries inside when one does not forgive those we believe have wronged us.”

Flaherty walked over and hugged her. “Faith, but I married a wise woman. To answer yer question, lass, yes, I apologized to his lordship and admitted that me jealousy where ye are concerned often triggers me temper.”

Mary Kate’s eyes welled with tears. Her husband had surprised her, though after all they had been through in the last few weeks, it should not have been a surprise at all. He was a man of integrity and honesty—and those qualities far outweighed the temper and jealousy in her mind.

“He did,” the viscount agreed, “after I apologized.”

Miranda motioned to the men. “Please, have a seat.” All but Darby Garahan sat. “The tea is ready, and so is a fresh pan of gingerbread.” She opened the oven to retrieve the promised treat. “There is still some of the other gingerbread left while we wait for the new pan to cool.”

Darby waited, while Miranda and Aimee served. When Aimee sat, he sat beside her.

The viscount said, “Flaherty, Garahan—James, that is—and I have come to an agreement. We have discussed it with Earl Lippincott and the O’Malleys, and sent a written copy of it to His Grace for his edification, though I am quite certain he will be in full agreement, as it aligns with the missive I received from him. ”

Mary Kate hesitated. “May I ask what the agreement involved?”

“Of course,” the viscount replied. “Edward and I wanted it in writing that we hold the wives and families of the men in the duke’s guard in the highest esteem and value them as we do our own wives and families. It was my worry for my wife that clouded my better judgment.”

“And you believe His Grace will accept this as well?”

“I can guarantee it,” Captain Coventry announced from where he stood with his daughter in his arms.

She hadn’t noticed that he’d picked Emma up, but then, she was distracted. “What if Seamus does not wish to return to his position working for the earl?” she asked the viscount.

“It is, of course, his decision to discuss with you. Edward and I have discussed the possibility of Flaherty and Garahan swapping places—with both Mary Kate and Flaherty working at Chattsworth Manor.”

“Fortunately, for those of us who miss you to pieces, Mary Kate,” Lady Calliope began, “Flaherty has already agreed to not only withdraw his resignation, but also to switch places with Garahan as one of the guards at Chattsworth Manor.”

Mary Kate glanced at Melinda where she sat beside her husband. “What of Garahan? Did he decide to move to Lippincott Manor?”

“Aye, Seamus and I agreed,” James Garahan answered.

“Melinda and I spoke of the possibility, and as a matter of fact, ’twas a good thing we brought the matter up before any of the O’Malley wives were in harm’s way.

Ye know how high-handed the sainted O’Malleys can be.

Then it would have been the five of us living in Coventry’s building. ”

Flaherty’s mirthful snort triggered Mary Kate’s laughter. Before long, Melinda and the others joined in.

“Gingerbread, anyone?” Miranda asked as the laughter died down.

“I need two pieces, my dear,” Coventry said. “After all, I missed my daily dose yesterday, and I have been craving more than a slice.”

“That’s not all he said—” Garahan began, only to be elbowed in the gut by his wife.

“James!”

“Would ye have me lie and not say—” His eyes were twinkling with laughter as Melinda clapped her hand over his mouth.

From where she sat beside her husband, Mary Kate felt her world right itself once more. “I would love to return to Chattsworth Manor, your lordship, your ladyship. Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

“Life is all about second chances,” Darby Garahan said, slipping his arm around his wife.

“There are no guarantees in life as to how many days, months, or years each of us has,” James Garahan added.

“Life is precious.” Flaherty pressed a kiss to Mary Kate’s temple. “ Ye’re precious, lass. I would challenge the world to see ye safe and well cared for. Swallowing me pride and apologizing to his lordship, agreeing to move back to Chattsworth Manor, was the right thing to do.”

“I love you, Seamus.”

“I know.” Her laughter was cut off when his lips met hers in an all-too-brief kiss. “I’ll kiss ye properly later, lass. We aren’t alone.”

“You are a rogue, Seamus Flaherty.”

“Faith, it’s a good thing ye love me, lass.”

“And?”

Flaherty finally gave her the words. “I love ye more than life itself, Mary Kate.”

“I know.”