Page 18 of The Duke’s Sharpshooter (The Duke’s Guard #14)

“Yes, darling. I heard you. It is not polite to ask a question like that.”

“Why not?”

“It’s intrusive.”

“What’s that?” Maddy asked.

“Putting your sweet little nose into someone else’s business.”

“Like when you were asking Just Flaherty why he was following us?”

Temperance had not been certain that her daughter had heard her demand that of Flaherty. She’d best decide how to answer. Maddy would keep asking over and over until she did. So Temperance decided to evade the question. “Did you know that you share a special quality with your father?”

“I do?”

“You definitely do.”

“What?”

“You are like a dog with a meaty bone, gnawing away at it until he’s satisfied he’s finished getting every scrap of meat and fat off it.”

“Papa used to chew on bones?”

Temperance laughed. “No. I was giving you an example.”

“I didn’t like that one.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll think of another one.” She opened the door and stepped into the hallway leading to the kitchen.

“I bet I know who could think of one,” Maddy quipped.

Temperance had to agree. “I am quite certain he could.”

A short while later, she watched Maddy staring at the array of sweets they’d had a hand in preparing. While Constance sliced sandwiches into tiny triangles and rectangles, Temperance carefully arranged delicate china cake plates on the large tray.

“May I have a teacake, scone, and a berry tart?” Maddy asked.

The cook smiled. “I think your mum will want you to have a sandwich or two first.”

Maddy frowned. “But they aren’t sweet.”

Temperance had to laugh at her little one. Maddy always said what she was thinking. She wished she felt comfortable enough to do the same, but she was not a child any longer. Life was far more complicated once one reached adulthood. Consequences kept most people from speaking their minds.

For some reason, her mind called up the image of a certain broad-shouldered, auburn-haired giant’s soft blue eyes. Flaherty had certainly not held back what he had been thinking.

Instead of holding on to the thought that he was controlling, her heart warmed and her mind held on to the possibility that he truly cared for Maddy and her and was trying to protect them.

“Mum? Can I?”

“I’m sorry, my mind strayed.”

Maddy’s exaggerated sigh had Temperance wondering what that was all about. She did not have to wonder for long, as Maddy blurted out, “Woolgathering.”

Constance met Temperance’s gaze. “Who was woolgathering?”

Maddy shrugged. “Mum.”

“Your mother has been helping almost as much as you have been,” Constance reminded her. “Even when she should be resting.”

Maddy’s green eyes widened as she rushed over to her mother. “Do you need a nap?”

Temperance laughed softly. “I won’t sleep a wink tonight if I do.”

Her daughter slipped a hand in hers and that mischievous smile slowly revealed itself. “Me neither.”

In that moment, when her blonde-haired cherub smiled up at her, Temperance had a feeling her daughter wanted more than iced teacakes.

What in Heaven’s name would she do if Maddy continued to fawn over Flaherty?

Would he understand that it was because she’d never had a father’s love and attention?

Temperance would have to speak to Flaherty about this and warn him.

What worried her was that Maddy had never lavished attention on any man.

She had singled out Flaherty from the start.

“Teatime.” Constance’s kind look eased the tension between Temperance’s shoulder blades.

“I need the two of you to help me serve the tea.” She motioned to one of the footmen stationed in the hallway.

“Send someone to the nursery and ask Francis to see if the duchess is still resting. If not, she’ll be ready to sit down to tea. ”

The footman reappeared with the news that Her Grace was hungry.

“Well then, please take this tray up to the nursery sitting room.” Constance turned and waved her hand at Temperance and Maddy. “I know Her Grace would love to have you take tea with her.”

Maddy skipped toward the servants’ staircase. Constance lifted her skirts and waited for Maddy to join her. “Can you reach the railing?”

Maddy shook her head. “I hold Mum’s hand.”

Constance glanced over her shoulder. “Is it all right with you if Maddy holds my hand and you follow behind us?”

Temperance’s heart warmed. The duke’s cook was a thoughtful woman who enjoyed children almost as much as feeding the duke and his household. “Of course. Maddy dear, pick up your hem like I taught you. I’m right behind you.”

The three took their time, as Maddy’s legs were not quite big enough to negotiate the height of the risers easily. Halfway up, Temperance knew her daughter was getting frustrated. “What a good job you’ve done, Maddy. Let me carry you the rest of the way.”

“But I want to do it myself,” her daughter protested.

“And you have, sweet girl,” Constance soothed her. “I wish someone would carry me up the stairs.”

Distracted, Maddy allowed Temperance to lift her onto her hip. “Know what, Mum?”

Temperance smiled when Constance moved to stand behind them. “Thank you, Constance.”

Maddy patted her face to get her attention. “Know what?” she repeated.

“What?”

“Just Flaherty could carry Constance up the stairs.”

Temperance had no doubt that he could.

“But he can’t.”

Intrigued by the way her daughter leaned close to whisper that last comment, she wondered if she had missed something important. “Why is that?”

“’Cause he and Garahan went to the inn.”

“Ah, he is on patrol to the village.”

Maddy shook her head, leaving Temperance to wonder what she was up to. Normally her daughter would tell her every last detail of news. She braced herself as she asked, “Why else would he go to the inn with Garahan?”

Maddy laid her head on Temperance’s breast and sighed. “The mean whispers started there.”

Temperance strove to hide the emotions churning inside of her as Constance reached around them to open the door at the top of the stairs. Stepping through into the upstairs hallway, Temperance set her daughter on her feet and asked Constance, “Is there anything I should know?”

The firm set of the cook’s jaw surprised Temperance, until Constance put her arm around her and held out a hand to Maddy. “Come along. I’m certain the duchess is waiting to pour our tea.”

Temperance had a feeling the mean whispers were about her—and her beautiful daughter.

Wherever they went, no matter how kind and caring she and Maddy were, there was always someone ready to hint that she was not all she seemed.

The nicest gossip had been that she had not been married.

The worst of the tales that had caused them to continue on their journey to another town was the one claiming she wasn’t Maddy’s mum…

and that she’d kidnapped her! She could never understand why people who had never met her could hold such a low opinion of her.

Her heart raced again. The evil things strangers assumed—and said—about her sliced through to her soul.

She worried that Their Graces would be adversely affected by the slanderous talk.

She and Maddy should leave. How could she stay when someone may think to censure the duke for opening his home to her and Maddy?

With a heavy heart, she knew what must be done.

Lord, please forgive those who start the rumors. And please, please lead us to a safe haven. I’m so tired…