Page 31 of The Duke’s Sharpshooter (The Duke’s Guard #14)

He took the lead and increased the pace as they cleared the village proper. The high-pitched screech, followed by a wail of distress, had him shuddering. Praise God, neither Temperance nor Maddy acted in such a way. He’d seen them at their lowest, and they never exhibited such behavior.

Flaherty could see Garahan up ahead. His cousin and the men of his search party had formed a ring around Miss Harkness, who, thankfully, had stopped screeching when she noticed Flaherty and his men riding toward her.

“I can’t walk!” she shouted.

“Did she break a leg?” Flaherty asked as he reined in alongside Garahan.

His cousin growled. “Nay.”

“Sprain an ankle?”

Garahan scrubbed a hand over his face. “Nay, but she refuses to get up, even after I had two other men check for breaks or sprains, both of whom pronounced her well enough to walk.”

Flaherty’s gaze connected with the woman’s. He frowned, and she crossed her arms and lifted her chin. Unable to tolerate the sight of the woman now that she was relatively safe, he turned to his cousin. “Well then, why in God’s name is she still sitting on that boulder?”

“I’ve ruined my only pair of kidskin slippers!” she shouted. “Are all of the men in the duke’s guard as lack-brained as Garahan?”

Flaherty didn’t mind being insulted, but no one insulted his family. “Ye’ll apologize to me cousin,” he ground out. “Then ye’ll get off that rock, walk over here, and apologize to the men for taking them away from their families, and missing their evening meal to search for ye.”

Miss Harkness didn’t bother to do anything Flaherty asked.

She shot to her feet—thankfully, the top of the boulder was relatively flat—and put her hands on her hips.

“I refuse! If you have more than one search party, my brother must have gone to the duke for help. You and Garahan work for the duke, and the tenant farmers over by the edge of the group rent land from the duke.” She narrowed her eyes, skimming her gaze over the other half of the men gathered.

“The rest of you live in the village and count on the duke’s support of the village.

How do you think His Grace will react when I tell him how horribly all of you have treated me?

That not one of you were kind enough to carry me, when I was unable to walk—no one asked if I was hurt or—”

Flaherty had heard enough. There was not going to be any reasoning with the woman.

He motioned for the blacksmith to fetch her.

The man grimaced, but dismounted and swept Miss Harkness off the large rock and onto his horse.

When he hesitated to mount behind her, Flaherty realized the woman had made more enemies than friends in the village.

“’Tis a sorry thing to have ruined yer best slippers,” Flaherty said. “Have ye no sturdy half boots ye could wear?”

The woman glared at him. “I refuse to wear them. They’re ugly.”

“’Tis a pity ye didn’t wear them,” Flaherty continued, keeping his voice low and even. “Else ye would not have ruined yer kidskin slippers. Now would ye?” He rode toward the blacksmith. With a heavy sigh, the man mounted behind Miss Harkness and put his arm around her.

“Do not touch me! You reek of sweat and horse.”

“Best let go of her, otherwise we’ll be here all night,” Flaherty said.

“But she’ll—”

“There are times when one must reap what they sow.” Flaherty fought the urge to smile, knowing what was about to happen. “Are ye and yer men ready to move out, Garahan?”

“Aye,” his cousin replied. As one, both groups turned their horses toward the village.

The shriek of distress, and muffled laugher, had Flaherty silently thanking the Lord that the blacksmith moved like lightning and saved the lass from falling off the horse and onto her hard head—or well-padded backside.

“I told you not to touch me!” she screeched.

“Enough!” Flaherty shouted. He looked over his shoulder at the men holding in their laughter. Pointing at two of the shortest, lightest men, he told them, “I need ye to ride double—and give yer horse to Miss Harkness to ride, as ye know she’s unable to walk the distance.”

The fair-haired man dismounted, walked his horse over to Flaherty, and handed him the reins. “She’s a bit fractious, but a fine mare if treated well.”

“Thank ye, Miller. I’ll let ye grandma know of yer generosity and will have one of the men bring your mare home to ye a bit later tonight.” The young man returned to the horse he would be riding double with his friend.

“Thank all of ye, men,” Garahan told the group. “I’m sure Harkness and His Grace will be thanking ye themselves tomorrow or the next day. But know this—both men value yer service and diligence in looking for Harkness’s lost sister.”

“We’re grateful as well,” Flaherty announced for the both of them. “Ye’re free to go.”

The men broke off into pairs or smaller groups and bade Garahan and Flaherty goodbye to return to their homes and farms. Only Miss Harkness, Garahan, Flaherty, and the blacksmith remained.

Flaherty took pity on the man. “Thank ye for rescuing the lass off that boulder. Garahan and I will take the reins and keep Miss Harkness and her horse between us on the way back to the inn.”

The relief on the man’s face was quickly masked with a look of indifference. “Happy to help…anytime.”

“Thank ye,” Garahan called to the blacksmith as he rode toward his forge and his house just beyond it.

“Fine man,” Flaherty murmured.

“He stank!” Miss Harkness said.

“Shut yer gob!” Garahan barked.

The stricken look on the woman’s face did not erase her intentionally cruel words.

They hung in the air between them. Flaherty suspected the woman had never given a thought to anyone but herself in her life.

’Twas past time that she did. “Because ye have no idea what it means to work hard enough to work up a sweat, let alone to toil over a forge that is hotter than the fires of hell, I won’t tell ye what I think of yer words and actions that caused those good men to leave their homes to search for ye. ”

“For feck’s sake, Flaherty, just tell the harpy she’s a pain in the arse, no one likes her, and be done with it!” Garahan said.

The wail of tears that followed did not abate, even when they turned Miss Harkness over to her profoundly grateful brother.

Flaherty started to explain to the man that she was not injured, but her tears were for her ruined slippers.

When the woman’s wails grew louder, Garahan told her to shut her gob a second time, earning a fierce glare from both Harkness and his sister.

“Tell him it isn’t true, Tommy!” Susana begged. “Tell him he’s wrong!”

“What isn’t true and who’s wrong?” Harkness asked.

“I’m not a harpy,” she shrieked, “nor a pain in the arse, and everyone likes me!”

The sorrowful look on Harkness’s face had Flaherty almost feeling sorry for the man.

He and Garahan gave Harkness suggestions as to how his sister could make reparations to those she had slandered and mistreated.

The innkeeper was in full agreement. Their mission complete, Flaherty and Garahan took their leave.

When they rode past the last building in the village, Garahan cackled with laugher. “Did ye see that poor eedjit’s face when his sister demanded he tell her she’s not a harpy or pain in the arse?”

Flaherty chuckled. “I was right there beside ye when she did.”

“Everyone likes me,” Garahan mimicked in a high-pitched voice, before lowering it again to add, “I’m willing to wager not one person likes her!”

Flaherty sighed. “I almost feel sorry for her, as I’m thinking ye have the right of it, Aiden. No one likes that woman.”

*

A few hours later, the search parties returned. Maddy had been asleep for some time, but Temperance was still wide awake, worrying, hoping that the men did not have to spend half the night searching for the difficult woman.

Tiptoeing from their bedchamber, she made her way to the servants’ staircase, grateful that the door at the bottom had been left open. She’d forgotten to bring a candle in her haste to see Flaherty.

She followed the sound of voices to the kitchen in time to hear Constance ask, “Where did you find the poor woman?”

“Garahan was the one to find her—on the other side of the village, hidden by a hedgerow, sitting on a rock, weeping.”

Temperance entered the kitchen, her gaze immediately riveted to the side of Rory’s face. Thank goodness the stitches did not look inflamed. She was relieved, and at the same time irritated that she felt obligated to ask, “Was she injured?”

Constance paused, smiled, then continued fixing a pot of tea and arranging a plate of meat pies for the men. Temperance wondered at the cook’s reaction until she noticed Flaherty’s eyes lit with humor.

“Nay, lass, but the soles of her kidskin slippers were worn through.”

“Why would anyone wear kidskin slippers outside, especially if they were walking?”

“Not everyone is practically minded, lass,” he reminded her.

“Garahan, would you mind carrying the tray for me?” Constance interjected. “The others should be arriving in the servants’ dining room in a moment.”

Garahan glanced at Flaherty. “I’ll save ye two meat pies, but if ye take too long, I’ll be eating them.” He winked at Temperance before grabbing the tray.

Flaherty watched them leave. “Me ma is a practical woman, and it would seem ye are as well. Ma’s going to love ye—and Maddy too.”

“When will I meet her?”

Flaherty shrugged. “Garahan and I were discussing that a few weeks ago. None of us have been able to visit home in a few years. ’Tis costly. If we aren’t working, we aren’t getting paid. Nor will we be able to send money home to our parents, which is why we came to England in the first place.”

Temperance put her hand on his arm. “You must miss her.”

“That I do, and me da as well, but we keep in touch through letters. Me elder brother, Seamus, recently wed. Ma and Da will be happy to hear that, along with the news of our married cousins who are expecting babes.”

“Do you really think she will love Maddy?”

“How could she not? We do.”

Temperance slid her arm around Flaherty’s back and leaned against his side. “I must be dreaming. I never thought Maddy would have family, and now she’ll have grandparents!”

“Is yer ma gone?”

“Both my parents are.”

“Well now, me ma and da will be pleased to add another daughter—and granddaughter—to our family.”

“Maddy will be so excited at the prospect of having grandparents.”

“Do ye think she’d draw them a picture of us to send to me parents?”

Temperance smiled. “Yes. She’s liable to draw a picture of your horse, and your cousins, too!”

“Well then, that would be grand. I’d best be leaving, lass—tomorrow’s a busy day and ye need yer rest.”

At his pointed look, she asked, “I will?”

Flaherty kissed the breath out of her. “Aye, lass, you will.”

“I’m certain a few hours sleep is all I will need to be ready for our vow taking.”

He stared deep into her eyes. “I’m thinking ye missed me meaning. Ye’ll need yer rest for after we wed.”

Temperance felt the flush sweep up her neck to her forehead. “Er… Y-yes, of course.”

“Am I making ye nervous, mo ghrá ?”

“N-no. Not at all.”

He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. “’Tisn’t a good habit to get into, prevaricating when I embarrass ye, lass.”

“I do not get nervous,” she huffed. “I am a bit unsettled .”

His snort of laughter relieved her worry. He wasn’t angry with her.

“I’m meaning what I said, though, Temperance. There’ll be no lies between us—not even tiny ones to make yerself of meself feel better. Understand?”

“Yes, of course. I agree with you. I’ve always been honest with Maddy. I will always be honest with you, even if it makes you mad or sad.”

“Well now, that’s fine, then.” He pulled her into his embrace one more time, kissed her soundly, and set her away from him. “Come, I’ll walk ye to the stairs.”

She shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. Please go eat. I can find my way.”

“Sure and I know that, but I’ll be able to get one last kiss in—unless ye’ve had yer fill.”

Temperance tugged on his hand and hurried down the hallway. Standing in front of the door, she smiled up at him and whispered, “Make it a good one.”

She was still sighing when he nudged her up the stairs and closed the door behind her.

Rory Flaherty fulfilled his promise and kissed her until she couldn’t see straight.

As she slowly ascended the stairs, she realized there was a part of their marriage that she was a bit hesitant about, though she enjoyed his kisses.

Temperance wondered what Flaherty would have to say when she asked him if he meant for their marriage to be in name only. They had yet to discuss expectations. As she entered the bedchamber she was sharing with Maddy, she knew she’d find out soon enough.

Climbing into bed, she smiled when Maddy rolled over and snuggled against her.

There were going to be big changes come tomorrow.

Maddy would be sleeping in her own bed. Temperance listened to the sound of her daughter’s snores and realized tomorrow was already turning out to be fraught with difficulties.