Chapter Fifteen
The first voices Eileen heard were O’Ghill’s and Dillon’s. She sighed and opened her eyes. A glance at the two sentinels standing feet apart, arms crossed over their wide chests—like giant bookends—had her firming her resolve not to let them intimidate her into apologizing.
“Well now, the conquering hero has rescued the lass this time,” O’Ghill murmured.
Dillon snorted with laughter, and O’Ghill grinned.
Irritated at the thought that she needed to be rescued when she was walking off her temper, she replied, “Flaherty did no such thing. I needed to walk, and merely left. The road was empty, and so were the trees—no sign of any sharpshooters lingering waiting to get a shot off at me. I was cautious, and there was no need to rescue me.”
O’Ghill lifted an eyebrow. “Then why is he carrying ye?”
“I caught the lass fair and square,” Flaherty answered, “and wasn’t about to let her run from me again.”
“I was not running away,” she corrected him. “When I’m angry, I need either to shout at someone, punch someone, or walk it off.”
Dillon grunted. “Fair enough, and understandable. There have been times when I’ve needed to do the same. Though ye might want to get to know me brother a bit more before ye toss another punch at him.”
“That’s between the lass and me, Dillon. We don’t need yer advice.”
His brother waited a beat. “Well then, I’ll say only one thing more to yer bride-to-be.”
“Oh, and what might that be?” Flaherty asked.
“Every lass succumbs to the fatal Flaherty charm. ’Tis inevitable. Ye’ll consider yerself blessed if ye give in, lass.”
“What is it about the Flahertys?” Eileen asked. “They seem to alternate between irritating and trying to make you smile, all the while paying you compliments, until you are tempted to give in to whatever they want you to do.”
She felt the sharp intake of Flaherty’s breath before he said, “She’s a rare treasure, don’t ye agree, lads?”
O’Ghill answered, “That she is, Fenton.”
“Ye’re a lucky man, brother.” Dillon clapped a hand to Flaherty’s uninjured shoulder. “If ye’re wanting a quiet place to talk, avoid the great hall. Mrs. Castleton and a few willing hands are still returning order to it.”
Eileen waited for Flaherty to bark an order at his brother and cousin to send everyone home, but then he surprised her by kissing the top of her head and lowering her to her feet.
He tucked her close to his side and addressed the two men: “I need to thank Mrs. Castleton. She’s not a young woman, and the necessary ruse may have shocked her severely. ”
“Why don’t ye leave Eileen here with me?” O’Ghill suggested. “I’m sure we can find something to talk about while we wait for yer return.”
She felt Flaherty stiffen, and sensed that O’Ghill was trying to see how far he could push her intended.
This time she’d be rescuing him from the possibility of a round of fisticuffs!
“Thank you, O’Ghill, but I need to convey my thanks to Mrs. Castleton as well.
I am certain she was just as shocked as I when we witnessed the miracle of Flaherty coming back to life. ”
O’Ghill studied her in silence, and she had the unsettling feeling that he had the ability to sift through her thoughts. She asked, “Where are you and the others staying?”
Dillon answered for the both of them. “As there’s plenty of room in the barracks, we’ll be bunking with Fenton.”
Flaherty visibly bristled, but did not contradict his brother. “I know where the extra bedding is kept. I’ll help ye get settled as soon as the lass and I speak to Mrs. Castleton.”
Just then, O’Malley strode out of the tower, hailed the men, and started walking toward them. Eileen placed a hand to Flaherty’s arm. “Why don’t I do that? It appears that O’Malley has news.”
O’Malley grinned as he came closer. “O’Ghill, what brings ye to Cornwall?”
“Oh, this and that,” O’Ghill replied.
O’Malley nodded. “’Tis more or less what I heard recently. Welcome.” He turned to Dillon next. “I expected ye a bit earlier, but didn’t expect Seamus or Rory, but should have, given the circumstances.”
“Our brothers went with Doonan—” Flaherty started, but O’Malley interrupted.
“I overheard him say something about a secret stash of poteen. I would have followed them, if not for the urgent missive that arrived.” O’Malley locked gazes with Flaherty, held out a sealed bit of parchment to him, and said, “I believe ye were waiting for this. On the outside chance that things did not go according to plan as far as Judson and his men, I sent word to the vicar on yer behalf.”
Flaherty’s hand tightened on hers for a moment, then eased as he released her to accept the document. “Thank ye, Finn. Have ye let Doonan know as well?”
“Aye. I sent one of the stable lads with the news that he was needed back at the great hall—or if ye’d rather, we could let the vicar know when he arrives that we’re moving the ceremony to the duke’s manor house.”
Given the circumstances, Eileen hoped the vicar, who was no longer a young man, would be open to performing their marriage at either location.
He was a man of faith, and she respected him, but he tended to be on the cranky side after teatime.
“I’m sure the great hall would be fine—don’t you think so, Fenton? ”
His eyes searched her face for a moment. “If ye’re certain, lass.”
“I am. By now my da has poured out a round or two of whiskey and his prized brew—best that he comes now rather than later, when he’ll have trouble holding on to his horse’s reins.”
Flaherty chuckled. “Well now ’tis a picture ye paint with yer words, though if I were ye, I wouldn’t doubt yer da’s word that he could handle his horse, no matter if he’d had one shot in him or five!” He tugged on her hand. “Come, let’s have a word with Mrs. Castleton and see if she needs help.”
“What about yer wife-to-be?” Dillon asked his brother. “Surely she’ll want time to get ready. ’Tisn’t every day a lass gets married.”
“Aye,” O’Malley agreed. “Mollie suggested that I ask Doonan to bring one of Eileen’s favorite dresses with him—as me wife reminded me, ‘She’ll want to be remembering this day always.’”
Eileen smiled at him. “Thank you, and Mollie, for thinking of me.” She turned to Flaherty. “I’ll need somewhere to wash and change.”
His eyes darkened for a heartbeat, then returned to the deep blue she was accustomed to seeing. “That is easily arranged. We’ll speak to Mrs. Castleton first. She may have the most expedient suggestion as to how we can accomplish that with a minimum of fuss.”
She lifted to her toes, pressed a kiss to his cheek, and tugged on his hand. “Let’s go.”
Marveling at the way Flaherty kept her close to his side, she tried to match his steps, but it was no use. She was tall, but he was much taller. “Fenton, could you please slow down?”
He paused, glanced at her, and shook his head.
“I beg yer pardon, lass. Me mind is elsewhere.” The fire in his eyes sparked the flame inside of her that had been growing steadily since the night of the storm.
“But I’d best not disclose me thoughts to ye just yet.
” His eyes met hers and held steady. The intensity in their depths beckoned to her, whispering of passions unchecked, desires yet to be discovered—and his silent promise to fulfill each and every one of them.
Her pulse raced as her blood rushed through her veins. She positively tingled from head to toe. Unnerved by her reaction, she blinked and tore her gaze from his. “I…er… Must you keep staring at me like that?”
He leaned closer, his lips a hairsbreadth from hers. “Like what, lass?”
The feeling that he knew exactly the effect he had on her had indignation rising up from the soles of her half boots. Why did she suddenly feel as if he were a powerful predator, and she the morsel he wished to gobble up? Frustration filled her until she snapped, “You know exactly what!”
As soon as the words left her lips, she felt shame wash over her. Dear Lord, just a short while ago, she’d thought him dead…and now she was letting emotions, heretofore never experienced, shock her. She had no notion what surprises lay before her in the marriage bed.
She had no doubt whatsoever that when they married in a few hours’ time, Flaherty would want to consummate their marriage—not only to make it legal, but because the desire that had sparked between them since the night she’d saved him from drowning was sizzling, threatening to flare into a conflagration that would consume them whole.
She shivered, and he exhaled slowly. A few feet from the door to the great hall, he pulled her into his arms. Unconcerned that they had an audience, he dropped his chin onto her head and whispered, “Mo chroí, ye have no need to fear me. We’ll be legally wed before I coax the fire inside of ye to fully burn. I’ll be gentle with ye.”
Eileen lifted her head and whispered, “There is so much I have heard hinted about working at the…” She trailed off.
Best not to bring up the subject of her working at the tavern.
She cleared her throat. “Suffice it to say that while I have been kissed a time or two, no one has kissed me like their life depended on it.” Meeting his gaze, she continued, “Only you have, Fenton. I’m not afraid of you, though I am wary of what I do not yet understand. ”
“Eileen-lass, ye’ll be the death of me, putting thoughts of sealing our vows in me head, when I’m struggling to shove them out altogether!”
She stiffened. “You don’t want to consummate our marriage?”
Now Flaherty stiffened, as if he had been turned to stone. “If ye knew how badly I want to undress ye…”
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Was it nerves or something more?
He cursed beneath his breath, shook his head, and rumbled, “Ye have me tied in knots, lass, just thinking of how I’d slowly peel yer gown up over yer head, slide yer chemise up to yer belly, and over yer shoulders.
Until all ye are wearing is yer stockings and ribboned garters when I sweep ye into me arms and place ye in the middle of our—Bloody hell! ”
Surprised at his curse, she asked, “What’s wrong? Did you remember something important?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Aye, lass, that I did!” He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes for a moment before slowly opening them again. “’Tis our bed.”
“I see.” And suddenly, she did see. With everything happening so quickly, was it any wonder she had no idea why neither of them had thought past the immediacy of their marrying?
Not a thought given to where they would live—Flaherty would have to be very close to Penwith Tower in order to continue to work for the duke.
O’Malley could not be expected to handle the patrols alone if Flaherty were to move into the cottage with Eileen and her da.
“Mayhap when I help make up the beds in the barracks, you could show me which one we’d be sleeping in.” She tried not to think of sharing a large, open room with three other men—all of whom were married, but still…
“Have ye lost the wits ye were born with? I’ll not have me wife sleeping in me quarters surrounded by me brothers!”
“Well then, is there somewhere more private that we could stay?”
His eyes widened for a moment, then turned a dark, dark blue. “Aye, lass, but now I’m thinking we could ask to use one of the rooms in the manor house. Temporarily, until we can build a cottage of our own.”
He started walking toward the door again. He yanked it open to let her precede him into the hall. “After ye, lass.”
Eileen brushed the tips of her fingers from his wrist to his shoulder and back. “Thank you, Fenton. Let’s see what else Mrs. Castleton needs assistance with before we discuss the matter of our vows.”
He smiled at her tenderly. “’Tis a wise woman I’ll be marrying.”
“An equal match in temperament to the intelligent warrior I will be pledging my life to.”
“I’ll see that ye don’t regret it, lass. Not if I live to be one hundred.”
She cupped the side of his face in her hand and skimmed her lips near his chin. “I learn things quickly. If you are as good a teacher as I imagine you’ll be, I’ll catch up.”
He grinned. “We’ll either drive one another mad with frustration…or passion.” Their eyes met. “The choice will be yers, lass.”