Chapter Sixteen #2
Flaherty knew the lieutenant wanted him to acquiesce. And from the elbow to his side, he knew that O’Malley expected him to. “Fine then, I’ll”—he looked to O’Malley and then Garahan—“we’ll listen.”
“That’s all I ask.” Tremayne rubbed his hands together and grinned. “Afterward, I’ll take all of you on…one at a time.”
Flaherty nodded. “I’ll accept for the lot of us.” He narrowed his gaze on the lieutenant. “I go last.”
Tremayne was laughing when Summerfield walked into his library.
“Mrs. Trentchester is feeding her son, and will be down shortly. While we’re waiting, Tremayne, let’s hear the reasons Coventry sent you.”
Flaherty listened intently. He was surprised to learn that three of Pippa’s brothers were in different branches of the military—her eldest brother was Baron Stanhope’s heir and involved in the running of the baron’s estates.
The youngest and closest in age to her—ten years her senior—was a lieutenant in the marines.
The next eldest was a captain in the navy, and the second eldest of the brood was a colonel in the army—but at present the regiment he was attached to was not disclosed. Bloody hell—he was probably a spy.
“And no one knows the whereabouts of Colonel Stanhope?” Summerfield asked.
“I would assume someone in the War Office is aware, though not at liberty to say,” Tremayne answered.
Garahan shook his head. “And ye think the navy captain and marine lieutenant will be landing at the docks any day?”
“Aye.”
“What ye haven’t said is whether or not they plan to make their way here,” O’Malley said.
“I’ll not have them upsetting the lass or Millie,” Flaherty bit out.
“We are getting ahead of ourselves,” Summerfield interjected. “We will of course welcome the men. Though why Pippa and Millie did not tell their fathers of their situation is still a question that must be answered.”
“Aye,” Flaherty agreed. “One I’ll be asking Pippa meself.”
“I’ll be questioning the women first,” Tremayne reminded them.
“Not without meself,” Flaherty growled.
“Nor me,” O’Malley announced.
“And me,” Garahan added.
The baron sighed. “Apparently, my wife will also be on hand during the interview. We’d best adjourn to the sitting room—it’s larger and has more places to sit.”
Tremayne immediately agreed. “Whatever will make her ladyship and the women comfortable.”
“Miss Stanhope and Mrs. Trentchester, ye mean,” Flaherty said, deliberately reminded Tremayne that he believed the women were who they claimed to be.
The lieutenant met the intensity of Flaherty’s gaze. “I always say what I mean.”
The knock on the library door had all conversation ceasing “Enter!” the baron called, and the door opened. “Ah, Timmons, are the ladies ready for to join us?”
“Yes, your lordship. Her ladyship has asked that you join her in the sitting room.”
“Thank you, Timmons.” Summerfield turned to the men. “Come with me.”
The men filed out and made their way to the sitting room. The door was open, and Flaherty wasn’t surprised to see the tension on the faces of the three women. He knew at once that he needed to help set the tone for the interview and put the ladies at ease.
“Well now, let’s get this meeting over and done with so the lass and I can marry and get to the good part.”
Pippa’s face flamed. Millie covered her mouth, but not before a snort of laughter escaped. Lady Phoebe laughed openly. “Flaherty, you are a scoundrel, but a handsome one. I should chastise you for such a declaration…but I won’t.”
Summerfield shook his head at his wife and frowned at Flaherty, who ignored him and kneeled at Pippa’s side. “Ye haven’t had a change of heart, have ye, Pippa-lass?”
Millie answered for her friend, “She has not.”
“How do you know I haven’t?” Pippa asked her friend.
“Because I can see right through to your heart, dear friend.” Millie turned to Flaherty.
“None of us know how many days we’ll be granted on this earth.
Treat Pippa as the treasure of a woman she is—and do not let her brothers cow you.
My husband was great friends with all of them.
It was how I met Roarke. He stole my heart, and though he’s gone…
” She paused to compose herself, then continued, “I have the most precious gift he could ever have given me…our babe.”
Flaherty swallowed against the lump in his throat.
“I know most might not think I’m worthy of Pippa, but I’ll protect her and cherish her always.
” He turned to Pippa and reached for her hand.
“Remember what I promised ye, lass. If I die before ye, you will have the protection of me three brothers, Garahan and his three brothers, and O’Malley and his three, as well as his four O’Malley cousins. ”
“Don’t be forgetting Killian O’Ghill, and the Fitzpatricks and the McGreevys,” Garahan added.
“Aye. Ye’ll never want for anything. Any children the Lord grants us will never lack for family.” Flaherty met Millie’s quiet stare. “Ye’d best not have forgotten our pledge to yerself and yer babe, Millie.”
“Ye’ll be protected always,” O’Malley promised.
“And have more uncles for yer son than ye could ever want,” Garahan said.
Summerfield handed his handkerchief to his wife. “Dry your tears, love. Tremayne, let’s get on with the interview.”
Flaherty kissed the back of Pippa’s hand and rose to his feet. “Aye, we’ve business to attend to, and a family to start.”
“Shut yer gob before the lass turns purple with embarrassment!” O’Malley ordered him.
“He has a point,” Garahan added.
“Gentlemen, do be quiet and let Tremayne get to it,” Lady Phoebe urged. “I’m hungry.”
“I thought you had a tea tray sent up to the nursery—” Summerfield began, only to be interrupted.
The baroness glared at her husband. “I would not finish the rest of that statement, Summerfield.”
While the women gawked at the baroness, Flaherty and his cousins kept their mouths closed. They had been guarding the couple long enough to know when to speak…and when not to.
“Shall I ring for tea, then?” the baron asked.
Lady Phoebe turned and asked Tremayne, “Just how many questions do you have for Millie and Pippa?”
Tremayne’s eyes shifted from the baron to the baroness. “A few—mayhap half a dozen.”
The baroness sighed. “Very well. Marcus, please do order tea for us.”
Flaherty was grateful that Lady Phoebe was unintentionally setting the tone for the interview.
Bless the Summerfields’ cook for always having the water hot and sweets ready to be served.
Tea arrived promptly. Though he did not ask for any, a teacup and saucer were placed in his hands—and that of the other men.
“Drink up, gentlemen,” the baroness urged. “We have a wedding to finish preparing for this afternoon.”
And there was the heart of the matter, as far as Flaherty was concerned.
He turned to look at Pippa and found she’d anticipated him.
She slowly smiled, and he knew all would be right with his world the moment they said their vows.
This feisty woman would be his wife, Lord willing, would bear his children and make love to him every night for the rest of their lives—mornings too, if he could convince her to wake well before dawn so he wouldn’t be late reporting for duty.
“You’re embarrassing the lass,” Garahan remarked.
“Nay,” Flaherty replied. “’Tis a promise I’m making…without need for words.”
Millie’s eyes welled with tears and Tremayne—who was closest to her—handed her his handkerchief.
“Now then, mayhap we could begin with Mrs. Trentchester’s reason for leaving the safety of her home hours after giving birth.”
Pippa set down her cup and saucer and reached for Millie’s hand. Flaherty recognized that the two women drew strength from their bond of friendship. He and his brothers and cousins did the same. “Shall I answer for you, Millie?” Pippa asked.
Millie wiped her tears and said, “It would be best if I start at the beginning.” Turning to Tremayne, she sighed. “It all started when my brother-in-law realized I was expecting…”
As Millie recounted the number of veiled hints of what the elder Trentchester brother intended to do with her, should reports of his missing brother change and his death be reported, Flaherty clenched his jaw.
As the hints became threats, and increased in number and frequency, his gut iced over.
A glance at his cousins showed they were having the same reaction.
Tremayne’s expression never changed, though Flaherty noted his green eyes faded to piss-yellow and hardened. Whether or not the lieutenant would believe Millie was who she claimed, the man would be seeking justice for what she had suffered.
“Do you have any idea why Trentchester would threaten to take you and your babe?” he asked.
Millie started to answer, but her voice broke. Pippa reached for her hand, held it, and looked Tremayne in the eye, her expression lethal. If she’d had the blunderbuss in her hands right now, Tremayne would be saying prayers to his Maker for forgiveness!
Flaherty shifted his stance, and Pippa spoke up. “Trentchester had been obsessed with Millie before she and Roarke married—he intends to use her…” She trailed off and looked helplessly at Flaherty, who nodded.
“He plans to get her with child, doesn’t he?” he asked.
Pippa nodded. “Until then, he wants her son.”
Tremayne waited for Pippa to expound on her statement. When she remained silent, he asked, “Why?”
She looked at Millie, who shook her head, and Pippa slipped her arm around her friend. “Millie, we have to tell them everything, or else Trentchester will continue to try to steal your son.”
Flaherty felt the woman’s pain—not only was she a widow, but her despicable brother-in-law was after stealing her son! He watched, waiting, about to intercede and stop the questioning, but then he heard Millie rasp, “Tell them.”
Pippa spoke of Trentchester’s wife—and his three mistresses, all of whom appeared to be barren. “Not one of them could give him what he craves…an heir to his fortune and shipping enterprise!”