To Tempt an Irish Rogue

by Kaitlin O'Riley

  “We’ll talk about it later.” Colette winked at her. “But make sure you let me know if he comes into the shop again, all right?”

  Paulette nodded woodenly, hating that she had just lied to her sister.

  Chapter 9

  Deception

  Dropping his heavy portmanteau on the floor of the hallway, Gerald O’Rourke cursed under his breath.

  “What did he say?” asked Alice O’Rourke, his wife of two years, her pretty face full of concern. She lay sprawled on the sofa and raised herself up languidly on her elbow to look at him. Clad in nothing but a thin, white, silk robe, her long chestnut hair piled atop her head, Alice was an enticing sight indeed.

  Although he usually gave in to the temptation of his young wife’s charms, Gerald was too angry to be interested at the moment.

  “He’s not coming back. Not anytime soon, at least.”

  “Did you suggest he go to America?” she asked.

  “Yes, I suggested he go to America,” Gerald snapped at her in irritation. “But he’s not planning on going there, either.”

  Alice released a heavy sigh and sat up, her long legs peeking between the opening in her silk robe. “Well then, we shall simply have to wait for them to arrest him. They must do it at some point. They’ve waited long enough.”

  Gerald poured himself a drink before he even removed his jacket. The small but elegantly furnished Dublin house he shared with his wife was stifling on this sweltering August night. He could barely breathe. “They’ve waited this long because they don’t have enough evidence.” He wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Jesus, Alice, it’s as hot as an oven in here.”

  “It’s summer,” she replied with a careless shrug, standing and walking toward him.

  “Can you open a damned window at least? Let some air in?”

  “They’re all open, Gerald.”

  He gritted his teeth. He hated the house, hated the heat, hated the city, and hated his cousin, Declan Reeves, most of all. Frustrated with the way his trip to London ended, Gerald wanted to punch something, or someone, to release the anger welling within him.

  “Well, it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it,” he ground out bitterly.

  “Calm down, have your drink, and tell me how things went.” Alice helped him out of his jacket, tossing it on the chair, and loosening his neckcloth.

  Gerald released a weary sigh as he lowered himself onto the sofa, heat clinging to him and perspiration dripping down his back. “Sometimes I feel like it is never going to go our way.”

  “It will, just be more patient. The tide will turn,” Alice murmured in a soothing tone, caressing his cheek. “It always does. We know they are getting close to bringing him in. We only need to hurry things along.”

  “And just how do we do that, Alice?” he snapped sarcastically. “I don’t know what else to do. I thought for sure he’d want to take Mara and just leave for good, start over in America, and never come back. It would be the best move for him. And us.”

  But Declan Reeves had never done anything that Gerald thought he should have done or would have done in his position. Declan married the wrong type of woman when he was too young and never heeded Gerald’s advice. And look how it ended.

  “Is Mara talking yet?” Alice questioned.

  “No. I didn’t even see her, but he says no. It’s a strange thing that that child won’t speak.”

  Alice’s elegant dark brows furrowed. “I’m still not sure if it helps or hurts us.”

  “She saw me there that night, so her not speaking definitely helps us.” Once again he could not hide the sarcasm in his tone.

  “Even if she did say you were there, at this point who would believe her? She’s merely a frightened child and it’s been almost a year since it happened. You could attribute her words to a bad dream. Nothing the girl said would make a difference now.”

  “It sure as hell would, if she can say I was in the house during the fire.”

  Gerald shuddered, recalling how events spiraled out of his control that night. The acrid smell of smoke and burning flesh were permanently seared into his memory. Nothing had turned out as it should have that fateful evening. But being spotted by his cousin’s young daughter was definitely not in his plans. Her sweet little face, full of terror and tears, would haunt him until the day he died.

  “In either case, I left your brother, Brinks, in London to keep an eye on Declan and to keep me informed on what is happening there. He’ll send me regular updates. And perhaps persuade Declan to return home, in fear if need be.”

  “He’ll do a good job of it.” Alice moved to stand behind him as he sat on the sofa. She began to massage his shoulders in an attempt to ease some of the tension that had been growing within him. Alice had magic fingers and she was quite skilled with them in more than one area. It was one of the reasons he had married her.

  At the age of thirty-five and believing he would remain a bachelor his whole life, he’d surprised himself and everyone else by marrying twenty-year-old Alice Kennedy only two years ago. Looking the way he did, Gerald was damned lucky to have found someone as young and beautiful as Alice Kennedy to marry him. Alice was intelligent, ambitious, and accomplished in the bedroom, and Gerald would do anything to please her. He’d met her one day at a horse race in Galway and he’d been instantly attracted to her, and even more surprising, she to him. Alice understood him and what he wanted. She was shrewd enough to know that Gerald could get her what she wanted, too, which was out of the miserable life of poverty she had been born into. Perhaps her past was a bit tarnished and she had come from unsavory beginnings, but what did that matter in the end? The girl polished up nicely. Alice was his wife now and belonged to him. She would be the Countess of Cashelmore one day very, very soon.

  “Gerald, we’ve discussed this over and over again,” Alice said pragmatically. “You can’t even be sure she recognized you. It was dark and chaotic that night and she’s just a frightened little girl. A baby still. If she hasn’t said anything about seeing you there by now, she won’t. Relax and let nature take its course. Margaret’s family is angry and powerful enough to bring Declan down without our involvement. The Ryans will never allow Declan to remain free if they think he is responsible for Margaret’s death. And they truly think he is. Our work is done. Now we just wait.”

  “I’m tired of waiting,” Gerald grumbled. “I’ve been waiting to be the Earl of Cashelmore my whole damn life.”

  “Just be patient, darling. All we have to do is quietly keep fanning the rumors and declaring outrage that Declan Reeves walks free while his wife lies in her cold grave at Cashelmore.” She gave him a conspiratorial smile. “We just keep stirring the pot.”

  Closing his eyes, Gerald finally relaxed as Alice continued to knead his shoulders and neck with her expert fingers. The tension and anger slowly began to recede from his tired muscles. The liquor probably helped with that as well, as he downed the last of his whiskey.

  Ever since he was a child he railed against the accident of his birth. His mother had been the younger sister of the Earl. Declan, as the only son of the Earl of Cashelmore, was the one to inherit the title, the estate, and all the money. As the only other surviving male member of the family, if Declan were out of the way, it would all belong to Gerald.

  “He doesn’t suspect you, does he?” Alice questioned, biting her lip.

  “No. Not at all. Which makes him too stupid to live. If I were him, I would certainly suspect me. But not Declan. He was genuinely happy to see me and regards me as his brother. The bloody fool.” Gerald’s lip curled in disgust. He’d been pretending to be his younger cousin’s friend for years, gaining his confidence and trust. “He hasn’t a clue how I really feel about him. He even asked me to keep an eye on Cashelmore for him while he’s in London indefinitely.”

  “Good!” she declared, digging her fingers hard into his flesh. “When he’s finally in prison, it will make for an easy transition for us to assume control. I’d get ov
er there first thing in the morning and start managing the estate. Your trip to London was not in vain then, Gerald.” Alice laughed in triumph. “You have his permission to take over Cashelmore Manor. It’s the perfect start, my darling!”

  Still, there was something about the whole situation that bothered Gerald. “I don’t like being his servant and that’s exactly what this feels like.”

  “Don’t be an idiot.” She smacked the back of his neck. “If he wants you to watch over the estate for him, wouldn’t we be better able to do that if we moved in to Cashelmore?”

  “Yes,” he agreed reluctantly, still feeling frustrated and stifled by the unfortunate circumstances of birth that had ruled his life.

  “You’re being short-sighted. Stop pouting, Gerald, and take control.”

  He reached up and grabbed both of Alice’s hands tightly, preventing her from rubbing his shoulders. “Take control?” he questioned, his voice growing low. He swung around and pulled her over the back of the sofa until she was lying beneath him. “Take control? Is that what you said, Alice?”

  Her brown eyes glittered with excitement as he positioned himself over her. “Yes,” she demanded. “Take control.”

  His mouth came down hard over hers then, and in the steamy heat of the evening he ripped off Alice’s silk robe.

  Chapter 10

  Beginnings

  Declan held Mara’s hand as they walked along the path in Green Park on Sunday afternoon. He’d asked Paulette Hamilton to meet him there, and somehow he knew it would be safer if he brought his daughter along.

  They were lucky to have another gorgeous summer day, with the sun bright in the clear blue sky. The park was bustling with people enjoying the fine weather. Children ran and shrieked, playing in the grass, while youthful ladies, shielded from the sun with pastel parasols, walked on the arms of young men. Mara skipped beside her father, wearing her wide-brimmed sunbonnet and a pink and lace embroidered dress, her golden curls bouncing as she held his hand tightly.

  Mara had been so frightened the night he went to see Paulette, simply because he came home later than usual. That worried Declan. Perhaps taking Mara from her home in Dublin and all she had known had been the wrong choice and caused her to be too fearful. But looking at her now, she seemed as happy as could be. Yet somehow, he knew she would never truly be happy again until she released the fears that gripped her so tightly and she could speak once more.

  And there was Paulette Hamilton.

  She sat on a bench under the shade of a tall, silver maple tree. In a gown of pale lavender and a straw sun hat bedecked with lavender ribbons, she looked as pretty as a picture. Paulette smiled and gave a little wave as they approached.

  “Good afternoon!” he called to her.

  Beside him, Mara came to a complete stop, causing Declan to pause and look at her in surprise.

  “What is it, Mara?” He knelt down, so he could be at eye-level with her. “You remember Miss Hamilton? From the bookshop? She showed you the fairy-tale book. I thought you’d like to see her again.”

  His daughter gave him a look that shook him to the tip of his boots. It was as if she were older and wiser and knew, just knew, that he had not brought her to the park to see Miss Hamilton. She saw completely through his simple ruse. Mara knew that Declan was the one who wanted to see Miss Hamilton. She eyed him most carefully, but did not protest. Mara let go of his hand and walked over to the bench without him.

  Declan watched in fascination as Paulette greeted his daughter with a warm smile.

  “Good afternoon, Mara. Do you remember me? I’m Miss Hamilton. I have something for you.”

  Mara nodded and took a step closer to Paulette.

  Paulette picked up a package, wrapped in brown paper and tied in dark green ribbon, which rested on the bench beside her. She handed it to Mara. With hesitant fingers, his daughter held out her hand, accepting Paulette’s gift with a questioning gaze.

  He and Paulette exchanged a glance and again he was struck by just how beautiful she was. A gentle breeze wafted under the brim of her sun hat and ruffled the edges of her blond hair. She looked fresh and young and full of life. He moved toward the bench where she sat.

  Paulette focused her attention back to Mara, encouraging her. “You can unwrap it. It’s a little present. Here. I’ll help you. Come sit up here by me.” She patted the bench in invitation and Mara scrambled to get herself seated, clutching the small package in her hand.

  Together they untied the green ribbon and unwrapped the brown paper, revealing a book, Beauty and the Beast.

  “It’s a toy book,” Paulette explained with excitement, helping Mara turn to the first page. “Look, when we pull the little tab right here, the picture moves.”

  Mara was fascinated. With great care, her little fingers tugged on the tab and they watched the colorful picture change its scene. Her mouth opened in surprised delight. Even Declan was intrigued.

  “Isn’t that clever!” he cried, looking over them.

  “We just got a new shipment of these toy books into the store yesterday and I had a feeling that Mara would like one.”

  “Thank you for thinking of her,” Declan whispered, touched by her thoughtfulness in bringing something for his daughter.

  “You’re welcome.” Paulette glanced up at him and smiled. “She’s a very sweet child.”

  “Mara, thank Miss Hamilton, please.” His daughter might not speak, but he still expected her to have manners enough to thank someone for a gift.

  The child looked up at Paulette with wide eyes and smiled. Mara gave Paulette a genuinely happy smile. Declan nodded his approval.

  “I’m so happy you like it, Mara. I thought of you the moment I first saw this book.” Paulette leaned over and demonstrated another section. “Look at this page. If you pull this tab, you can make the beast dance. Isn’t that funny? But you have to be very gentle with it. You don’t want to tear it.”

  With great care, Mara’s tiny fingers tugged and the beast moved on the page. A small giggle escaped her. Completely mesmerized, the child made the motion over and over again on the same page of the book.

  Stunned, Declan knelt beside the bench and stared at his daughter. Mara had just laughed! He hadn’t heard that sweet sound in almost a year. The beauty of her fleeting giggle filled him with a joyous hope that none of the expert doctors he consulted had given him. He knew with a certainty in his heart that Mara would speak again when she was ready. He patted her head and she blithely ignored him, enraptured with the novelty of a book with colorful pictures of a beast that danced.

  “Is everything all right?” Paulette asked, her delicate brows drawn in concern.

  “Everything is wonderful, lass,” he said. Rising to his feet, he held out his hand to Paulette. She clasped his hand and rose from the bench. They took a few steps away, leaving Mara completely engrossed in her new book.

  “It’s good to see you again, Paulette,” he said. Was it only two nights ago that they spoke in the shop? Only the day before yesterday that he had kissed her so passionately behind the bookshelves? He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since then. Paulette was so different from any girl he’d met before. And she was entirely different from Margaret.

  “It’s good to see you, too.” She flushed slightly, suddenly shy with him. “Declan.”

  As he still clasped her hand in his, all he could think about was kissing her. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her sweet mouth right then and there in the beauty of the day. He certainly couldn’t do so in front of so many strangers, let alone his daughter. Instead, he did all that he could do. He gave her gloved fingers a light squeeze.

  Paulette grinned up at him and squeezed his fingers back. “Shall we walk?”

  “Yes, let’s.” He turned back to the bench. “Come along now, Mara.”

  Mara closed the book with great reluctance, holding it close to her chest, and slid off the bench, her little boots landing on the ground with a thud. She skipped over to them
, and sidled up to Paulette. She placed her hand in Paulette’s.

  “I think she likes you,” Declan whispered in Paulette’s ear.

  “I like her too, so it’s mutual,” Paulette said, grinning.

  He offered Paulette his arm and they walked along the meandering path slowly so Mara could keep up with them.

  “I have a question for you,” he asked.

  “And what is that?”

  “I’ve been wondering about all the French names.”

  Paulette’s lyrical laughter lightened the air around him, filling his chest with an emotion he did not recognize. A deep coldness within him suddenly melted, filling him with a warm sense of peace he hadn’t experienced before.

  “Oh, that’s because of my mother,” she explained. “She’s French.”

  “Ah, now it all makes sense.” He nodded in understanding. “I suspected as much.”

  “But we all have English middle names.”

  “And yours would be?”

  “Victoria.”

  “For the queen.”

  “Yes. I am very queenly, am I not?” Paulette laughed sweetly.

  “Yes, I can see the name suits you.” He winked at her playfully. “So all your sisters work in the bookshop as well?”

  “Well, most of us that is. Juliette, the second oldest, and Yvette, the baby, never had much interest in the shop and spent the least amount of time there. Lisette has always been a great help, but it’s mainly been just Colette and me. We took over the shop after our father passed away. We redesigned the store and changed everything from the layout to what types of books we sold. Our bookshop is doing so well, we’re opening another store.”

  “Is that right?” Looking at her with increasing admiration, he liked the idea of Paulette’s business being successful. Even though he knew the bookstore belonged to all of the Hamilton sisters, in his mind the shop was Paulette’s alone.

  “Yes, we should be ready to open by the end of October. My brother-in-law, Quinton Roxbury, the one married to Lisette, designed the new store for us. We helped to design it. I’ve never been able to give my ideas for a building as it was being built before and that was the most exciting part of it. Everything is being crafted especially to our specifications and requirements. It will be quite modern and beautiful.”