To Tempt an Irish Rogue

by Kaitlin O'Riley

  “Excuse me, sir?”

  Declan looked up to see a beautiful woman who looked startlingly similar to Paulette standing in the doorway of the reading room. Although she was a little taller and her hair was black, the clear blue eyes and the delicate face showed a striking resemblance. He had seen her from afar earlier that day, during the unveiling, but up close there was not a doubt of who she could be. She was most definitely one of the Hamilton sisters and from what Paulette had told him, he guessed this must be Juliette.

  She gave him a curious look.

  “Yes?” he asked.

  “Is this little blonde your daughter?”

  Declan’s heart lurched. Good God, with all that had happened he’d completely forgotten about Mara! They had been in the crowd that morning to witness the opening of the shop. He had wanted to be there to support Paulette and see the new shop. Hell, he had simply wanted to see her. He’d missed her terribly during the last month. So he had brought Mara along, and then on an impulse he had entered the shop with the rest of the guests and customers. Declan had wandered about the place, impressed by all she had done inside the new location. He’d even managed to stay out of Paulette’s way, and she had been so preoccupied with all that she had going on that she had not noticed him when he took Mara to the children’s section. That was when Lord Eddington had pulled him aside, asking to speak to him privately. Declan left Mara seated at one of the little tables, looking at a picture book. He thought he’d be gone only a minute.

  Now he felt awful for leaving Mara alone for so long.

  “Is she all right?” Panicking, Declan hurried to the doorway. “She’s not hurt, is she? I was only in here a short time, and I thought it would be okay.”

  “Oh, she’s fine.” Paulette’s sister moved to the side to allow him to pass by. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I simply wanted to find out to whom she belonged.”

  Declan stopped short. Mara was not crying for him or scared in the least. His daughter was playing quite contentedly with another little girl and two boys at the children’s table just where he had left her. They all looked to be near in age and were laughing and singing and looking at books like they were old friends. Mara was laughing, really laughing. Once again, Declan was stunned.

  “I’m so sorry to have worried you,” Paulette’s sister said, coming to stand beside him. “It seems that my daughter has become quite possessive of your daughter, saying she wants to take her home. They’re all having a wonderful time together.”

  “Yes, I can see that,” Declan murmured in relief, fascinated by the scene in front of him. He recalled Paulette once suggesting that Mara should play with children her own age. He wished he had listened to her, for the change in his daughter was quite astounding. The younger of the two boys, a handsome dark-haired boy who had to be close to three, reached over to take a book out of Mara’s hands. She held on to it quite firmly, not letting him have it. “No!” she declared. The word was clear and the sound was music to Declan’s ears. He wanted to cry with delight. It was a small step, to be sure, but Mara had spoken her first word in a year!

  His daughter had said “no.” Just as Paulette had said to him moments ago. The irony was not lost on him.

  “I’m Mrs. Harrison Fleming,” the woman beside him stated. “And that is my daughter, Sara, and those two are my sister Colette’s sons, Phillip and Simon Sinclair.”

  “I’m Declan Reeves and that is Mara.”

  “You’re Declan Reeves?” Her voice was incredulous as she gave him an assessing look and echoed again, “You’re Declan Reeves?”

  “Yes, I am.” He smiled ruefully. “The one and only.”

  “Well, that explains a great deal, but I certainly wasn’t expecting to meet you so soon.”

  He gazed at her wryly. “I gather your sister Paulette has mentioned me before?”

  Juliette Hamilton Fleming gave him a knowing glance. “In a surprisingly short time, I’ve managed to learn quite a lot about you, Lord Cashelmore. It seems I’ve returned to London just in time.”

  “It’s a little late to warn her away from me,” Declan said quietly.

  To his surprise, Juliette laughed and gave a little wave of her hand. “Oh, I’ve figured out that much on my own, Lord Cashelmore.”

  “So you know everything then?” he asked. Aside from his name and title, Declan wondered just what else Juliette Hamilton Fleming had managed to learn about him.

  “You could say that.”

  “Is your family ready to kill me? Do I need to make a run for it?”

  Once again, Juliette’s laughter took him by surprise. “Since I just arrived in town, I don’t know if you’re in the clear yet, but it seems no one else knows about you, except Yvette.”

  “And apparently Lord Eddington knows,” he added, recalling their conversation in the reading room. Eddington made it clear in no uncertain terms where he stood on the matter of Declan’s relationship with Paulette. The man wanted to kill him.

  “Oh, Jeffrey knows too, does he? I must say I’m not surprised to hear that.”

  “Oh, he knows.”

  “You must forgive Jeffrey. He tends to take on the role of our big brother and it is not unexpected that he’s aware of the situation. He’s probably being a bit over-protective given the circumstances . . . of your past.”

  “I did not kill my wife,” Declan stated quite emphatically.

  “I didn’t say that you had.” Juliette gazed at him levelly, her blue eyes understanding. “But if you didn’t kill her, then who did?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Paulette doesn’t believe you did either.”

  “But you wonder about it, don’t you?” he couldn’t help but ask. “You’re worried for your sister.”

  Again Juliette looked up at him, her gaze direct. “I’m worried for my sister, but not for that reason. Paulette would not be in love with you if you were capable of murder.”

  Declan grew quiet. Paulette was in love with him? Then why had she turned down his offer of marriage just now?

  “And I trust my sister’s judgment, Lord Cashelmore. Paulette is the most sensible out of all of us Hamilton sisters. Besides, I think I like you already.”

  Confounded by Juliette Hamilton Fleming’s candid manner, Declan could only say, “Thank you. I think I like you as well.”

  “So when are you marrying Paulette?”

  Declan gave a rueful laugh. “I would marry your sister today, but she turned me down just now when I asked her.”

  Juliette shrugged her shoulders. “Well, then I suppose I should take back what I just said about her being the most sensible of us all.”

  Declan laughed aloud, throwing back his head.

  “It wasn’t that funny,” Juliette remarked dryly.

  “Now I know I like you,” Declan declared.

  “Well, thank you.”

  Juliette’s smile was so like Paulette’s it took Declan’s breath away. “Do you all look so ridiculously alike?”

  “Yes, we do. Variations on a theme.” Juliette sighed. “But I’m the prettiest.”

  “And the most modest, of course,” Declan added.

  “Of course.”

  He laughed at Juliette’s jesting manner. Paulette’s sister was certainly bright and charming, but Declan thought that Paulette was far and away more beautiful than any of the sisters he’d met so far.

  Sara Fleming came over to them, dragging Mara with her, their little hands clasped together. She looked up at her mother with beseeching eyes. “Mama, can Mara come home with us? Please?”

  Juliette gave Declan an amused glance. “Leave it to my daughter. We only docked in London this morning and already Sara has made a new friend. The poor child has been cooped up aboard ship for two weeks with only adults for company and as you can see she is thrilled to find your daughter here. Phillip and Simon are fine, but a girl! Now that’s a treasure! Lord Cashelmore, would you mind if I brought your daughter home to Devon House with me for th
e afternoon so the girls can play together for a little while?”

  Although intrigued by the offer, Declan hesitated. “I’m not sure. I have some important engagements this afternoon and Mara hasn’t been away from me—”

  “Oh, but Devon House has the most wonderful nursery and playroom. Mara will have a delightful time, I assure you. And it might do her some good.”

  “You know about that, too?” Declan asked, surprised how much Juliette knew about him.

  “Yes. Word travels fast in this family.” Juliette smiled merrily, her eyes dancing. “Why, just look at the two of them together! Playing with a friend her own age will be good for Mara. I promise you that I’ll keep a close eye on her. And Mara might just have to speak to keep up with my little chatterbox. Besides, you could use the time to talk some sense into the most sensible of sisters.”

  He’d already met Colette Sinclair and from what he knew of Paulette, the Hamiltons were not complete strangers to him. Still it seemed odd to send his daughter off with this woman he just met. Then again, Mara seemed very happy and at ease with them. Declan kneeled down to talk to her. “Mara, darlin’, do you want to go and play at Sara’s house this afternoon? I’ll come get you whenever you want.”

  Mara seemed to weigh the matter over in her mind, looking between Juliette and Sara Fleming, and back at him. Then she smiled shyly and nodded her head. Declan didn’t know who was more surprised by this development, Mara or himself.

  “Well, then. You can go, darlin’. Be a good girl for Mrs. Fleming and I’ll be back to get you. I promise.” He placed a kiss on her head and rose to his feet. He turned to Juliette. “Here’s my card. If anything is wrong, please send for me immediately.”

  “I’m sure everything will be fine,” Juliette said, pocketing the card with his address. She gave him an enigmatic smile. “And I’m quite certain Paulette would know where to find you in any case. Oh, here comes my husband!”

  A tall man, with golden hair and a ruggedly handsome face bronzed by the sun, came to join them and Juliette made the introductions. Captain Harrison Fleming greeted him somewhat suspiciously, which was no surprise to Declan at this point.

  Captain Fleming turned to his wife. “Is he the one?”

  Juliette nodded. “Yes. But I’ve discovered I like him very much. We’re taking his daughter home for the afternoon to play with Sara.”

  “Of course we are.” Captain Fleming smiled in amusement, apparently used to his wife’s whims, and shook Declan’s hand in greeting. “Please forgive my wife and daughter, Lord Cashelmore. They can be quite willful.”

  “Oh, I think I understand completely,” Declan remarked, already liking the man’s good nature. He obviously loved his wife and daughter very much.

  “It gives Lord Cashelmore a perfect excuse to come by Devon House later and meet everyone.” Juliette gave Declan a most knowing look.

  Yes, Declan supposed she was right. He would have to face Paulette’s family sooner or later, and since he was going to marry Paulette even if he had to tie her up and kidnap her, sooner would be better. Although he’d had his fill of sisters-in-law with Margaret’s family, he had a much better feeling about the Hamiltons already. He’d liked everyone he’d met so far. The Hamiltons seemed like a wonderful family, and the thought that his reputation could cause embarrassment to them filled him with regret.

  Once he returned to Ireland he would end all the allegations for good.

  Declan gave Mara one more kiss before he took his leave of the Flemings and went in search of Paulette.

  Chapter 25

  Sisters

  Paulette hid in the upstairs office of the Hamilton Sisters’ Book Shoppe until she was quite sure Declan Reeves had left the store. She and Colette now each had her own office on the second floor of the shop and Paulette’s had been elegantly decorated. The long, velvet divan proved to be quite handy that afternoon, as she lay there and wept until she had fallen asleep. She crept back down at closing time while Colette was dismissing their staff, who had done remarkable work all day.

  “Where have you been?” Colette asked when they were alone. “I haven’t seen you for hours. I thought perhaps you’d left earlier with Mother and Yvette.”

  “I was in my office. I had a terrible headache, but I didn’t wish to go home. I went upstairs to rest on the divan for a bit and I fell asleep.” Paulette attempted to smooth her tousled hair.

  Colette studied her face with concern. “Well, you don’t look very well, I must say. It’s a shame you missed so much of a great day.”

  “Yes, I know,” she said with a tired smile. “But I’m so glad it was such a success!”

  “Well, I am very glad that you’re still here.” Colette grinned conspiratorially, her eyes dancing. “I had planned on the two of us having a private little celebration before Davies takes us home. If you’re feeling up to it, that is. You really don’t look well.”

  “Oh, I’m fine now. Truly. I’d love to celebrate with you!” Surprised but delighted by the idea, she followed her older sister to the small kitchen area in the back of the shop. There Colette produced a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

  “You and I worked very hard to make these two shops successful,” she explained, as she poured the sparkling liquid into the crystal glasses. They sat at the elegant wooden table, draped in a pretty lace cloth. “Although I don’t think Father would have approved of all the changes that we made, I do think he would be very, very proud of us today. And I don’t believe any of it would have been possible without your help, Paulette. Especially in those early days. Do you remember staying up all night with me, painting the bookshelves with the paint I barely had enough money to buy?”

  Paulette smiled, accepting the glass that Colette handed to her. Recalling that time fondly, she could almost smell that cream-colored paint again. “Yes. And I made all the little signs for the shop.”

  “Oh, you were quite proud of those signs! And I bought all that green ribbon from the clothes money Uncle Randall had given us. How determined we were to change the shop!” Colette sighed. “You were so little, Paulette, yet you worked harder than any of them, right by my side, always cheerful and determined to make the shop better. You were not even aware of how dangerously close we were to losing it.”

  “No, I knew. I had that habit of eavesdropping, remember?” Paulette had been very afraid of being thrown out on the street, as Uncle Randall had proclaimed would happen to them after their father died. Thankfully none of his predictions came true.

  “Yes, it seemed you especially liked to eavesdrop when Lucien came around to visit me.” Colette laughed softly at the memory. “Six years ago we couldn’t even imagine a day like today, having a grand opening for a new bookshop, five times as large as Father’s!”

  “But we did it!”

  “Yes, we did. So here’s to you and me and these two bookshops we love so much. To the Hamilton sisters.” Colette raised her glass.

  Paulette raised hers and said, “To you and me, Colette,” before taking a small sip of the bubbly liquid. She placed her glass of champagne on the table, not wanting any more, for her weak stomach could not handle it. She and Colette had worked very hard over the years and they deserved to celebrate their success. Paulette should have been overjoyed tonight. Inexplicably, tears welled in her eyes.

  “Oh, Paulette, what is it?” Colette set down her glass, her expression concerned. “Please tell me what’s wrong. You haven’t been yourself for some time now.”

  “Well, I suppose you might as well know, since almost everyone else does now.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I confided in Yvette first, although Jeffrey knew part of it, but then I think Yvette told Jeffrey and Juliette. And Jeffrey told him today. So it’s really not a secret anymore.”

  “What isn’t a secret anymore?” Colette’s expression changed from concern to confusion.

  “I’m going to have a baby.”

  Colette blinked. �
�What did you say?”

  “I’m going to have Lord Cashelmore’s baby.”

  With one swift motion, Colette downed the rest of her champagne. She stared at Paulette. “I heard what you said, yet I can’t believe it. Are you sure?”

  “As sure as one can be about these things. I visited a doctor when I was in Brighton.” It was difficult to tell her eldest sister these things. Colette had been like a mother to her in more ways than their own mother had. She valued Colette’s opinion higher than anyone’s and the thought of disappointing her was unbearable.

  “I see. At least I think I see.” Colette still seemed stunned by the news. “So I take it that Lord Cashelmore came back to visit the bookshop more than that one time?”

  “Yes,” Paulette admitted ashamedly. “He came by quite often.”

  Her sister looked so sad. “Oh, Paulette, I wish you had come to me about this.”

  Before Paulette could respond, the door to the kitchen opened and Juliette, Lisette, and Yvette filed in.

  “We knew we’d find you two here!” Juliette declared in triumph.

  Lisette smiled broadly. “We decided we wanted to come and celebrate the new shop with you both!” She placed a basket in the center of the table, filled with chocolate and other delicious treats.

  “Oooh, champagne!” Yvette exclaimed, eyeing the bottle and glasses with delight. “I can have some, can’t I?”

  “Yes, of course, but just a little.” Juliette picked up the bottle and began pouring champagne into crystal glasses. “We’re celebrating a few things this evening. The new shop named in our honor. My homecoming. The five of us being together again. And Paulette’s important news.”

  “Paulette has important news?” Lisette’s brows furrowed in confusion, and her pretty greenish-blue eyes stared at Paulette with interest.

  “Oh, we’ll get to that,” Juliette said mysteriously. “Be patient.”

  Inwardly, Paulette grimaced. How on earth would she be able to face Lisette when she learned about the baby? Her sister would be heartbroken.

  “Where’s Mother?” Colette asked.