He followed Paulette up a flight of stairs and then another. On the third floor of this house was a pleasant nursery. Two little girls played on the floor, a sea of dolls around them. Instantly he saw Mara, her lovely gold hair spilling down her shoulders. She sat across from a dark-haired girl he recognized as Paulette’s niece, Sara Fleming. The two girls laughed and chattered away. Declan froze in surprise as he realized that Mara was talking. He glanced at Paulette and she nodded in confirmation. He turned back to Mara, who still had not noticed him. The murmur of the two childish voices, so charming and so typical, thrilled him.
“Mara, darlin’?” he called to her.
Her little head spun around and she stood up in the same moment she heard his voice. Then he heard the sweetest words in the world.
“Papa!” Mara ran to him. “Papa’s home!”
He scooped her up in his arms and twirled her around, tears welling in his eyes. His daughter was talking! She was talking again. It was all he could think of. And she was here safe in his arms once more.
“Oh, Mara, darlin’, I have missed you so much.”
“I missed you so much too, Papa.”
“Have you been a good girl?”
She nodded, her little face growing quite serious. “Yes, and very brave.”
“I imagine that you have been, and I thank you for being a brave girl for me.”
Mara placed her forehead against his. “Don’t go away again, Papa.”
“Never.” He squeezed her tighter. “Never, love.”
From the other end of the nursery Sara called to her, “Mara, come back and play!”
“Want to play with Sara and me?” Mara asked him with a bright smile.
“I’d love to, darlin’, but I have to discuss some important things with Miss Hamilton first.” Declan set her down carefully. “You can keep playing though.”
Her green eyes worried, Mara looked up at him. “You won’t leave?”
“Not without you,” he promised his daughter.
Again Mara nodded her head and scampered back to play with Sara and the dolls.
Declan turned to Paulette, beaming with happiness. “She’s talking. I can’t believe it.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Paulette grinned. “Mrs. Martin said she first spoke the night you left. She called for you.”
He thought it quite ironic that he had stayed by his daughter’s side to protect her and calm her fears in the hope that she would speak again, but as soon as he was taken from her, then she found her voice. In any case, he was relieved that Mara was safe and with him again. “Where is Mrs. Martin?”
“She’s here, too,” Paulette whispered. “She’s been wonderful, Declan, and she took excellent care of Mara while you were gone, even though your cousin dismissed her. They dismissed Hobbes that night and we didn’t know where he went, but we found him yesterday and he’s here, too. When I learned that Gerald was going to send Mara to live with Margaret’s sisters, I had Mrs. Martin and Mara sneak out of the house under the cover of darkness so we could take them here to Dublin instead.”
More was wrong at home than he’d even imagined and his heart fell at the confirmation that Gerald was at the cause. “This was all Gerald’s doing.”
Frowning, Paulette placed her hand on his arm and drew him from the nursery. “Let’s go join the others and we can explain everything we’ve learned.”
“The others?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, walking toward the staircase. “Juliette, Harrison, Jeffrey Eddington, and your solicitor. They’re all downstairs in the parlor waiting for us. We have some news for you.”
He stopped her and pulled her into his arms. She looked so pretty in her gown of dark green, her figure slightly fuller, her fair skin aglow. “Paulette Hamilton, you are an amazing woman, and I love you. I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done.”
She leaned up on the tips of her toes and kissed him. “You don’t have to thank me. I love you and I love Mara. I would do anything for either of you. Now, let’s go.”
Hand in hand, he and Paulette descended the stairs and made their way to the parlor.
Declan was greeted by Paulette’s family as they all sat around a table, discussing the facts of the case with Sebastian Woods.
Declan too learned that her family had done a great deal in assisting his release. Apparently, Lord Eddington’s father was a powerful duke, who wielded his influence over the matter. Coupled with Lucien Sinclair’s plea as the Marquis of Stancliff and the strong defense that Sebastian Woods had presented to the court, Declan Reeves was no longer considered the cause of his wife’s death.
“The most damning claim against you, Declan, was your own words,” Sebastian stated. “A number of the servants heard you that very night, saying that you would kill Margaret.”
All eyes turned to him. Declan faced each one in turn. The curious looks of Juliette and Harrison Fleming, the suspicious glance of Jeffrey Eddington. But the eyes that mattered most were Paulette’s and it was to hers he looked. The trust and honesty he saw within her blue eyes filled him with hope. “Yes, I said that. I was angry that night, angry enough to say those terrible words to my wife. But I was not angry enough to kill her. I called her many other names though, which she deserved. But when I left her bedroom door she was alive and screaming right back at me. Then I went to my own bedroom and drank myself into a stupor. The next thing I knew the house was in flames.”
“It almost seems as if you were set up,” Harrison Fleming pondered out loud. “You’re angry, you threaten her, and your threats come true.”
“You could be right,” Declan mused. “Everyone knew our marriage was not a happy one.”
“It comes back to proof,” Sebastian Woods explained. “We know the fire was deliberately set and not an accident. Someone set that fire. No one can prove you started the fire, my lord. But no one can prove that you did not.”
The room grew quiet.
Sebastian Woods continued, “The charges against you have been dropped, but the rumors and suspicion will persist until we know who is to blame.”
“Margaret’s family hated me so much and the rumors and suspicion grew from them, I’m sure,” Declan said. “I was easy to blame.”
“Who benefits most from your blame?” Jeffrey asked.
Declan began slowly, “My cousin Gerald would inherit everything, but I hate to think that of him. He wasn’t even in Galway that night and—”
Paulette’s next words chilled him. “I believe that your cousin did have something to do with the fire.”
A tight knot formed in Declan’s stomach. He had not wanted to believe his cousin guilty of betraying him in such a horrific manner.
Paulette continued, “When we were at Cashelmore Manor I happened to overhear a conversation—”
“You just happened to overhear a conversation?” Juliette arched a quizzical eyebrow at her sister.
“Fine. I admit it.” Paulette sighed in resignation. “I was purposely listening outside the door. I could hear Gerald and Alice arguing, so I listened. They said something about the night of the fire. I thought it was very odd.”
“What did they say?” Declan asked, but not sure he wanted to know.
“Well, at first they were arguing because Alice was flirting outrageously with Jeffrey.”
Juliette laughed aloud and rolled her eyes. “Of course she was.”
With a grin, Jeffrey gave a helpless shrug of his shoulders. “I was learning some useful information. She’s a clever woman and quite ambitious. She doesn’t love her husband and only married him for the prospect of becoming the Countess of Cashelmore.”
Paulette continued eagerly, “Yes! They talked about Gerald soon becoming the next Earl of Cashelmore and how everything had worked out well for them since the night of the fire as long as . . . no one finds out.”
“As long as no one finds out what?” Juliette asked the question on everyone’s lips.
“That they were there the night of
the fire, Declan. At the house in Galway. Because it was the last part of what I heard that gave me chills . . .” Paulette paused for a breath. “They said no one would find out because . . . the child was still not talking.”
The room grew deathly silent and the implications were clear to everyone.
The knot in the pit of Declan’s stomach turned to icy fear for Mara. His daughter had seen something else the night of the fire. As if watching her mother burn to death was not horrifying enough.
Had Mara seen Gerald there? Or Alice? Or both of them? Had they threatened her not to talk? Was that the reason why his daughter was rendered mute for a year? Declan felt sick to his stomach. “Dear God. It all makes sense.”
Paulette took his hand in hers. “But Mara is talking now,” she whispered.
“We still need to have proof of this,” Sebastian Woods pointed out. “We need something more significant than an overheard conversation and the word of a traumatized child. Just as the proof against you was nebulous, my lord, the proof against your cousin is just as unsubstantial.”
“Then I will get proof,” Declan said, filled with anger at what his cousin’s greed had cost his daughter.
“I’m positive he’s involved,” Paulette protested, her expression full of worry.
“We’ll go to Cashelmore tomorrow morning and confront Gerald and Alice face to face. They won’t know yet that I’ve been released. Let’s surprise them and catch them off guard.”
Chapter 30
Together
As the clock ticked midnight, Paulette waited with mounting impatience until the Dublin townhouse was quiet and everyone was asleep for the night. Silently she slid out of her warm bed and tiptoed from her room and down the hallway to the bedroom she knew Declan was staying in. She rapped lightly on the door. It opened and she slipped inside, the door closing softly behind her.
Declan pulled her into his strong arms. “You shouldn’t be here, love, but I’m glad you are,” he said in a hushed tone. He was bare-chested, and his skin was like warm velvet.
“It’s a little late to worry about ‘shouldn’t,’ isn’t it?” she whispered into his mouth just before he kissed her. His warm lips covered hers and she melted at the touch of his hands pressing into her back. Wearing nothing but her night rail, she was as scantily dressed as he was.
He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. They lay together in the darkened room. The only light came from the fire that burned in the fireplace to ward off the autumn chill.
“I can hardly believe you’re here with me, Paulette.”
“I’ve missed you so much, Declan,” she murmured in his ear. “These weeks have been dreadful without you.”
“And I’ve missed you more than you know, lass.”
Again his mouth, hot and demanding, covered hers and a thrill coursed through her body. He moved over her, his weight settling on top of her, and the heat emanating from his muscles filled her with longing for him to touch her.
She was here in his bed at last. Declan was with her and a tranquil sense of peace filled her heart. Paulette caressed his face, the stubble that covered his jaw pricking her fingers, reminding her that he was real and not one of her many dreams about him.
Their hands explored familiar territory, reclaiming their brands on each other’s bodies after such a long absence.
His kisses made her want more of him and she arched her back, pressing herself into him.
Her hands splayed through his dark hair and she breathed in the familiar scent of him, clinging to him. He continued to kiss her, his tongue plundering her mouth. His hand slid over her chest, squeezing her breast through the cotton of her nightgown. Anticipation of what was to come caused her to shiver when he slowly tugged her nightgown up the length of her body. She helped him as he lifted it over her head, leaving her naked beneath him. His hands moved over her, touching her, sending shivers of delight all over her.
“I love you, Declan,” she murmured in his ear as her hands skated down the length of his back. His muscles were taut beneath her fingers.
“I love you, my beautiful Paulette.” His hand stilled as it moved over her abdomen. “And I love this baby for making us a family.”
She covered his hand with hers, feeling tears threaten at such tenderness from him. “I do, too.”
“You know I’m marrying you before we go back to London.”
Happy that they were to finally going to be married, she smiled. She wanted to be Declan’s wife and raise their child together. “That is perfectly sensible,” she agreed.
He laughed low in his throat. “None of this makes sense, Paulette.” Then his tone grew quite serious. “Not you here in Dublin with me. Not everyone accusing me of killing my wife. Not my cousin betraying me. Not you having to steal my daughter back. Not your family having to help release me from prison. None of it makes any sense at all. Except you. You make everything perfect.”
“We’re perfect together, Declan.”
“In my whole life, I’ve never had anyone believe in me, except you.”
She smiled at him, touched by his words. “I’m an excellent judge of character.”
“Yes, you are.” He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“I think Mara was happy when we told her about the wedding,” Paulette said, thinking of Mara’s little face when they told Declan’s daughter that they intended to marry.
“Of course she was happy,” he said. “She loves you.”
“And I love her.”
“I can’t get over that she’s talking again.” His voice was full of disbelief.
“It’s so good to hear her voice.”
“I can’t thank you enough for going to Mara first. I would have gone mad if Margaret’s sisters had gotten their clutches on her.”
“I know you would have. And that evening at Cashelmore I didn’t know what else to do but take her. When Mara agreed to come with me, there was no other choice. Although Jeffrey thought I was daft.”
“It shows how much she trusts and loves you that she left with you willingly,” he said. “And I owe a great deal of thanks to Eddington and to your brothers-in-law for all of their help in getting me released.”
“They were working on things even before I asked them for help. They love me, so they were happy to help you.”
“You have an incredibly loving family, Paulette. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better family than yours. Watching you and all your sisters on the opening day of the bookshop made me feel lucky and proud just to know you. Mara already loves your sister Juliette. And Sara too, of course. Now that I am to be a part of this family, I am truly humbled.”
Paulette grew quiet at his words. She had been lucky to have grown up in a loving and close family. She knew nothing else. Yet Declan lost his parents at ten years old, had no siblings, and the only relative he possessed, his cousin Gerald, had betrayed him in the most horrific of ways. Paulette could not imagine such heartache. When things were difficult for her, she could count on her sisters and brothers-in-law for support and guidance. That Declan was awed by her family’s warm and caring unity, which was something she often took for granted, touched her deeply.
“I am very fortunate to have such a family,” she whispered, realizing how true her words were. The last few months Paulette had been so fearful to let them know of her feelings for Declan, afraid that they would disapprove of her or be disappointed in her. Their opinions meant so much to her. Yet when they found out, they did not behave as she had thought they would. No, they all had done everything in their power to assist her in helping Declan. “I am very, very blessed,” she said again.
“Yes, you are,” Declan agreed. “I think we both are.”
“But now you and Mara are a part of my family.”
“I was part of Margaret’s family once.” He laughed a little ruefully. “I was a bit leery at first when you mentioned you had four sisters because my previous experience with sisters-in-law was not a pleasant one.”<
br />
She said knowingly, “So I gathered.”
He smiled at her. “But your sisters are all wonderful and lovely. I found Colette to be bright and charming the day I spoke with her in the bookshop. I met Lisette and Yvette only briefly, but I’m already fond of Juliette.”
“Yes, she’s quite unique, our Juliette.”
“And Harrison Fleming is a good man. Of course, I’m now partial to their daughter, Sara, for befriending Mara so quickly, but your nephews Philip and Simon are quite the little gentlemen. And Eddington . . .”
“What about Jeffrey?” Paulette asked.
“I admit I was not overly taken with him at first. He made it clear he disapproved of me from the start,” Declan said. “He did not trust me where you were concerned, and he was right to distrust me. But he’s since proven to be an admirable fellow.”
“I told you that Jeffrey is like a brother to us and probably more protective than a real one in some ways.”
“Those were his exact words to me in the bookshop, when he told me about the baby. I sensed then how much he cared for all of you. Do you know I tried to find you that day after we quarreled? I was ready to apologize then and marry you. I was hoping I would see you at Devon House later that evening when I went to fetch Mara,” he said. “Where did you run off to?”
“I was hiding from you, and everyone else, upstairs in my office,” she confessed. “I’m so sorry I behaved like an idiot.”
Leaning on his side, his hand still covering her abdomen, he began caressing her. “Don’t be sorry. I too acted like an idiot. I was just hurt that Eddington was the one to tell me about the baby and not you. I was hurt that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me yourself.”
“I know. . . . But you had made it clear that you didn’t wish to wed again, and I didn’t want you to feel forced into marrying me, so—”
“You would rather have run off to America with your sister and never told me about the baby?” he interrupted.
“Well, I had that idea as a last resort sort of plan.... I don’t think I could ever have truly gone through with it.” Paulette kissed him, realizing just how much her foolish plan had hurt him. “I was simply overcome with fears and doubts. Please forgive me.”
To Tempt an Irish Rogue Page 26
