Finn seemed amused by Galen's irritation, almost as though he were along to see precisely how everything would come out from such a mood. That, in turn, only served to make Galen more irritated. This had all been a terrible idea. What he needed to do was go home, finish his paperwork, and plan his trip home to oversee the planting.
“There she is.”
Finn's voice interrupted Galen's thoughts. He knew which 'she' his friend must be talking about and his first instinct was to look for her. See which of her dresses she wore tonight. But even that irritated him. Since when did he need to look in anticipation at their little Papist paragon? She was a girl like any other. No. She was more irritating than most. She was not accommodating in the least, had a fiery tongue and fists to match, and had made his life a living hell since the first time he'd laid eyes on her. If Finn wanted to marry the girl, then fine. Let him do it. If the earl disinherited his fool of a son at that point, no one would blame him. And then Finn could spend the rest of his days relying upon the indulgence of his friends. Even Oscar, with as little as he had, would turn out his pockets for Finn.
Galen realized he would much rather be chewing nails than sitting here in the Enchanted Cave waiting for Finn to talk to Maeve about their potential arrangement. Galen had meant to prepare his friend for just such a conversation, but somehow the words had never come out.
From over his shoulder he heard Miss O'Malley's quiet, thoughtful tone. “Lord Cole, I've been hoping to speak with you.”
There it was, then. Galen had done everything he needed to do. When Finn rose to talk to the lady, Galen made his retreat. He could now happily spend the rest of the evening thinking about the benefits of planting beans versus wheat.
* * * *
Maeve wasn't sure she had ever felt so nervous. The only place she knew that she and Lord Cole could speak privately was her own room. She hoped he wouldn't think she was being too forward. She hoped he wouldn't think to take advantage of her. She'd pushed off Lord Mornay easily enough the other night, but perhaps he had been more considerate than she thought.
Upon gaining her room she wished she could leave the door open for propriety, but that increased the chance that someone might overhear them. Aside from which, would leaving the door open in a house of brassies really do anything?
“Lord Cole,” she said tightly as he shut the door.
He turned and lounged against her wall. “Yes?”
“Lord Cole, I...” Her voice trailed off and she was uncertain how to proceed.
He smiled at her. He often smiled, as though the entire world were a joke he was privy to in a way that others weren't. And he was handsome, almost to an unimaginable extent. They would make a handsome couple, really, both tall and fair. That comparison reminded her briefly of Eva's comment about him treating her like a sibling and she wanted to giggle. She assumed that was terror and nerves. If she started laughing, she might not stop.
He finally broke the silence. “Is this what you want?” He slowly, so very slowly, moved toward her. His hand cupped her cheek and encouraged her to lean into him. As she wavered like a flower bending in the breeze, he gently covered her mouth with his.
If Lord Mornay's kiss had been like a wave crashing onto a promontory, then Lord Cole's kiss was like a butterfly alighting on a leaf. It was sweet and chaste and almost, she felt a giggle starting in her chest, brotherly.
He stepped back, his smile chagrined now. “Laughter? That's a rude prize.”
She bit hard on the inside of her cheek. “I'm sorry.”
He tapped the end of her nose. “Brat.”
Did he himself see it? She burst into laughter.
“You know,” he said, “you shouldn't invite men into your room to laugh at them. In fact, you shouldn't invite men into your room at all.” His tone had turned to the lecturing quality one reserved for people like siblings. That caused a fresh peal of laughter. Had she been misunderstanding his interest all this time?
“But,” she gasped through her laughter, “I thought you wanted me for your mistress.”
He frowned at her. “I did, some time ago. I know you better now.”
Trying to control her laughter she snorted, sending herself into a fit of giggles again. Considering his answer sobered her some, however. “Know me better? What makes me unsuitable?”
“I didn't say unsuitable, brat. You shouldn't sell your innocence short. But I knew you wouldn't really want to be kissed, no matter what you had convinced yourself.” He smiled ruefully. “I just didn't expect to be laughed at.”
“Is it because I'm Catholic?”
Lord Cole tilted his head to the side, considering her. “I don't know quite what makes you what you are, Miss O'Malley, but you should keep being you. Don't let anyone change that.”
Maeve wanted to sit down on the floor right then and cry. Everything and everyone had been trying to change who she was of late. She had already changed. But the Lord had seen fit to send an angel to her in Lord Cole. She still didn't have a way out of her predicament, but at least this felt like the Lord's path.
“Thank you,” she said earnestly. Going up on her toes, she kissed his cheek. He pinched her ribs, surprising another giggle out of her.
“See? I definitely can't have a mistress who laughs every time she kisses me.”
He slipped out the door of her room. Now here she was, alone. She had no plan on how to improve her situation, but an odd bubble of hope rose in her heart anyway. If she trusted in the Lord, He would provide. If He tested her with challenges, it meant He thought she could face them. With a glad heart, she prayed.
THE ENCHANTED CAVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Less than twelve hours after fleeing that damnable place, Galen was staring at a handbill for the Enchanted Cave. It proclaimed that The Mighty O'Malley would be fighting Adam Morse from Gentleman Jackson's this Saturday. Morse was a fighter of little enough acclaim or talent, but that didn't mean Galen fancied the idea of Miss O'Malley having to go up against him.
He wondered, not for the first time today, how the conversation between Finn and Miss O'Malley went. Finn, he knew, would be at the earl's London stables today. It was time to check on the breeding stock and decide which horses needed to be turned out to the farm. Unless Finn had removed her last evening, then Miss O'Malley would be somewhere about the Enchanted Cave.
He might as well, he reasoned, go by the Enchanted Cave. If she were no longer in residence, mystery solved. If she was still there, then he could ask her what her plans were for the upcoming fight. He could speak to Finn and make sure she was removed before something terrible could happen.
When he entered the Cave it felt even more garish and unattractive to him than it had before. It was as though something about the place was dimming with age. Bridget greeted him, her smile brittle. Galen didn't have time to worry overly about it.
“Is Miss O'Malley still here?”
“I'll fetch her for you.”
She was still here. Damnation. Why was he worried? It wasn't as though she were his to worry about. She was Finn's. If not yet, then soon. Perhaps they were still negotiating.
“Lord Mornay?”
This time he did look when he heard her voice. He would never know what dress she had worn last night, but today it was yellow, like a buttercup. Finn's little flower in the mud. “Miss O'Malley,” he said, and bowed to her.
“Thank you for offering to take me walking,” she said hurriedly. She had her arm through his and might have started towing him toward the door if he hadn't acted quickly.
“Of course, Miss O'Malley.”
Once they were outside he let her set the pace and it proved to be a brisk one.
“Is there a fire I am unaware of, Miss O'Malley?”
She stopped and drew back from him. They were a good three blocks from the house already, but she looked around as though expecting one of the ladybirds to be hiding in a nearby shrubbery. “You've upset the sisters terribly.”
&
nbsp; “Oh?” That hadn't been news he was expecting. Although he had been ignoring them of late. Nearly a fortnight without his company had left them out of sorts. He just needed to—
“They plan to use information against Lord Williams to get money out of all of you.”
Galen felt a cold fury. This was no longer a game. “What information?” he bit out.
“They don't have it yet, they just know that something happened a few years ago that made his father pay off people in London and then Lord Williams was out of town for some months after that.”
“Yes, I know of it. Was thinking about it the other day, as a matter of fact. Why are you telling me this?”
“Because it's not right what they're planning to do.”
“Is that what you told Finn last night?”
“Lord Cole? No. I...” Her voice trailed off as she thought. “Why didn't I?”
Oscar's voice echoed in Galen's head. 'But she picked you.' Why did Miss O'Malley choose him as her confidant? “I suspect because you were busy with other aspects of your relationship.”
She looked at him, eyes wide with surprise. “Oh.”
“Oh?”
“Lord Cole and I don't have a relationship.” She didn't seem torn up about it. In fact, she looked like she might be about to laugh.
“Beg pardon?”
“I started giggling when he kissed me.”
“Let me assure you that a man's pride can more easily withstand a dozen punches to the arm, and I realize now that my punishment was easy.”
Her smile widened. “He called me brat.”
“In this instance I will not dispute his judgment.”
Miss O'Malley swatted him on the arm and it made him smile.
“A far better punishment than being laughed at.”
“What are we going to do to make sure they don't blackmail Lord Williams?”
“Don't you have other things to worry about? Like your fight on Saturday?”
She smiled serenely at him. “The Lord would not give me more than I can handle.”
* * * *
In truth, Maeve was quite worried about Saturday's fight. But Saturday would sort Saturday. There was no telling how far Bridget and Eva had gone in trapping Lord Williams. She could tell that their plan had upset Lord Mornay, but he'd not tried to blame her. Had thanked her, in fact, for telling him, and promised he would tell her if there was any way she could help. Now they were back to strolling arm in arm in the late summer heat, each lost in their own thoughts.
The baron finally spoke again. “I'll admit that I'd hoped Finn would take you away before the fight.”
“Why?”
“You shouldn't have to face a man in the ring.”
It was hard to reassure him, when she had her own strong reservations about the fight. “As I said, the Lord would not give me more than I can handle.”
“Were that I had your faith.”
“You could convert,” she teased.
“They don't like it when you convert because you've heard they have superior wine.”
“You're terrible!”
“It has been noted.”
They were about to turn the corner onto the street that held the Enchanted Cave and he stopped her, holding her hands. “I need to warn you that I, really any of us in my group, would do anything to protect Os. Lord Williams. Dissuade your friends from this plan if you can. They won't want to deal with our vengeance.”
THE ENCHANTED CAVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Galen sent notes around and had the Mad Clan meet at Finn's townhouse. He'd barely sketched out Miss O'Malley's information before Conan was out of his chair, swearing. The son of a knight, Conan would probably fit much better in the middle ages than he did now. His family hadn't carried a sword into battle in generations, but he looked like he could do it easily.
Os raised his hand for silence, then said. “How do you know your Miss O'Malley isn't actually the one fishing you for information?”
Galen pointed at Finn. “Ask him about his paragon. I've given up trying to convince the man she is anything less than bound for sainthood.”
Finn nodded. “Miss O'Malley wouldn't purposefully entrap us, but she could probably be manipulated.”
Bran sat forward. “What are we going to do about it?”
“We never go back,” Conan said. “They can't squeeze coins out of a man they can't see.”
Galen was relieved that something finally seemed to be breaking the hold that the Enchanted Cave had over his friends. He owed Miss O'Malley for that, at least. “Well?” Galen asked, looking at Finn.
Their leader nodded. “It's actually a fine plan. We have no real ties there, so if we simply stop going, then they have no hold on us.”
Galen saw Oscar's expression sour and knew the man was sweeter on Eva than he'd admitted. But there was nothing for it. The girl was happy to use him for his money, to force him to pay her to keep his secrets. Provided she could learn them.
“Agreed,” Galen said. He saw Bran nod.
“Fuck, I need a drink,” Conan said, heading to the sideboard.
Oscar smiled at the rest of the Clan. “I can't take him anywhere. Speaking of the Enchanted Cave, has everyone placed their bets for Saturday?”
Finn frowned and Galen felt his blood run cold. “No,” they said in unison.
“Well,” Oscar continued, “the odds have been steadily sliding in Miss O'Malley's favor. The owner of the Cave himself is said to have put a four thousand pound stake on her last night. Before I came here I heard the odds were running three against one.”
“Three to one?” Conan said, tossing back more whiskey. “God's blood, that's better odds than I'd give myself.”
Bran smirked. “No it isn't. You could use Adam Morse as a broom.”
“I have, actually,” Conan said with a toothsome grin.
Galen couldn't enjoy the camaraderie of his friends. Miss O'Malley was expected to win the match at three to one odds? That didn't sound right to him. Not at all.
* * * *
Maeve knew she had done the right thing in telling Lord Mornay about the danger to his friends, but she still felt a bit of guilt that she couldn't tell her friends that she had. As friends, however, brassies left a lot to be desired. Although they helped protect her from attention these last few months, she could see now that their reasons had primarily been self-interest. If Maeve had felt overwhelmed by a man's attention six months ago, she would have bolted. She was the only one at the Cave who knew how to box like she did. She provided free training to the other girls and drew a crowd. The Enchanted Cave would have been mad to let her run away. She was, for them, the golden goose.
Only now, it seemed the goose was bound for the oven.
Although she sounded brave when talking about the upcoming fight, claiming the Lord would not challenge her with more than she was capable of facing, in her own private thoughts she was frightened. She had seen her father beaten bloody so many times, she knew the sort of danger she faced. Her risk of serious injury was quite high. Meanwhile, Willy Cage was swaggering about, and bragging about how much money he had bet on her. From time to time he would corner her, saying, “You'd best win this match, missy. The future of the Cave depends on it.” She could smell liquor on his breath and his eyes were red and rheumy. She didn't know if he drank because he thought his fortunes were about to change for the better or the worse.
THE ENCHANTED CAVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
When Friday morning dawned, Galen was satisfied to know that he'd not need to worry about the Mad Clan any longer, at least for now. It might do to keep an eye on Oscar, but he was sure that Finn would do that as well. He breakfasted and reviewed his correspondence, but couldn't dismiss the feeling that something was missing. As though he had forgotten something. Or someone.
The only person who came to mind was Miss O'Malley. He owed her for providing the information that broke the hold that her damnable house had ove
r his friends. Telling himself that he would go to her fight tomorrow and stop the fight himself if she looked to be in true danger, he tried to lose himself in the newspaper.
He found an article about the fight almost immediately. It claimed that this would be her first and easiest fight on her way to more bouts against men, like Elizabeth Stokes herself. The article claimed she was practiced in both the sword and cudgel, like the famed Stokes. Willy Cage was quoted as saying that even more people would want to see The Magnificent O'Malley fighting with her shillelagh.
Galen was incensed. That little peacock would undoubtedly have no concern for her safety. Galen had seen the man's type before. Arrogant and self-centered to the point of recklessness. Would Miss O'Malley be able to adequately defend herself? Not that she was his to care for, of course. It was simply unfortunate that a woman of character should be mistreated thus.
Perhaps he should make her his mistress after all. He hadn't been truly seeking one, but it could solve a number of problems. Then she would not have to face the fighters and he would not need to worry about her. It was quite tidy, really. He had the blunt to afford such an arrangement. She shouldn't be overly difficult to care for, he shouldn't think. If he stole her out from under Willy Cage now, he could even be convinced to pay the worm a bit of a fee for the loss.
Decided on his new course of action, he set out for the Enchanted Cave.
* * * *
The morning practice had been sedate, mostly because Maeve was distracted by thoughts of her upcoming fight. The other sisters were quiet. Had they realized Maeve outed their secret to Lord Mornay? Or was it more that they all knew tomorrow could change everything they had worked at for the past six months? If Maeve won, it could mean that all the girls were expected to take on harder fights. If she lost, who knew what would become of the Irish Sisters?
Once Upon A Regency: Timeless Tales And Fables Page 70