Scandalous Desires (Maiden Lane #3)(20)

“Me mam… and him.”

She frowned at the emphasis on the last word. Was he talking about his father—or another man? She glanced at him, but ended up asking the easier question. “Do your parents still live in St. Giles?”

He gave her an ironic look and closed the big picture book. Obviously he had no intention of answering her.

Irritating man. She looked around the little library. “Which book is it?”

“What?”

She gestured to the overflowing bookshelves. “Where is your butterfly book?”

He shook his head. “I don’t keep it here.”

“But then—”

“What a curious thing ye are.” He turned to place the book on a shelf.

She inhaled, feeling frustrated. “What is it you want from me?”

When he turned, his face had gone blank. “What makes ye think I want anythin’ from ye, me darlin’?”

But she wasn’t going to let him slide away from this question. She took a step closer and he made a movement almost as if he would retreat from her. “You didn’t have to give Mary Darling to me. Didn’t have to involve me in your life at all. What is it you’re doing?”

He glanced away from her, a muscle clenching in his jaw. “I’m protectin’ ye and the babe, nothin’ more. All ye have to do is stay in yer rooms and be content.”

Stay in her rooms? Be content? Silence’s eyes widened incredulously. “Do I look like a doll to you?”

His eyelids lowered, his beautiful black lashes sweeping his cheeks before he glanced back up at her again. “Nay, yer a lovely woman, ye are. I’d not be mistakin’ ye for any playthin’.”

Her lips parted at his intimate tone.

His sensuous mouth curved at her confusion. “Supper’s early tonight—seven o’ the clock, mind. I trust we’ll be graced with yer lovely presence.”

Silence stiffened. He wouldn’t catch her off guard so easily. “On the contrary, I have no intention of dining with you, Mr. O’Connor.”

The smile was abruptly gone from his face, leaving it rather frighteningly grim. “Then ye’ll fast in yer rooms, me darlin’, until ye can see fit to change yer mind.”

And with that he pivoted and strode from the room.

Chapter Four

But a very strange thing happened. As dusk fell in the king’s garden, all three of the nephews began to nod and soon they all slept. In the morning they woke and none of the three could remember a thing. The nephews had to confess rather sheepishly to the king that they had not caught the thief. But when Clever John ran his hand through his hair, a bright green feather fell to the ground….

—from Clever John

“But ye can’t!” Fionnula hissed early the next morning.

“Who says so?” Silence asked stubbornly as she took a quick look up and down the hall outside her room. Harry was eating breakfast and she’d just sent Bert to call a servant. She only had a minute at most while the guards were occupied.

“Himself, that’s who,” Fionnula cried in a muted wail. “He’s given orders that yer not to leave the rooms until ye consent to dine with him.”

Silence snorted softly. “Mickey O’Connor is not my master.”

“He mayn’t be,” Fionnula said, “but he’s used to bein’ obeyed.”

“Then Mr. O’Connor is in for a surprise.”

Silence slipped from the room with Mary Darling in her arms and ran lightly toward the back of the hallway—away from the stairs where Bert had gone. She stopped at the corner to catch her breath before continuing more sedately.

A touch at her shoulder nearly made her scream.

“Where are ye plannin’ on goin’?” Fionnula whispered.

“I don’t know,” Silence admitted, “but Mary needs new surroundings to explore. Perhaps a sitting room?”

Fionnula looked doubtful. “I don’t think Himself spends much time sittin’. He’s not exactly gentry.”

“The library, then. That’s below us.” Silence looked worriedly at Fionnula. “But I don’t want to get you into trouble. Perhaps I ought to tie you up? We can say I’ve overpowered you.”

Fionnula rolled her eyes. “As if anyone would believe that.”

Behind them came a noise like an enraged bull. “Oi!” Bert had discovered her absence.

Silence couldn’t restrain a start, but at least she didn’t break stride.

Mary bounced in her arms, looking over Silence’s shoulder. “ ’Ert!”

They reached the stairwell just as Bert caught up with them.

“Now see ’ere,” the guard panted. “Where d’ye think yer goin’?”

“To the library,” Silence said airily as she started down the stairs.

Bert scoffed. “Right next to ’Imself’s plannin’ room, that is. Ye’ll not get two steps past the stairwell.”

The news made Silence’s pulse race. She was already at the landing, but she didn’t stop, sailing through the doorway and into the lower corridor. Charming Mickey O’Connor might discover her disobedience—she was counting on it, in fact—but that wouldn’t detain her. It was important that she assert her rights, her will to not be treated like some pawn at the beck and call to Mickey O’Connor’s whims. In fact—