“Please be reasonable.” In contrast, Maggie kept her tones soft and controlled. “With Mr. Wilson gone, you’ve an entire cottage all to yourself—”
“That don’t mean oi got to take our ramshacklum brother under my roof!”
“I would take Jeremy in, but our rooms are all occupied—”
“You could share with that precious girl o’ yours. Or is she too spoiled for that?”
Seeing Glory shrink back at her aunt’s venomous tone, Rhys felt a surge of anger.How dare the bitch frighten a young girl?He strode over to Glory, placing himself between her and her aunt. From behind him, she slipped her small hand into his.
“Glory could bunk with you or that uppity ape leader you call a sister-in-law,” Maggie’s sister griped on.
“Better an ape leader than an ill-bred fishwife.” The retort came from Hypatia. She now stood in the cottage doorway, menace glittering behind her spectacles.
Delilah sized her up, and Hypatia returned the favor. For an instant, Rhys wondered if he was going to have to break up a brawl between the two women.
Then Delilah turned to Maggie. “Are you going to let ’er talk to me like that?”
“This has naught to do with Hypatia or Glory, so leave them out of this,” Maggie said. “The point is that you have two spare bedchambers—”
“Youaresiding with her!” Delilah spat. “Well, ain’t that a surprise. Miss ’Igh-And-Mighty lording it o’er the rest o’ us.”
“I never lorded it over you.” Maggie’s voice trembled. “Over anyone.”
“Always thought yourself be’er than the rest o’ us. Always the babe and Ma’s favorite,” her sister sneered. “Well, yer fine manners and fancy speech don’t put food on the table, do they? Maybe you ought to ’ave made your bed with a man like mine. My Wilson might’ve been a fishmonger, but ’e knew ’ow to keep a woman ’appy. Knew ’is way ’round Cupid’s Alley, ’e did. The man could rut like a stallion all night long an’ still go to work come morn. That’s why ’e left me with enough o’ the ready to enjoy myself. Why should oi give any o’ it to you, eh?”
“I’ve never asked you for money. For anything,” Maggie whispered. “You came tomewanting me to take Jeremy off your hands.”
“Ma always said you were the good one. The responsible one.” Her sister’s voice shook with rage. “Well, you ain’t so perfect now, are you?”
Rhys had witnessed enough. “You will desist this attack, madam. At once.”
Delilah whirled on him. “Who’re you to give me orders?”
“I’m the man who will enforce consequences if you do not take yourself off.”
The woman blinked, then her sneer returned. “Patron of Foley’s, my arse. You’re tupping my saintly little sister ’ere, aren’t you? She’s got you by the cock with her simpering, virginal ways!”
Maggie gasped. Glory let go of his hand and scrambled to her mama’s side. She huddled close, offering comfort the best she could, her loyalty and courage plain to see.
Rhys stalked over to Delilah. For once, he didn’t mask his emotions. He let his displeasure show—and even the harpy retreated a step.
“Leave now,” he said. “You’re embarrassing yourself and upsetting your sister and niece.”
“Why does everyone always take Maggie’s side? What about me?” Her belligerence waning, Delilah sounded like a petulant child. “Why do oi ’ave to put up with bleeding Jeremy—”
“What you do with Jeremy is of no consequence to me. Throw him out, if that’s your wish. He’s a grown man, and his troubles are his own. What you willnotdo is come here and disrespect your sister. Not in front of her child and in her own home. Not ever. Do I make myself clear?”
Delilah opened her mouth…then closed it.
“You may go.” He dismissed her in his most ducal voice.
After shooting one last spiteful look at her sister, Delilah scurried off.
He turned to Maggie. Hypatia and Glory flanked her, and all three were staring at him.
“How did youdothat?” Maggie breathed.
He lifted his brows. “Do what?”
