His smile said he knew what she was thinking.
Teddy interrupted them. “I would be happy to escort you, ma’am,” he said enthusiastically. “Then we can drive by a few of the houses I believe are suitable.” He had used every opportunity this morning to expound on what sort of house he felt she and Michael should consider.
He would have gone on, except for Michael taking Dara’s arm and directing her to the bedroom. “Oh, yes, sir. I see,” he said, busying himself with the dishes.
“We shouldn’t upset him,” Dara whispered.
Michael’s response was to close the door and kiss her so thoroughly she couldn’t remember her name.
Dara leaned against him. They stood only steps from the bed. “We could—” she started to suggest.
He kissed her nose. “We can later, and you will feel better for it.”
“I feel fine now.”
His smile said he doubted her. “No pain? Not even a twinge?”
“A twinge,” she had to admit.
In response, he pressed his lips against her forehead. “Later,” he promised. “I’m willing to wait because I want the next time to be as pleasurable for you as it was for me last night.”
“But I like some of the things we did. Very much.”
“We will do them, too,” he promised. He opened the door. “I should be back before the afternoon.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have a meeting. An important one.” He held up a hand. “No questions, Dara. The less you know, the safer you are,” he reminded her.
“I’m not certain if I can live that way,” she answered honestly.
“Only on this matter,” he assured her, and she knew he referred to Mr. Ferrell’s case.
Before she could ask more questions, he was out the door. She sank down on the bed. How quickly her life had changed. How happy she was it had.
Within the hour, she and Teddy set off in a hired conveyance for Willow Street and to look at the outside of a few of the houses he thought she should consider. “You have been thinking about this for a while,” she said.
“Elliot and I believe Mr. Brogan should be entertaining. He has a growing reputation. A wife is a wise addition.”
“Why, Teddy, how you go on,” she teased.
“I’m not codding you,” he said, reverting to a very Irish word that meant he wasn’t teasing. “I’ve never seen him look so content.”
Dara had to ask, because she wouldn’t be who she was if she didn’t pry a bit. “Do you know all that is going on?” She left the question open, because if Michael’s man didn’t know about the embezzlement—well, that meant she was in his inner circle.
“I don’t, ma’am,” he answered. Then with a glint in his eye, he asked, “Do you?”
She didn’t hide her smile. “You are a good man, Teddy. Also, a good friend to my husband.”
“I try to be, ma’am.”
They turned onto Willow Street. All looked exactly as she had left it, and yet everything had changed.
When the driver stopped, Teddy helped her out. “Do you wish me to go in with you, ma’am?”
“Please stay with the driver.” She went up to the door and then paused, struck by a new dilemma. Should she knock? Walk right in?
Fortunately, Herald solved the issue for her. He opened the door, greeting her warmly. “Mrs. Brogan, how fine you look.” This was the first time someone had addressed her as a married lady.
