“Fine, we’ll walk then. Let me get my coat.”
“I’d rather walk alone if you don’t mind,” she said, raising her eyes to his.
“I do mind, lass. It ’tis getting’ cold, your legs are bare, I’d much rather we go in the car.”
“The cool air will feel good,” she insisted, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Aye, I imagine it will,” he agreed with a grin.
She spun and took hold of the doorknob. “Thank you for dinner, Mrs. O’Malley,” she called out before she slipped out the door.
He caught up to her down the street and fell into step beside her, keeping his strides short. She could move quickly for a little thing he observed as she marched along. Leaves swirled around them in the brisk autumn air, but the chill coming from his Irish whirlwind was much more noticeable.
“Would you like to tell me what’s on your mind?” he asked calmly.
“Somehow I don’t think you’d appreciate it,” she replied. “’Tis not really necessary for you to see me home,” she sighed, stopping and turning to look up at him. “I’ve been walkin’ these streets all my life and not come to harm yet.”
“That subject is closed for discussion, Maeve. I don’t know what happened between the time you were cuddled in my arms and now, but I’d like to.”
Maeve swung around and picked up her pace. He saw the fire in her eyes and waited for it to flash.
“I don’t think I’m one to be under a man’s authority,” she finally blurted out.
“Darlin’, we’re all under someone’s authority for most of our lives. When we’re children ’tis our parents and teachers, later ’tis our supervisors at work and, of course, there’s always the Lord. In truth, we all have rules we live by.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” she growled, walking fast as though the devil himself were chasing her.
“Aye, you meant under my authority as your husband. The Bible says ‘women obey your husbands’ doesn’t it?”
“You know it does.”
“What do you think that means? Sometimes? When you feel like it?”
“No, but?—”
“There are no ‘buts’, darlin’. If you love me enough to marry me, you must trust me enough to believe I always have your best interests at heart.”
“Is holdin’ me over you lap while you slap my bottom havin’ my best interests at heart?” she demanded.
“Aye, and at times it will come to that if you don’t mind my words,” he replied, taking her arm to slow her down.
“I don’t like it,” she wailed.
“You’re not supposed to; although I’m told some women take to it. I guess we’ll find out won’t we?” he teased.
“You’re lyin’. No woman in her right mind would like that,” she said with a shiver. “’Tis so degradin’.”
“I’m tellin’ the truth.”
“No, some man made that up to try and justify his deplorable behavior.”
“As I said, we’ll see. If you’re constantly defyin’ me and puttin’ yourself at risk, I’m afraid I’ll have to assume you do like gettin’ your tail spanked. On the other hand, if you behave yourself and act in a responsible way, I’ll know you’re tellin’ the truth and you hate it.”
“I don’t know if I can live that way, Sean. It’s not how I was raised,” she said, turning to look at him with very serious eyes.
“No, ’tis not,” he agreed. “Your ma rules the roost and has as long as I’ve known your family. She intimidates your da, belittles you and generally causes mischief, if she wants to, with no one totell her nay. If she’s angry, she can go for weeks without speakin’ to either one of you.
“Your da would like to take a stick to her behind, but hasn’t the nerve. It’s been too many years he’s been worn down by her temper tantrums and domineerin’ ways. Do you think she’s happy?”
