The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

footsteps on the stairs minutes before Darcy, as was her habit, breezed in without knocking. “Shawn’s down the kitchen and, considering me his errand girl, sentme up to see if you’ve ordered potatoes and carrots, and if we’ve any more whitefish coming in from Patty Ryan by week’s end as he’s plans for it.”
    “Patty promised us fresh fish tomorrow, and the rest will be coming by middle week. He hasn’t starting cooking tonight’s menu already, has he? It’s barely half one.”
    “No, but he’s fussing about, studying some recipe one of the ladies gave him last night at the ceili , and leaving the bulk of the serving to me. Are you coming down to man the bar or are you just going to sit around up here and stare at the walls?”
    “I was working,” he said, more than a little put out, for he’d been spending considerable time staring at the walls. “Anytime you want to take over the paperwork here, sweetheart, you just say the word.”
    The tone of his voice had her wondering. Knowing she was leaving Shawn and their afternoon help in the lurch, she flopped down in a chair and tossed her legs over the arm. “I leave the figuring to you, since you’re so wise and clever.”
    “Then leave me to it and go down and do your part.”
    “I’ve a ten-minute break coming, and since I find myself here, here I’m taking it.” She smiled at him, much too sweetly to be trusted. “What are you brooding about, then?”
    “I’m not brooding.”
    She only lifted a hand and casually examined her nails. He paced to the window, back to the desk and to the window again when the silence did the job. “You’ve gotten close to Jude the past couple of months.”
    “I have, yes.” Her smile sharpened. “Not as close as you, in a manner of speaking. Did you have a spat? Is that what’s got you pacing about up here and scowling?”
    “No, we didn’t have a spat. Exactly.” He jammed hishands in his pockets. Oh, it was humiliating, but what choice did he have? “What does she say about me?”
    Darcy didn’t snicker out loud, but her head filled with laughter as she batted her eyelashes at her brother. “That would be telling. I’m no blabbermouth.”
    “An extra hour off Saturday next.”
    Instantly Darcy sat up, and her eyes were crafty. “Well, why didn’t you say so? What do you want to know?”
    “What does she think of me?”
    “Oh, she thinks you’re handsome and charming, and nothing I can say will turn her mind to the truth of it. You’ve swept her off her feet with the romance of it. That carrying her up the stairs was a fine move.” She did laugh when she saw his pained expression. “Don’t ask what women talk of together if you don’t want to know.”
    He managed one careful breath. “She didn’t go on about . . . the after of it.”
    “Oh, every sigh and murmur.” Unable to stop herself, she jumped up, grabbed his face and kissed him. “Of course not, you pea-brain. She’s too discreet for that, though Brenna and I did pump her a bit. What’s worrying you? As far as I can tell, Jude thinks you’re the greatest lover since Solomon took Sheba.”
    “Is that all it is, then? Sex and romance and being swept along for a few months. Nothing but that?”
    The amusement faded from her eyes as she looked into his. “I’m sorry, darling. You’re truly upset. What happened?”
    “I asked her to marry me last night.”
    “You did?” Instantly she leaped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck, squeezing like a delighted boa constrictor. “Oh, but this is wonderful! I couldn’t be happier for you!” Laughing, she gave him smacking kisses on both cheeks. “Let’s go down to thekitchen and tell Shawn, and call Ma and Dad.”
    “She said no.”
    “They’ll want to come back and meet her before the wedding. And then we’ll all . . . What?”
    His heart sank deeper in his chest as Darcy gaped at him. “She said no.”
    Guilt all but swallowed her. “She couldn’t have. She didn’t mean it.”
    “She said it clear enough and was polite and added a thank you.” Oh, and that thank you was a bitter pill.
    “Well, what the devil’s wrong with her?” Abruptly furious, Darcy wiggled down and planted fists on her hips. Rage, as she knew well, was always a more comfortable fit than guilt. “Of course she wants to marry you.”
    “She said she didn’t. She said she didn’t want marriage at all. It’s the fault of that bloody bastard who