“And the presence of your reckless younger brother has nothing to do with it.”
“There’s no cause to sound so smug. You’re a fine one to talk about reckless behavior.”
“My reckless behavior has always only endangered my own well-being. You shouldn’t be here, Deirdre.”
Deirdre’s mouth fell open in shock at his audacity. “I have every right to be here. I’ve seen firsthand how the heel of industry steps on the backs of workers. You haven’t.”
“I’ve seen plenty of things, Wildflower.”
“Stop calling me that. You lost the privilege of calling me that a long time ago.”
He shrugged beside her, his broad shoulders brushing against her own. “It’s what I’ve always called you. Because it’s what you are. Bright and wild -determined to push your way through the fissures in the rocky soil so you can bloom in the sun.”
Deirdre’s heart stuttered at his raw defense as she raised her chin and looked resolutely ahead. “As I said- you lost the privilege to call me that.”
“We’re here because we’re planning a strike and we need to do so with unity and purpose.” Seamus braced his hands on the table as he spoke.
“You really shouldn’t be here. If you’re found out, they’ll take you outside and beat you.” As much as he annoyed her, Deirdre had no wish to see him come to physical harm.
He shrugged again. “I can hold my own in a fist fight. You shouldn’t be here either.”
“We’ll make our move in three days. Come prepared to stand your ground at the start of the shift - you know where.”Seamus’s voice rang out and there was an answering chorus of ayes from the crowd.
The men and women in the crowd stood and began to file from the room. When everyone had left but Deirdre, Cass, and Seamus, her brother stopped at the end of their row.
“What’s he doing here?” Seamus’s menacing question was directed at her.
“Liam told him where to find me.”
Seamus narrowed his gaze on Cass. “If the authorities find out about our plans, I’ll know who to blame. Your silver tongue’s already caused enough chaos in our family and although my brother seems willing to overlook it, I am not. Stay away from my sister.”
Deirdre watched as Cass clenched his jaw so tightly a muscle flickered in his cheek. “I was only seeking her out because I need a place to stay.”
“What about your big mansion on Main Street? Still fighting with your Da?”
Deirdre knew from her brother’s smirk that he was purposefully antagonizing her former lover.
“I don’t belong there. I don’t think I ever belonged there. I want something different.” Cassius firmly insisted.
“If she lets you rent one of her rooms it’ll be nothing more than a business transaction between the two of you. I’ll be watching and you’d better not step over the line.”
Deirdre wove her way past Cass and placed her hand on Seamus’s arm. “While I appreciate your concern, brother, I don’t need your protection.” She turned to Cass. “If I let you have one of the rooms, I’m not doing it out of the goodness of my heart. My motives are purely economic.”
Cass’s expression was inscrutable. “I’m well aware of your animosity, Mrs. O’Shaugnessy. I only seek a place to lay my head that’s not under my father’s roof or his thumb.”
“Then you’ll swear to me, here and now, those are your only intentions,” Seamus interrupted.
Cass raised an eyebrow. “I owe you no oaths.”
Seamus glowered. “If you don’t want me to throw you down one of the tunnels to rot, you do.”
“Seamus, stop. He’s right. He doesn’t need to swear to anything. I won’t allow him to take advantage of the situation.” Deirdre had a sinking feeling in her stomach that giving him intimate and prolonged access to her children, especially James, was a terrible idea, but she needed to bolster her finances.
“Then you’re permitting me to show up on your doorstep?”
“I am,” she held out her hand to seal the deal.
Instead of shaking her hand, he lifted it to his lips and pressed a warm kiss to the back of it. “I’ll need a few days. I’ll arrive just in time for supper on Sunday.”
