Page 91 of Taming Lady Temperance

“When I marry you, I want no blemishes on my lawful record. Once I’ve paid my debt with my own earnings, I’ll take your name. Not a moment before.”

She’d said when not if. James grinned, too happy to fret about how long he might have to wait.

“Guess I better start payin’ you for the suppers you bring to the jailhouse, then. I plan to tip generously.”

She giggled and shook her head. “You scoundrel. I’ll take payment for the ingredients and not a penny more.”

“Nope. You gotta charge for your time and the delivery fee. I insist.”

Her eyes danced as she swatted his arm. “You’re ridiculous. Who argues to pay a higher price?”

He waggled his eyebrows. “A man who doesn’t want to wait fifteen months to marry the woman he loves.”

A pretty pink colored her cheeks. “I’m hoping it won’t be more than seven or eight months. My mother and I were talking at the Cowans’ earlier today. If Arthur is convicted, she wants me to come live with her. I’m thinking of taking her up on the offer. Allow the two of us to get to know each other again.” She grinned up at him. “Plus, it would save on boardinghouse fees.”

“Sounds like a brilliant plan.”

Speaking of boardinghouses, he really needed to get her back to hers before tongues started to wag. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then loosened his hold and extended his arm. She tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, and he hugged her hand against his ribs. This was what he wanted. To walk through life with Noreen at his side.

“So are you going to get a new spiffy handkerchief with those embroidered flowers that you and your friends seem to like so well?”

A smile tugged at her mouth that hinted at secrets he might never understand. “No,” she said. “I think I’m ready to retire that particular design. I’ll just keep on with my plain ones until I have new initials to embroider.”

His chest puffed a bit. “So in six months?”

She nudged him with her shoulder. “Eight.”

James chuckled. “We’ll see.”

Epilogue

Five and a half months later

“I can’t believe you are getting married a week from Saturday.” Martha set her empty teacup on its saucer, then leaned back in her chair, her head shaking slightly. “It seems like only yesterday that we were pledging our fealty to the spinster society, and now you’re running off to get married.”

Noreen chuckled as she lowered her own cup. “I’m not running anywhere. James and I are staying right here in Albany. And my fealty to the spinsters, to my sisters,” she said as she looked pointedly at Martha and then Jane, “is unwavering. My marrying James isn’t going to change anything.”

Martha raised a brow to challenge that remark. “You’re far too intelligent to utter such nonsense. Getting married changes everything.”

Noreen reached out and covered her friend’s hand with her own. “Not the important things. Not our friendship. James knows how deeply I care for the two of you. He’s even encouraged me to offer to host our Tuesday teatimes at our home after the wedding.”

“Your home. In the jailhouse.”

Noreen ignored Martha’s wry tone as she lifted her cup back to her lips, hoping it would hide her amusement. “Hanging curtains on the windows upstairs will hide the bars, and I thought to lay down a rug or two. Install a stove. Bring in some furnishings. Turn the space into a proper parlor. What do you think?”

Jane’s eyes widened.

Martha looked aghast. “You can’t be serious!”

Noreen released the grin she’d been holding back. “Of course I’m not serious. James has a perfectly normal sitting area downstairs in his personal quarters that we can use.”

“You’re terrible.” Martha snatched the napkin from her lap and tossed it at Noreen a heartbeat before all three ladies burst into laughter.

Noreen wiped at her watering eyes and caught a glimpse of her mother standing in the doorway, a smile on her face.

“I’m sorry, Mama. Did we disturb you?”

“There’s nothing disturbing about the sound of laughter ringing through the house.” Her smile erased years of hardship from her face. “I just wanted to let you know I’m heading to the emporium. I told Mrs. Saunders I’d cover the end of her shift so she could get home in time to bake her husband a chocolate cake for his birthday. She wants to surprise him.”