Page 43 of Beauty and the Thief

Chapter Ten

Bridget was uncomfortable. The coach Baron had provided was well sprung and equipped with blankets and heated bricks to keep her warm, but she could not relax.

Not with Callahan Kelly seated across from her.

“Are you really planning to sleep right now?” she asked, her voice curt with disapproval. They’d been traveling for about twenty minutes and as soon as they’d climbed in the conveyance, Kelly had shoved himself into a corner and closed his eyes.

“It’s the middle of the night,” he all but growled.

“But we have so much to discuss. We need to fill in the details of our history.”

“Later, lass.”

“Don’t call me lass.”

He opened one eye. “You’re me wife now. You’ll have to get used to being called lass.”

She didn’t have a ready rejoinder for that observation. She was masquerading as his wife, and that meant she would have to accept him using terms of endearment when he spoke to her. But that need only be in public. “We’re not in Ireland yet,” she said. “I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Miss Murray.”

“And I’d appreciate it if you’d let me sleep, but I think neither of us are likely to get our wish.” He pushed to a sitting position. “The trip will take hours yet, la—Miss Murray. Why don’t we sleep now and scheme later?”

She shook her head. “I really don’t think we should waste any time. We must be in character when we reach Heysham. There may be others on the ship with us who will stay in Dublin, and we don’t want anyone in Dublin to question our relationship.”

Callahan eyed her from half-lowered lids. “I have no hope of sleeping, do I?”

“I simply think—”

“Christ Jaysus, you’re as stubborn as they come.” He raked a hand through his hair, which was already disheveled. One piece stuck up and out rebelliously, and she longed to smooth it down. “What do we discuss?”

“First of all, our names.”

Callahan closed his eyes as though in pain. “Baron said we keep our names.”

“But I’ll be Bridget Kelly now.” She unclipped two documents from her board. “These are our traveling documents. You’re listed as Callahan Tierney Kelly.”

He started and all but ripped the paper from her hand.

“What are you doing?”

“How the hell did he know that?” He stared at the paper, holding it at an angle under the carriage lamps so he could read it.

“Know what?”

“That me middle name is Tierney. I’ve never told anyone that.”

She gave him a patient look. “Baron knows everything.”

“Let me see yours.” He held out his hand. For some reason she hesitated to give him her document. It had her parents’ names on it and her own middle name. It suddenly seemed quite personal. But she would have to give him some personal information if this mission was to succeed. She passed it to him. “Brighid Mary Murray.” He looked up at her. “You changed it to Bridget?”

“It’s easier to pronounce for the English.” And it made it easier for her to forget her Irish father.

Callahan made a noncommittal sound and looked back at the document. “Now Brighid Mary Kelly.” He looked up at her. “A good Irish Catholic name. Are you a Catholic?”

She shook her head. “My father was, but I was christened into the Church of England. My mother thought it wiser.”

“And your da didn’t object?”

“I have no idea.”

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