“Jacques,” Nora said in an exasperated tone. “Leave her be for a moment and come celebrate your victory with me.” She met Maggie’s baleful stare, as she fidgeted with the pendant hanging around her neck. Holding up a snifter of whiskey, she cast a flirtatious glance over him. “You know you’ll be more satisfied by a woman with more experience than a mere girl.”
Jacques pushed away from Maggie, ignoring her gasp of relief to be momentarily free of his immediate presence, and approached the Madam. “When I’m done with Maggie, I will have my fill of you.”
Nora took a sip of her whiskey and smiled lasciviously at him. “I can hardly wait. It’s been too long since I’ve had a real man in my bed.” She raised her glass, clinking hers with his. When he downed his in one sip, she took a step back, watching him with a speculative gleam in her eyes.
“Ah, you shared your private stash with me. I’d heard it was exquisite. It is.” He made a gasping sound, tugging at his neckcloth to loosen it. Clearing his throat, he lurched forward, his hand clasping the desk. Gasping, he gazed at Nora in horror, as he fell to his knees. “You … You …”
“Yes,” Nora murmured. “I protect what is mine.” She stood impassively, as she watched Jacques continue to struggle to breathe.
“Madam?” Maggie whimpered, as Jacques gave one last painful gasp and fell to his side with a loud thud. “What did you do?”
“I invited a man for a drink in my office. It’s unfortunate he had a heart convulsion, while visiting me.” She waited for Maggie to contradict her, but she merely gaped at her. “Never, for one moment, would I have risked you, Maggie.”
A sob burst forth, and Maggie covered her face, as she slid down the wall until she sat on the floor.
“You’re safe now,” Nora whispered. “He’ll never hurt you again. I’m only sorry you were afraid for a few moments.” Nora approached Maggie, ignoring the corpse on the floor, and knelt beside Maggie. “He barged in here today, wild and intent on finding you, and I knew he would find a way to hurt you.”
“Why didn’t you warn me?” Maggie gasped, swiping at her cheeks, as she tried to control her sobs. “I … I would have played along.”
“No,” Nora murmured, as she ran a hand over Maggie’s head. “I couldn’t risk him suspecting anything was amiss. And, to do that, you couldn’t know anything.” She looked to the door to find Ezra standing there. She met his impassive stare.
“What will happen?” Maggie whispered, her gaze flitting in the direction of Jacques again, before she closed her eyes.
“It’s a shame, Madam, that such a strong virile man became so drunk on your fine whiskey that he tumbled into the freezing river,” Ezra said, as he heaved up Jacques’s body.
“It is,” Nora agreed, as she watched the Bordello’s bodyguard carry the body from the room.
“You killed him,” Maggie whispered, as she stared at Nora, with a mixture of horror and awe.
“Yes, I did.” When Maggie remained silent, Nora said, “I had to protect you, Maggie. He would never have stopped in his pursuit of you, until he was dead. And I fear he might have killed you in his pursuit of you.” She paused, as Maggie shivered at the prospect. “If your father or Dunmore had killed him, I worry the sheriff would have felt propelled to act in a way that would have harmed your family. A few men in this town have a vendetta against the O’Rourkes. Jealousy has a way of turning friend into foe.”
“But what will the sheriff do to you?” Maggie whispered. “You’re our friend, Nora. I rely on you.”
Nora beamed with pleasure at Maggie’s words. “I’ll be fine. The sheriff rarely takes an interest in the Bordello, unless a man he considers respectable dies. Jacques was not such a man.”
Frowning, Maggie murmured, “But Connor was?” She remembered the sheriff visiting after the death of Niamh’s first husband, Connor Ahern.
Nora made a sound of disgust. “The sheriff was egged on by Chaffee and was blinded by the thought the man was a lawyer.”
Maggie nodded. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. “I can’t believe he’s really dead. I don’t have to fear him anymore.” She looked at Nora. “This must be what Niamh felt when she had to feign sorrow at Connor’s death. I always wondered why she didn’t cry and wail. Now I understand she wanted to dance and to rejoice—to be free of such fear.” She gripped Nora’s hand. “I’ll never think less of you for protecting me. I told Dunmore once I wish I’d done the same for Niamh. I could never condemn you for doing what I wish I’d been able to do.”
Nora’s gaze filled with relief, and she gave Maggie a quick hug. “Come. It’s time for you to return home.” Nora rose, helping Maggie to stand.
Now outside, Maggie walked beside Nora, her pace slow and halting, as she leaned against the Madam. “Home is where I live with Dunmore,” Maggie whispered. “Not my parents’ house.”
Nora smiled. “Good. I’m glad you’ve learned that, Maggie. Your husband needs to know you’ll value him above all others.”
She smiled. “I do.” She stumbled and groaned. “Oh, why do I feel so weak?”
Nora wrapped her arm more firmly around Maggie’s waist. “It’s common after a terrifying event. I am sorry I couldn’t forewarn you.”
“Maggie!” Dunmore called out, as he raced toward them, on his way back from the livery, Kevin beside him. “What’s happened?” Dunmore asked, as he tugged Maggie into his arms, subtly pushing Nora aside. “Who hurt you?”
Nora smiled at the concerned man. “Perhaps we could speak in your cabin? I find I’m not as fond of
