Page 20 of Moonstone Landing
Her eyes widened.
Brioc laughed. “They can hear you, but not me. I’ll stand on the balcony, out of the way.”
She nodded. “I’m coming, my little chicks.”
She opened the door to allow Henley and Phoebe in. They scrambled onto the bed beside her. “This side is warm, too,” Phoebe said and snuggled where Brioc had been sleeping until moments ago.
Henley buried her head in the pillow. “It smells like the spiced rum Papa has every Yuletide. Then he and mama get all giggly, and he kisses her.”
Hen laughed. “That’s because he likes her.”
“Is that man going to kiss you?” Phoebe asked, staring up at her with adorable, big eyes.
“Oh, you mean your papa’s friend, Lord Ashbrook? No, my chicks. He is not going to kiss me. He is going home today.”
Henley stared at the balcony. “No, not Papa’s friend. That man, the one standing on the balcony with his arms folded over his chest.”
“Blessed saints,” Brioc muttered, stepping back inside. “You can see me?”
Both girls nodded.
Hen looked ready to faint. “Girls…it isn’t…you cannot say a word to your papa…he…good heavens. Oh, dear. I cannot have them lie.”
Brioc knelt beside the bed. “Phoebe. Henley. You must tell your father the truth, of course. But he may not believe you.”
They nodded again.
“Because you are the ghost? We saw your portrait over the mantel in the parlor,” Henley said. “Papa is afraid you will hurt Aunt Hen.”
“No, I would never do that. I give you my sacred oath. I will always protect her and never harm her. You can tell your papa I gave you my sacred oath.”
Which they did later that morning as Hen, her nieces, and brother and sister-in-law sat around the breakfast table. Ashbrook had left for London an hour ago, so it was just the family seated with her.
“Phoebe,” Hen’s brother said, his expression puzzled as he gazed at his daughter. “Who gave you a sacred oath?”
“The ghost, Papa,” Henley replied for her sister. “He is ever so nice.”
“He looks just like his portrait, but even handsomer,” Phoebe said. “He promised never to hurt Aunt Hen. He said he will protect her.”
Her brother and his wife exchanged panicked looks.
“My darlings, you saw the ghost?” Anne asked, her cheeks turning pale. She was dandling baby Chloe on her lap and now held her a little closer.
“Yes, Mama.” Henley nodded. “So did Phoebe. He was by Auntie Hen’s bed.”
“I think he wanted to sleep with her,” Phoebe added helpfully.
Hen snorted while struggling to hold back her laughter.
Her brother was not at all amused. “Hen, what are you putting in their heads?”
“Me? I have done nothing. They climbed into bed with me this morning. We had a lovely chat. We are going to walk down to the dock this morning and look at all the smelly fish. Aren’t we girls?”
“Captain Arundel said he would join us,” Henley said.
Robert set his fork down with a clatter. “Girls, I do not think it will be possible. Something urgent has come up, and I am afraid we must return home. Anne, kindly take our girls upstairs. Hen, I need to talk to you.”
The girls began to cry, but Anne calmed them. “My loves, if you cry, then you will make baby Chloe cry. So do be good and put smiles on your faces.”
