Page 29 of Moonstone Angel
He planted a kiss on her lips. “Lord, you are the prettiest fish I have ever caught.”
“I mistook you for a duke, but I see you are Neptune, god of the sea.” Her smile was broad and sparkling, and the moment was something likely never to be repeated. The sun shone down on them while his new friends, the dolphins, playfully leapt in and out of the water behind them.
Most of all, Rowan had Cara in his arms, and she was soft and beautiful.
“Well, this god has no clothes on, so you had better close your eyes while I carry you out.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You looked wonderful out there. But I was afraid they were going to run off with you or suddenly turn on you and eat you.”
He kissed her on the lips again, certain she tasted sweeter with every kiss. “I was never in any danger, not with my angel to protect me.”
He slogged out of the water, set her down on the sand, and took her by the shoulders to turn her away. “Close your eyes and don’t peek.”
“I’ve already seen you naked.”
“I know, but never up this close. And I am already responding to your nearness.”
“What do you mean?”
He laughed. “I am not going to tell you. But I will show you at the proper time. Come on, let’s go back to the cottage before I do something untoward. Your body is too luscious to ignore.”
He hastily donned his trousers and shirt, then raked fingers through his wet hair to brush it back. He bent and scooped up his boots, merely carrying them in his hand as he and Cara started up the steps.
She glanced at him as they strode together. “You have a huge smile on your face.”
He nodded. “I’ve never been happier. Seriously, Cara. All of it, the cottage, the beach, the sun and sand, the dolphins. Most of all, you. I never thought to experience such contentment.”
She returned his smile. “I know what you mean. It’s this place, Moonstone Landing. One can forget the cares of life here.”
“But life still goes on around you. This village isn’t some hidden place reached only by casting a magical spell.”
“I’m afraid it will start changing soon. Already the inn is expanding to accommodate more visitors. My uncle is about to do the same with his tavern. The Duke of Malvern has taken up residence here…at least, for now. The Killigrew sisters have done the same. We are attracting London society. Hopefully, we will change them for the better instead of having them change us for the worse.”
He was holding Cara’s hand as they approached her cottage, but he stopped suddenly and drew her behind him, for there were two unsavory-looking men standing by the door and about to knock on it. “May I help you, gentlemen?”
He used the word loosely.
“We are here for Miss Cara Angel. She is to return to London with us,” one of them said, withdrawing an official-looking parchment and handing it to him. “Ye can see it is a warrant signed by Lord Fortesque. And who might ye be, sir?”
“The Duke of Strathmore, and you shall address me as Your Grace. What nonsense is this? Is my grandmother aware of this? Why has such an order been issued?”
He kept hold of Cara’s hand as he scanned the paper. He could feel her trembling as she pressed against his body, for she fully understood the gravity of the situation. Those men were already eyeing her and would give chase the moment she attempted to run inside.
He was not letting go of her.
Nor would he ever allow these men to take her.
“I understand she is the companion to the Duchess of Strathmore,” one of the men said, “but that cannot protect her. She stole a necklace.”
“Whose necklace? And who reported it stolen?” He tried to keep his voice steady as rage tore through him.
“Why, I believe it was one of yer own heirloom pieces, Your Grace. Yer sisters reported it and filed charges against the thief,” the second man said.
He was going to squash those two malicious wasps the moment he returned to London. “What gives them the right to act on my behalf?”
“Ah, Your Grace. It is not our place to question the specifics, but Miss Angel was seen taking the necklace in question by one of their friends…a Lady Yvonne—”
“It is utter nonsense! I shall have Lord Fortesque’s head on a pike if he does not rescind this warrant immediately. In fact, I shall do it for him.” He tore the parchment to shreds. “No one touches Miss Angel, do you understand me?”
