Page 18 of The Moonstone Marquess
“His name was Captain Brioc Taran Arundel, and he saved the children of this town. Of course, he was alive back then…unfortunately, this is how he died, saving all those precious lives.”
Imogen and Ella were immediately interested.
“What happened?” Ella asked.
“Well, one day there was a village fair. There were games and treats and music. Everyone was having a lovely time. The local schoolmistress, Miss Gray, took her pupils for a boat ride around the harbor. Suddenly, it began to storm. Rain and thunder and strong winds came out of nowhere and pushed the boat onto the rocks.”
“Oh no,” Imogen said, her eyes growing wide.
“The rocks tore through the hull and the boat began to sink.”
His nieces were rapt as they listened to the story, both of them now holding on to Phoebe’s hands.
“Captain Arundel saw they were in distress. Despite the foul weather and impossibly roiling seas, he jumped into his own boat and sailed to the damaged ship to rescue all the children. He was able to save them all.”
The girls cheered.
“Once he had them safely ashore, he went back for the stranded crewmen. But just as he rescued them and was about to climb back onto his boat, the mast cracked and hit him on the head. He tumbled into the water and was never found.”
Imogen began to cry.
Phoebe knelt beside her and wrapped his sensitive niece in her arms. “But the story has a happy ending, little duckling. The captain’s spirit remained very much alive, and he returned to his beloved Moonstone Cottage as a ghost. You see, it was his home, and he was happiest there. When my Aunt Henleigh bought the place, he fell deeply in love with her. From the moment he saw her, he knew she was the woman he would love eternally. He watched over her and protected her throughout her life. He waited for her, so they were happily reunited when she passed on years later. They were meant to meet and fall in love. Nothing, not time nor distance, could ever defeat their love.”
“How do you know he loved your aunt?” Ella asked.
“Because my sister, Hen, and I met him, and he told us. He was a very nice man—and quite handsome, too.”
Imogen looked up at her. “As handsome as Uncle Cormac?”
Phoebe laughed. “Yes, as handsome as your uncle. Chloe was just a baby at the time and did not get to meet him, but I know he has spoken to her since. He watched over her as well. He protected all of us. We loved coming to visit our aunt, and now we own the cottage.”
Imogen stared down at the harbor. “What if we drown in a storm?”
“We won’t, duckling,” Cormac said, giving her chin a little tweak. “The weather is beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. And you know I would save you. Didn’t I promise always to protect you?”
She nodded.
“There, and I never break a promise.”
“Will you promise to protect Phoebe, too?”
“Yes, Imogen. I will always protect Phoebe, too.”
They walked on toward the harbor, but Cormac could not get the thought out of his mind. Uttering that promise to protect Phoebe had felt so right.
Yes, he wanted to protect this opinionated and vibrant beauty.
He wanted to be with her and hold her in his…hold her.
Damn it.
Why had he not met her when he was whole? Three years too late for that.
Phoebe knew all the local villagers, and they easily found a sturdy vessel to take them around. The captain was a young man by the name of Tobias Angel, a genial, talkative fellow who told them all about the town’s history. “There are lots of us Angels living in Moonstone Landing,” he said, winking at the girls. “My uncle is constable here. Another uncle manages the local bank. My cousin, Cara Angel, married a duke.”
“My Uncle Cormac is a marquess,” Ella said proudly.
“And that’s why I am charging him double my usual fare,” he said with a jovial laugh. “Only jesting, m’lord. We don’t cheat anyone here.”
