Page 42 of The Moonstone Marquess
The girls were excited to be riding in the wagon again. Goodness, it was such a rickety, old thing, but they took such pleasure in every bump and rattle. Their uncle rode beside them on his stallion, seeming quite relaxed in the saddle despite the massive size of that beast.
The show was about to start by the time they reached the church, so the girls hurried to take their seats while Phoebe and Chloe offered to help the vicar set up the tables of treats for the children to enjoy once the show was over. “My lord, would you mind watching the girls while we set out the cakes?”
“They’ll be so wrapped up in the puppets, I doubt they’d notice any of us missing,” Cormac replied. “I don’t mind helping.”
“No, you’d only be in the way.”
“I see.” He glanced at his missing arm.
She inhaled lightly. “Not because of your arm. I didn’t even think of that. I would have said the same to any man who offered. The ladies and I can get it done faster if we are left on our own and do not have to weave and dart around all the well-meaning bodies blocking our way. We work with military precision. Surely, you can understand this.”
“All right. I will not take offense.”
“We won’t be gone long.” She hurried to the rectory with Chloe. Since they had often helped out at various functions, they knew what to do, and quickly had the tables set up and loaded to groaning with sweets the children would love.
On their way out, she and Chloe noticed a young soldier sitting by himself on a front pew of the church and staring at the altar. He did not appear to be praying, just sitting there looking quite lonely.
“The poor man, he looks lost,” Chloe whispered. “Should I invite him to join us? Oh, look at his leg. He must have injured it. And look, there is his cane beside him.”
Phoebe nibbled her lip. “I don’t know. We’re here with the girls, and we don’t know anything about this stranger. We would have recognized him if he were one of the local boys.”
“We could ask the marquess. Leave the decision to him.”
Phoebe nodded. “Yes, I like that idea. Let him be the one to decide whether the young man should join us. I expect he will invite him.”
“Because he’s injured?”
She nodded again. “He’ll understand exactly what the young man is feeling. I’ll fetch him.” She hurried over to Cormac, who was standing with his shoulder casually propped against a shady oak a short distance from the noisy puppets and laughing children. “I need your advice.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You can never go wrong with lemon cake. Put all of it out on the tables and the children will devour every last crumb.”
She grinned. “I do not need your advice on what the children would like to eat after the show. There is a young soldier sitting by himself inside the church. He’s wounded. Chloe and I wondered whether we ought to invite him to join us. Only for cakes and lemonade. I don’t mean to invite him to spend the entire day with us. But we thought he might appreciate some company. He looks so lonely.”
He glanced at his nieces and then nodded. “You have a soft heart, Phoebe. All right, lead the way. But I shall take the measure of him first. I’ll only bring him over if I find him to be of solid character.”
“Yes, this is why we came to you first.”
He went in while she stayed outside and took his place under the shady tree. Chloe joined her a few moments later. The children’s show ended about ten minutes later, so they took Ella and Imogen inside for some cake and strawberry tarts.
She, Chloe, and several other ladies had set up long tables and benches in the rectory. The children and their parents hurried to grab spots, although Phoebe knew there would be room for everyone.
The vicar motioned her over to a private table when he saw her walk in with Chloe and the girls. “Over here, Lady Phoebe.”
“But Vicar Trask, there’s room at the long tables.”
He shook his head. “The marquess will not approve. Do sit here with his nieces.”
Ordinarily, this special treatment would have annoyed her, for she and Chloe knew many of the villagers. They were kind and friendly to her and her sisters.
But there was also the young soldier to think about, for he did seem shy. “Will you join us, Vicar Trask?”
“Perhaps later. I have my flock to tend to,” he said with a beaming smile at the parishioners who had turned out for the marionettes. “I wish my sermons drew this sort of crowd. Perhaps I will add puppets and strawberry tarts to my sermons.”
He went off to greet the families in attendance.
While Chloe settled the girls in their seats, Phoebe brought over a plate of strawberry tarts for them to share. She had just taken her seat when Cormac approached with the shy young soldier. “Lady Phoebe, Lady Chloe, may I introduce you to Lieutenant Fionn Brennan?”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Phoebe said, casting him a welcoming smile. “Please, do join us.”
