Page 5 of The Moonstone Marquess
In any event, she did not know why she was crying. The marquess was not worth her shedding a single tear.
Upon returning home, she found her sister, Chloe, seated in their garden under a shade tree, reading a story to the man’s young nieces, Ella and Imogen. The girls scampered to their feet when they saw her approaching. “Did you see Uncle Cormac?” Ella, the elder girl, asked.
Phoebe nodded. “I have invited him to tea this afternoon. But I am not certain he will be able to attend. You see, he has a houseful of guests…and there must have been a mix-up with your father’s letter…” Goodness, she did not know what to say to lessen their disappointment. She had no idea whether the marquess could be trusted to show up. “He may not make it today, but—”
“He’ll make it,” Ella insisted.
Imogen nodded. “Yes, he loves us. We are the most important thing to him.”
They seemed so certain that Phoebe did not know whether to be relieved or even more worried. These girls would be crushed if he let them down. They were so little and vulnerable, Ella only eight years old and Imogen two years younger.
What sweet girls they were, too.
“Then I know he will try his best, and if he cannot make it today, it will be because of dire reasons.” She spared a glance at her own sister, who was still young herself at only fifteen. But she and Chloe had been managing well on their own at Moonstone Cottage and were easily capable of taking care of the marquess’s nieces for the month, if it came to that.
Ella and Imogen cast her a patient look.
“He will be here,” Ella explained in her sweet voice. “He would walk through fire for us.”
Phoebe had difficulty understanding this man. Well, she really did not know him—nor did she wish to know him after their first encounter. But she would be polite to him for the sake of these girls. “Did he tell you that?”
Imogen nodded. “Always. He said we could always depend on him.”
Gad, the liar.
Chloe shut the book she had been reading aloud to them and scampered to her feet. “If you girls are not too tired from your long trip, why don’t we go to Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop and pick up some special treats for us all?”
The girls nodded enthusiastically.
“We’re not tired,” Ella said, clapping her hands. “We sat in the coach for days, and Mrs. Grimble would not allow the driver to stop anywhere but at the coaching inns to change the horses. She was eager to drop us off and go visit her daughter. I hope she never comes back for us.”
Imogen nodded. “She was always frowning at us. I’m glad she’s gone. What an ogre she was. That’s what Uncle Cormac called her, but our parents said she was vigi…vigi…”
“Vigilant,” Ella said. “I’m glad she left us with you and went off. You are so much nicer than she was. I’m glad you’re not vigilant.”
Phoebe laughed. “Vigilant means keeping a close watch, but it does not have to be in a mean way. Chloe and I shall be that, but you will have fun with us. Have you comfortably settled in my old room? You are more than welcome to stay the month if the mix-up with your uncle cannot be straightened out.”
“We won’t stay with Uncle Cormac?” Imogen’s eyes began to water.
Phoebe’s heart tugged. “You might. Indeed, you likely will. I only meant that you should not worry if he cannot take you in immediately. Between your uncle and us, you will have a wonderful summer.”
*
Moonstone Cottage’s caretaker,Mr. Hawke, took them into the village of Moonstone Landing in his wagon, which was a treat for the little girls. They enjoyed the bumpy ride in the rickety old thing, the four of them sitting on the wooden side benches and basking in the sun. Fortunately, they had all put on their bonnets to shade themselves from the bright rays.
The ride was most pleasant, for the sea breeze kept the temperature at a comfortable level, and the ride into town was filled with scenic overlooks and the fresh scent of woodlands and meadow flowers that mingled with the bracing air.
The girls were all giggles and smiles by the time they drew up in front of Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop. The aromas of baked goods were heavenly, and the girls had fun picking out their favorite treats and the one they agreed would be their uncle’s favorite, a lemon cake.
“That is Phoebe’s favorite, too.” Chloe smirked at her.
So what if it was?
That she and the odious marquess should share a love for the same cake meant absolutely nothing. Half the population of Moonstone Landing was enamored of Mrs. Halsey’s lemon cake.
They placed their purchases in the wagon, then took a quick walk down the high street to the quaint harbor where several boats were still moored. Most of the fishing vessels were out to sea, so there were only a few boats, mostly used for pleasant afternoon sailing excursions, to be seen.
But the girls were fascinated because they had never seen such vessels up close before, nor had they ever seen a fish market. “Uncle Cormac doesn’t like fish,” Ella said, wrinkling her nose at the pungent odors.
