Page 26 of The Moonstone Marquess
Phoebe had been gentle when lacing into him the day they met. Was it only yesterday? It felt like forever ago.
Nor could he imagine being without her from this day forward.
Blessed saints!
What was he thinking?
He wasnotin love with Phoebe.
And even if hewerein love with her, he knew the feeling would not last. When had he ever been constant in matters of love? For that matter, when had he ever been in love?
Never.
Not even close.
Except for Phoebe.
Well, he’d think about her later.
Right now, he had to find a way to get Richard to spill his feelings and somehow turn into a responsible man.
Bollocks.
Cormac really hated talking about feelings. Was he not always horrible in expressing his own?
They began to walk along the sand. The breeze had gentled and the sun was beginning to dip on the horizon. The sky took on the pink and gold hues of twilight. But it would be hours yet before the sun went down.
“Tell me what would make you happiest in life,” Cormac said, thinking this might be something Phoebe would ask, because she cared about people. She understood warmth and compassion. He did not give a fig about most people.
Richard just gave him a blank stare.
Cormac tried again. “You said you were a scholar. What studies intrigue you most?”
They were alone on the beach with nothing but the sound of waves gently lapping the shore and the occasional caw of a gull to break the silence. One could even hear the soft hum of the wind as it surrounded them with its warmth.
“Richard?”
“It has always been my dream to go to Greece and study its ancient civilizations.”
Cormac nodded. “Travel might do you good. I hear it is a beautiful land. The Minoan civilization particularly intrigued me. How were they able to build the great palaces and temples they are known for at a time when most people were living in earthen huts and barely eking out their survival? They kept written records in a time when only a select few could read and write, and their craftsmen were true artisans, creating wonders beyond anyone’s imagination.”
“You surprise me, Burness. I did not take you for a scholar.”
He smiled. “I enjoyed my studies.”
“Yet you always struck me as a man of action.”
“Yes, often stupid actions. My brother is the one with the level head. But some learning sank into that space between my ears. These ancient societies fascinated me as well. We think of ourselves as so advanced, but as we uncover ruins of the past, we see how great their knowledge was, how much they knew of the planets, mathematics, science, their knowledge of our earthly metals, the ability to forge them, to create works of lasting beauty. Pottery, jewelry.”
“Weapons.”
“Yes, this seems to be the nature of man. We are always finding reasons to fight. This is our greatest failing. Along with our desire to learn and advance, we are also burdened with sins. Greed, envy, a need to control and conquer. Perhaps one day we shall understand what makes men do the things they do. How do we reconcile these two parts of us? Why is it that the very intelligence that enables us to do great things also makes us cruel, murderous beasts?”
Richard nodded. “I don’t know that we shall ever have an answer. Perhaps we shall discover more clues to ourselves as we unearth these ancient civilizations. I would like to visit Rome, Florence, and Venice. Perhaps journey to Egypt and Mesopotamia.”
“Then do it. You have the means. You have the intellect to advance our knowledge. Talk to members of the British Museum. I’m sure there are expeditions they would love to have you fund. More important, that they would love to have you join as part of their research team.”
“I always dreamed of doing exactly this. Discovering new civilizations, uncovering treasures that will change our understanding of the past and possibly provide guidance for our future. Do you think my brother would be proud of this?”
