Page 74 of The Moonstone Marquess
“Then look for a woman who shares your love of travel and exploration. If she cares for you, she will want to please you. If traveling becomes too much for her, which may arise if you have children, then she will be amenable to settling on a compromise. I’m sure your wife would not mind waiting for your return while basking in one of those Italian villas.”
“Gad, no! And have her fall in love with some dark-haired Italian count? No, I’d ship her back to England for certain. Our dismal rain and wintery cold will do for her.”
Cormac laughed and shook his head. “Ah, Richard. How can any woman resist you if you think like that?”
Richard grinned. “You are mocking me.”
“I see myself in you, for this is something I would have said before meeting Phoebe. Anyway, have a care around the elegant women staying at the Kestrel Inn. Just because they are putting out signals they are available does not mean you can trust them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I cannot explain it. It is just something you have to be able to sense.”
“I still have no idea what you are talking about.”
“I know. This is why I dare not leave you on your own yet.” Cormac sighed. “I’ll ride there with you.”
The inn had a good reputation, and Cormac doubted Richard would get into too much mischief so long as he behaved discreetly. A few lonely ladies might be looking for a night of comfort in his arms, for wealth and title were no guarantees to happiness. It was not unusual for those of rank to engage in casual liaisons. However, the man was still a babe in the woods. He could not accept just any invitation offered. With Richard’s luck, the woman he chose would have a jealous husband hot on her trail who would not hesitate to shoot him when finding him in her bed.
Cormac decided the least he could do for his friend was point out who was safe to seduce and who was not.
Blast.
That sounded awful.
But these were not sweet lambs Richard was hunting. And was it not better to have him in the arms of a willing lady than to have him still sulking over Phoebe? The young lord was fascinated by her, and Cormac did not want him attempting anything foolish with her on his last night here. Phoebe was off-limits, and he would maim Richard if he dared touch her.
The inn had a private salon reserved for their Upper-Crust guests, although anyone willing to pay an exorbitant entrance fee was permitted to rub shoulders with the titled elite. The private salon was surprisingly crowded. “M’lord,” the innkeeper said, bustling toward Cormac as they entered, “a large party came down from Bath just this morning. Some of them were asking after you.”
“Is that so?” He did not like the sound of that. Although he was admitted into the best circles, he’d always sought out the fast set, preferring to amuse himself with those who misbehaved. No one of good moral character was likely to be asking after him.
“One lady in particular—quite beautiful, she is,” the innkeeper muttered.
Cormac followed the man’s gaze to one of the ladies seated amid a host of admirers across the salon.
He silently uttered a string of expletives upon spotting Seline. “Lady Whitford?”
“Yes, m’lord. She’s the one.”
Richard’s eyes widened. “Gad, she is even more stunning than the last time I saw her. Burness, you lucky man. Will you introduce me to her? She’s never given me the time of day, but I am an earl now. Do you think she will continue to snub me?”
Cormac put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “She is a viper. You do not want to go anywhere near her.”
Why was she here?
She looked up and saw them, her eyes taking on a menacing glow as she brushed aside her circle of admirers and walked over to him. “Burness, I knew you would come for me.”
“Actually, I had no idea you were in Moonstone Landing until Mr. Egdon mentioned it just now,” he said, referring to the elderly innkeeper. “What are you doing here?”
She gave a little toss of her head, no doubt aware of exactly how her curls would bounce and fall becomingly over one shoulder. “Bath was boring, and I heard this village was quite charming.”
She must have encountered Cain and Phoebe’s sister, who were on holiday there. They would not have said a word to her, but perhaps other acquaintances, who were unaware of Cormac’s distrust of Seline, had spoken of him. Well, it mattered little how Seline had learned of his whereabouts. She was here and bent on causing trouble.
Had she nothing better to do than attempt to lay waste to his happiness? “I never knew you to enjoy charming things—unless it was to take pleasure in destroying them.”
She placed her hand against his chest and lightly stroked it. “You are too cruel, my love. Will you show me around this lovely village tomorrow? I hear you’ve bought yourself a house on the outskirts. I would not mind seeing the view from your bedchamber.”
He nudged her hand off his chest. “Go back to London, and take your toadies with you. There is nothing for you here.”
