Page 76 of The Moonstone Marquess
“You are quite the enterprising lad.” Cormac chuckled. “I’ll be outside. Tell Lord Crawford not to keep me waiting.”
*
Which was howthe ridiculous rumor began, one that reached Phoebe’s ears when Cormac joined her and the girls for breakfast a few days later. Richard had returned to his estate in Bedfordshire two days ago, so he was not around to dispel the rumor.
Cormac knew something was wrong the moment he arrived at Moonstone Cottage and saw the tension in Phoebe’s eyes. She met him at the front door and would not allow him in. “We need to speak.”
He nodded. “All right. Has something happened? Are the girls—”
“They are fine,” she said, her lips tightly pinched.
“And Chloe?”
“She is fine. This isn’t about them. Walk down to the beach with me.”
“Of course.” He could see her back was rigid and steps purposeful as she hurried past the garden and made for the stairs.
“Will you tell me what that look is about? Your face is so brittle it appears ready to crack.”
She waited to respond until their feet hit the sand, then whirled on him and frowned.
“Have you not heard what everyone is talking about? You were seen leaving a lady’s guest chamber at the Kestrel Inn.”
He groaned. “Was the lady in question identified as Lady Whitford? That is Seline, my infamous former…whatever one would call such a woman. I can assure you, nothing of the sort happened, not with her or anyone else.”
Phoebe studied his expression, obviously trying to search his face for answers. “You had a torrid affair with her. The two of you have a history together. Did you once pledge those same words of love to her as you have pledged to me? If you still love her—”
He laughed and shook his head—a bitter laugh, for this was what Seline always had him feeling. “I never loved her, Phoebe. Whatever affair we had has long since been over. She shut her door to me the day I lost my arm. Slammed it right in my face.”
“Then she was the one who broke off relations?”
He sighed. “Yes, but we had both lost interest. It was only a question of who would bother to get around to it first. Her timing was particularly cruel, but true to form for her. I haven’t bothered with her since that day.”
“You were seen leaving the inn.”
“Because I rode over there early in the morning.”
“You were seen with her the night before.”
“And now you think I am making a nightly habit of visiting her bed?”
“Oh, Cormac. I don’t know what to think.” She looked so anguished that he wanted to take her in his embrace and tell her how much he loved her.
Not that she would ever believe him now.
He raked a hand through his hair, uncertain what to say to make her believe him. He was no saint, but hadn’t he been on his best behavior around her? Hadn’t he poured out his heart to her?
He was incredulous that she would believe the rumors after all he’d done to put his old life behind him. “You cannot seriously believe I would go anywhere near that woman.”
“I’ve seen her in town,” she said in a strained whisper. “She is beautiful.”
“Her heart is the ugliest thing imaginable. I was at the Kestrel Inn on the morning Richard left. I went there to fetch him. He was the one who, despite my dire warnings, spent the night with that witch. You know I want nothing to do with her. Just ask Thaddius Angel. He was the clerk on duty that morning. He will tell you the truth about what happened. It is exactly as I’ve just told you.”
“You might have paid him to corroborate your story.”
Her words felt like a slap to his face. She could not have hurt him more if she’d run a blade through his heart. “This is what you think of me?”
“Cormac, for pity’s sake. I’ve known you all of two weeks. You’ve been in a relationship with this woman for a decade. How am I to know what your feelings are for her? And how am I to trust my own feelings for you? You’re the first man I’ve ever kissed. The only man I’ve ever allowed to kiss me. Can you not understand how afraid I am of giving my heart to you?”
