Page 83 of The Moonstone Marquess
Phoebe was happier than she had ever imagined possible. She had been so caught up in her own doubts, too blind to understand how devastating a blow losing an arm had been to his independence.
“Phoebe, are those tears in your eyes?”
She nodded. “But good tears.”
“Is there such a thing?”
“Yes, shedding a tear for happiness is always a good thing.”
“All right, if you say so.”
He held her hand as they walked to their belongings, but released it as they started to gather them up. “Cormac…”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
She smiled at him. “I love you.”
Chapter Sixteen
The next fewdays brought on a constant rain, but it did not bother Cormac in the least. As far as he was concerned, the sun shone brightly in his heart, and it had not been there for a very long time.
Seline was still in town with her circle of toadies, and they amused themselves by spreading malicious gossip about him, some of it so ludicrous that the Moonstone Landing locals quickly saw through it and began to place wagers on what lies she would spread next.
“My lord,” Mrs. Halsey said, approaching him when he entered her tearoom to pick up sweets for afternoon tea with Phoebe, Chloe, and his nieces. Cain’s estate manager and his wife were to join them as well. “What can I get for you?”
“A lemon cake, of course. Perhaps two. Yes, make it two, Mrs. Halsey. The first will be devoured within five minutes of our tea. I’ll also have a dozen strawberry tarts.”
The woman laughed. “For Imogen, of course.”
He smiled. “She is very fond of them.” He added a few more items, and was just about to leave with his boxes of delights when Seline and her friends sauntered into the tearoom.
All chatter in the place immediately died down.
Mrs. Halsey cleared her throat. “Good day to you, my lords. Lady Whitford. Let me show you to a table.”
“Not necessary,” Seline responded.
Ah, so they were here for him, Cormac realized. They must have seen him entering.
The rain had stopped earlier in the day and the sun was now shining, but his former paramour was like a dark cloud hanging over his head.
Her malicious little ploys were nothing more than an annoyance for him, but Phoebe would be meeting him here in a few minutes, and he did not want her to encounter Seline and her toadies. She had stopped by the local dressmaker’s to make an appointment for his nieces to be fitted for new outfits. Specifically, pretty gowns befitting their upcoming role as the littlest members of their wedding party.
They had kept the news of their betrothal quiet, since nothing could be officially acknowledged until Cain returned and gave his consent. But it did not stop them from quietly preparing for the event.
Seline purred as she rubbed against his chest.
She thought she was being seductive, but he only thought of her as a mange-ridden cat. Indeed, she was giving cats a bad name. He ignored her and tried to leave, but her friends blocked the door.
Cormac rolled his eyes. “Seldon, you little lizard. Step out of the way before I squash you.”
The man stared at his missing arm and sneered. “Are you speaking to me, Burness?”
“I can see your confusion, since the place seems to be crawling with Seline’s lizards—or should I refer to you all as toads? I suppose it matters little. Yes, I am addressing you. Get out of my way. I will not ask politely again.”
The man ignored him.
Well, Cormac did not reallywantto hurt Lord Seldon, because the man had reason to detest him. After all, he had been intimate with the man’s wife back in his wicked days. Lady Seldon hated her husband enough to openly mock his failings in the pleasuring-your-wife department. Cormac knew the man was…flaccid…to put it mildly. But he would never be low enough to now land such a hurtful blow, no matter how much Seldon deserved to be brought down.
