Page 87 of The Moonstone Marquess
Hen was shocked. “Then why are you agreeing to marry him? Oh no! Phoebe, did he compromise you?”
“No, he’s been an insufferable gentleman aboutthat. He knows Cain would kill him if he touched me outside of marriage. Let’s go in. I want to see the babies. Let me kiss them, and then I’ll tell you everything that has happened while you were away.”
Hen’s infant twins, a son and daughter, had been tired out from their travels and fallen asleep in the carriage as it neared their home. “Their nanny has taken them up to the nursery for their naps. Let’s join the men in Cain’s study while our staff brings in the last of our belongings. We can look in on the children afterward.”
Cain, a big bear of a man, came around his desk to greet the pair as they walked in. “Phoebe, your sister and I long ago jested about you to Cormac, but we never dreamed the two of you would ever marry. Are you sure about this?”
She nodded. “Yes, not a doubt. Has he told you all that went on while you were in Bath?”
“He started to,” Cain said with a wry smile. “I have a feeling Hen and I missed all the excitement. Have a seat and tell us the rest of it.”
She and Cormac took turns filling them in, ending with the incident with Seline and her despicable friends outside of Mrs. Halsey’s tearoom.
Cormac was still shaking his head about it. “Cain, I know you taught Hen and her sisters how to swim, but did you also teach them how to use a grappling hook?”
“No. Why on earth would I ever do such a thing?” Cain stared at Phoebe. “Who taught you?”
“No one.”
Cormac began to pace in front of her. “See, Cain? She will not tell me. I had hoped you could shed light on it. Phoebe, love. Why the secrecy?”
“It isn’t a secret. Only you will all think my wits are addled if I tell you.” She sighed. “Hen will understand because…because she’s also seen our Moonstone Cottage ghost, Captain Arundel.”
Hen inhaled sharply. “Brioc is here?”
“Yes, with Aunt Hen. Cormac’s nieces saw him when we took them on a boat ride in the harbor.”
Cain frowned. “Did he frighten them?”
“No. He was kind to them, just as he was to me and Hen when we were children. But I’m sure he’s the one who must have guided me as I used the grappling hook. I could not have done it myself. I’ve never even held one before. But I couldn’t let that horrible Lord Seldon shoot Cormac.” She turned to Cormac. “I couldn’t tell you. I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me. I also thought you would be livid if I admitted I’d never held one before.”
“Blessed saints,” he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. “I ought to be. Phoebe—”
“This is exactly why I needed to wait until Hen returned. I knew she would understand.”
“Love, I would have believed you.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Truly?”
He sighed. “Maybe not. I’ll admit I was rattled when my nieces spoke of him. But I did not think they had made up the story. Nor do I doubt you. I don’t care how you learned to swing that grapple. You were brilliant, and I have you to thank for taking down that arse. Although I suppose I would have been furious if I realized you were a novice at the time.”
“What I still don’t understand,” Cain said, “is why Seline came after you the way she did. What happened between you to set her off?”
“I have no idea.” Cormac shrugged. “You were there shortly after I lost my arm. She dumped me and ridiculed me. I thought that was the last I would ever hear of her. Not that I minded in the least. She was an anchor around my neck, and I was glad to be rid of her. However, I would have been far kinder in ending our liaison if the situations were reversed.”
“Yourillicitliaison,” Phoebe added. “She was married at the time.”
He winced. “She wasn’t married when I first went off to fight Napoleon. She married a few years later. Unhappily, that much is obvious. I don’t know what she thought would happen on my return. She was enraged when I came back wounded and about to lose my arm. Ever the compassionate creature, she cut off all connection to me once she knew it had to come off.”
Cain absently took hold of Hen’s hand as he spoke. “That happened three years ago. It still doesn’t explain why she followed you here and harassed you now.”
Cormac shrugged once more. “Truly, I have no idea what set her off.”
“I think I might,” Hen said.
They all turned to her, eager to hear what she had to say.
“There were rumors circulating in Bath that her husband intends to divorce her.”
