Page 99 of The Moonstone Marquess
Cormac’s brother joined him in the water, stripping off all but his trousers after asking Phoebe for permission to do so. “Please do. This is our private strip of beach. And anyway, I am married to your brother. Nothing is going to shock me.”
Even Charlotte laughed at that remark. “Phoebe, would you mind if I kicked off my shoes and stockings? It looks awfully good fun.”
“The water is lovely. Be daring, Charlotte. Wade in up to your knees.” The two of them stood with their feet in the water and watched their husbands frolic with the nieces. When Ella and Imogen came out of the water to build sandcastles, Cormac and his brother turned into little boys themselves, splashing each other and trying to dunk each other. If Cormac felt the loss of his arm, he wasn’t showing it.
The two men finally slogged out of the water with inane grins on their faces and wet everyone while shaking the moisture off them like dogs coming out of the rain. “Uncle Cormac!” Imogen squeaked. “You’re getting me wet!”
“I’m sorry, little duckling. But don’t ducks like water?” He scooped her up into his arm.
She wrapped hers around his neck. “No, they don’t always want to be in the water.”
“All right. It’s nearing suppertime anyway, and we ought to get cleaned up.”
With everyone in agreement, they packed up their belongings and made their way to the wooden stairs leading up to the house. Ella ran alongside Cormac. “I want you to carry me, too.”
He couldn’t, of course.
Phoebe wasn’t certain what he would do.
John was about to step forward and offer to carry his daughter, but stopped as Cormac spoke to Ella. “I only have the one arm, duckling. How about you hold on to my sleeve?”
She nodded and skipped up the steps beside him.
Charlotte sniffled. “Phoebe, you’ve worked a miracle on that man. We spent three years walking on eggshells, daring not to breathe a word about his missing arm. He hated himself and hated all of us… Well, not John or the girls.” She sighed. “I suppose he just hated me.”
John put his arm around his wife. “No, love. He only hated himself, desperately wanted what you and I had, but did not think anyone could ever love him as I love you. How could he dare to dream of this when he loathed himself? But Phoebe came along and he’s smiling again. He’s my brother and I love him, but he was such an arse for a very long time. Not anymore, though. He is almost, dare I say it…chirpy?”
Phoebe burst out laughing. “He will toss you back in the water if you dare call him that.” She looked up at the stairs and her husband’s retreating form, Imogen in his arms and Ella holding on to his empty sleeve. “He’s going to be a wonderful father, don’t you think?”
“The best,” John said. “This is how he was when we were younger, the older brother always looking after me. We hardly ever fought. He was always protecting me. This is how my girls feel around him. Safe, protected. Loved. I’m going to miss him. I liked having him with us…although he’s the marquess and it is actually his London townhouse we all occupied. So we actually live with him. He’ll spend most of his time in Moonstone Landing now. But I do look forward to having you join us as often as you can.”
“So do we. He won’t want to miss his little ducklings growing up. He’ll be a bear when your girls are ready for their debuts.”
John laughed. “Gad, I feel sorry for any young man hoping to win their favor. They’ll have to go through Cormac, and I doubt any of them will survive.”
They hurried after him and returned to their rooms to prepare for supper. Chloe, Hen, and Cain were to join them, as were Prudence and her husband. They would be a small, but genial, party.
“So much for having you to myself,” Cormac teased as they readied themselves before their guests arrived.
“Oh, I think you had plenty of me today.”
“No, love. Not nearly enough. I doubt I’ll ever have enough of you. But you must be sore after all our couplings. I’ll just hold you tonight, if that is what you wish.”
“How very noble of you, but no need for us to decide now, is there? Let’s see how we feel by the time we retire to bed.”
“We?” He arched an eyebrow and smiled. “I should think my desires are clear. But I mean it, Phoebe. We don’t have to do anything if you are too sore.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Come on, let’s go downstairs and see to our guests.”
Her heart melted as she watched him stride to the door and open it. He paused when she did not immediately join him. “Phoebe?”
She cast him a tender smile. “You know I am going to say yes to you later. You are irresistible.”
He chuckled. “Come on, love. Let’s eat fast and be rid of these damnable guests.”
It was not propertonetiquette to have children dine with them, but no one was keeping Cormac from a last night with his nieces. Imogen did not quite make it to the dessert course before falling asleep in her chair. Charlotte excused herself and carried her up to bed. She had yet to return before Ella’s eyes drifted closed. John carried her up to bed.
When they returned, Cormac motioned them all to the parlor, where port wine was served for the men and tea for the ladies. Usually the men gave over the parlor to the ladies while they remained behind with their smokes and port. But Cormac saw no point to it, and neither did anyone else.
Cain and Hen did not remain long after, since they had their own wee ones at Malvern House. Even though their children were still babies and had nannies to look after them, Hen was obviously not used to being apart from them. They took Chloe back with them. Prudence and Charles Weston also left with them. As Cain’s estate manager, he was always kept busy and would likely be up at the crack of dawn to start his work.
