Page 15 of The Moonstone Major
“I know you spoke to Constable Angel about what happened, but would you mind if I asked a few questions as well?”
“Not at all, Major Brennan.” He turned to his friends, none of whom had been introduced to Fionn or the doctor.
No doubt the slight had been on purpose, but Fionn did not take it as a matter of rudeness on the viscount’s part. Rather, he sensed it was his friends who had no desire to be introduced to the Moonstone Landing locals.
The viscount told his friends, two gentlemen and two ladies, all of whom reeked of haughtiness and entitlement, “I shall meet you downstairs for tea in a few minutes.”
“Honestly, Claymore. How many times are you to repeat the story? You are becoming as tiresome as these rustics,” one of the dandies in his company said. The men were dressed in garish colors, the pair of them resembling peacocks. The two ladies were young and pretty, and dressed quite finely as well.
Too finely for Moonstone Landing, but this was just Fionn’s opinion.
As for their looks…they were pretty, but in a cold way. Their eyes held contempt for those they considered beneath their rank, which he supposed was everyone they had met while here.
One of them began to rake her gaze over him.
In the next moment, the other lady did the same.
He understood what those hot, ravenous glances signified. Women had been coming on to him for years. Even innocent Chloe thought him nice looking.
These ladies were obviously of noble bloodstock, but he knew neither of them was a virgin. One could not ignore the knowing way they ogled him.
He expected each would find a moment to proposition him before he left the inn.
He thought it humorous that he was not deemed fit to be properly introduced in company, but they had no qualms about lying naked with him in their beds.
If this was how the London debutantes behaved, he wanted Chloe to have no part of it. Indeed, women like these two would eat her alive.
As for their potential propositions, were he of a different nature, he would have no issue with a meaningless romp with either of them. But somehow, it felt like a betrayal to Chloe, and he could not see himself ever doing this.
Which was ridiculous, since he did not intend to court Chloe.
His heart did not seem to care.
There was no help for it—he was going to be loyal to Chloe whether he ever courted her or not.
Perhaps this cursed claim she had on his heart would fade once she was settled and happily married to someone of suitable rank. He had no desire to spend his life as a monk, but he feared this would be his fate so long as Chloe remained unattached.
He shook out of his thoughts and took a chair opposite the viscount when he motioned for him to sit down.
The viscount’s friends had now sauntered out and grudgingly left them to their privacy.
“Major Brennan, give me a moment while Dr. Hewitt examines me, and then I shall answer all your questions. Would you care for a drink?”
“No thank you, my lord.”
Dr. Hewitt finished his inspection quickly, for there appeared to be no injury worse than the small bruise to the viscount’s cheek. He closed his medical bag and nodded to each of them. “Good day, gentlemen.” He walked out and shut the door behind him.
Fionn now had Lord Claymore’s full attention. “My lord, where were you exactly when the horses suddenly spooked?”
“I had just turned onto the high street, not far from the bank. I noticed you striding across the village green and about to cross the street. Good thing you were there at precisely that moment. I did not see Lady Chloe until it was too late, and then I could not control my team to maneuver around her.”
“Did you notice anyone suspicious just before you turned onto the high street? Perhaps someone who looked as though he did not belong.”
“Someone with a furtive look in his eyes, you mean?” The viscount shook his head. “I wasn’t paying that close attention, and anyway, I would have no idea who did or did not belong in your village. Nor do I know who the troublemakers are. Constable Angel would know this better than I.”
“Where were your friends when this incident happened?”
He arched an eyebrow. “You cannot think they were involved. No, I’m sure they were still sleeping. None of them ever stir before noon. Anyway, we stayed up rather late last night. Nothing untoward, I assure you. We were celebrating my birthday. I turned twenty-seven yesterday, hence the lovely phaeton. It was a gift from my mother. She won’t be happy to learn it is now destroyed.”
