Page 2 of The Moonstone Major
“Those beasts missed trampling you by a hairsbreadth, Lady Chloe,” someone in the crowd called out.
She could not make out who had spoken, for everyone was now chattering at her and Major Brennan, tossing them a thousand questions as he continued to gently poke and prod her.
Right, those broken bones.
It was almost worth suffering a mild break to gain his attention.
“Give the lady room,” he said, once again motioning the onlookers to back away. It was missed by no one that he still had his hands on her.
Oh, that deep, resonant voice shot tingles through her.
His eyes were a gorgeous silvery gray, and they overlooked little in their sharp assessment. His hat must have fallen off, for the dark waves of his hair blew lightly in the breeze. One curl fell over the brow of his handsome face.
She wanted to reach up and brush it back.
How could she when half the town was gathered around them and still gawking?
“We’ve drawn quite an audience,” he murmured, casting her a reassuring smile.
She tingled again.
A numbing warmth flowed through her like a gentle tide.
Perhaps she was just dazed and bones were indeed broken, but she did not think so. Fionn Brennan, with his silver eyes and brooding soul, always had this effect on her.
He finished running his hands up her spine and ruled her fit to sit up.
His lips lightly brushed against her cheek as he helped her. “Feeling better now?”
“I will be in a moment. I am quite a bit shaken. It was a narrow escape.”
“Of course. You might have been killed. I had better carry you off the roadway.” He did not give her the chance to protest.
Not that she ever would.
The crowd cheered as he swept her in his arms and rose with a breathtaking air of command.
It was all she could do not to cheer aloud as well.
Every lady in town knew exactly what she was thinking, for they were all of one mind when it came to the major.
He was exceedingly handsome, and they all wanted him.
Of course, she was a lady and could only desire him in her dreams. “And what of you, Major Brennan?” she asked, holding on to his broad shoulders. “Did I not hurt you as I fell?”
He had damaged his leg some time ago, perhaps during the war or shortly before it, and still walked with a slight limp. She wasn’t merely asking the question to be polite. The weakened bones of his leg might easily have snapped and left him in agonizing pain.
He gave a soft, rumbling laugh. “No, I am built rather sturdily.”
Well, that was an understatement. He had the body of a Greek god.
He cast her a soft smile that had her tingling again. “Lady Chloe, do you not understand the nature of men? Even if your weight had crushed me and I now ached like blazes, I would never admit it. Especially not to you.”
“That makes absolutely no sense.” She laughed, then winced as pain shot through her ribs. “Ow.”
He frowned and quickly carried her into Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop. “What did that pain feel like? Sharp? Or a general ache?”
“General,” she replied, certain she had not broken a rib.
