Page 60 of The Moonstone Major
Perhaps because it was Chloe’s, and he loved her.
“Since you are here, join us for tea,” she said, distracting him from his thoughts.
Well, it was Sunday. He had nowhere else to be. Nor did he wish to be anywhere else but beside Chloe.
He nodded and escorted her in.
Cormac was alone on the terrace when Fionn walked out there. Chloe had run upstairs to change out of her beach wear and check on the girls to make certain they did the same.
“Fionn, good to see you.” Cormac set down his glass and extended a hand to him. “We missed you last night. But I suppose you heard the gossip by now.”
“Yes, Chloe told me what happened.”
“Have a seat. Care for a lemonade?” He motioned for one of his footmen to pour Fionn a glass. “That’s all I’m drinking after last night. Imbibed a bit too much. By the look of you, I’d say you did, too.”
Fionn settled into a chair with his fresh glass of lemonade. “I might have overindulged a bit.”
Cormac grinned. “Yes, those Killigrew girls will do that to you. Claymore probably tied one on after Chloe rejected him. What are you going to do about her?”
“We’ll see what Mr. Barrow has to say about Viscount Brennan’s legacy. In the meantime, nothing has changed.” He said no more as Imogen and Ella scurried out to join them. Cormac’s brother was not far behind and greeted him warmly.
Fionn could tell by his expression that nothing had changed regarding Charlotte’s condition. It would not be long before he returned to London with his wife to seek out expert medical advice. His daughters would be devastated.
The burden of distracting them would likely fall on Chloe, because Phoebe had her own children to deal with as well as other obligations in running the house.
An idea formed in his mind when Chloe, after joining them on the terrace for refreshments, suddenly disappeared into the parlor to sit at the pianoforte and play a few songs for the girls. She played surprisingly well and had a decent singing voice.
Was thereanythingabout her that he did not like?
Ella and Imogen, it turned out, also had charming voices. If it became necessary to distract the girls, he would ask Chloe to help him organize a concert for his regiment, and perhaps open it up to the villagers as well. Moonstone Cottage was the perfect location for this sort of affair, and there was already a pianoforte in place for Chloe to use.
The Hawkes would be overjoyed having her and the girls around. Chloe had lived there with her sisters for many years and only been required to move out because Hen and Phoebe had married while she was too young to remain on her own.
He proposed the idea to Cormac, who heartily agreed with it. “Charlotte is not doing well at all. We’re going to give it another day or two at most, and if there is no sign of improvement, John will take her back to London.”
“It will be hard on the girls.”
Cormac nodded. “Fortunately, they are used to spending their summers with us. But nothing can replace the love of a mother.”
Fionn wouldn’t know, never having had one. But he had seen the way Chloe and her sisters cared for their loved ones and understood this was how it should be. He did not regret the path his life had taken, since it had brought him to Chloe.
Brought him to her doorstep and then stopped him cold.
He understood most marriages were entered into for the advantages to be gained. It was fairly common for a bankrupt nobleman to wed an heiress. But they had a title and a history to those titles to contribute in exchange for a whopping sack of coins.
Perhaps he would be worn down over time and accept the bounty he was offered, even though he had nothing to offer in return.
He wasn’t there yet. But what a jest it would be if his old friend, Ducky, turned out to be the savior who uncovered the solution to his dilemma.
Could Viscount Brennan’s loathsome relations have hidden something important from him?
Chapter Twelve
As the summerprogressed and it was now nearing the end of August, Fionn began to resolve himself to the fact nothing was going to turn up regarding Viscount Brennan’s inheritance or any secrets to Fionn’s identity.
While he had never expected Ducky or Mr. Barrow to discover any startling information, he could not help but feel disappointed. There had been no word to the good or bad from either of them.
He strode out of the fort and headed to the neighboring work site to supervise the last touches to the hospital roof. There was still much to be done, for only the skeleton of the building had been put in place. The windows would be next, and then the flooring. But the roof was the most urgent work that had to be completed while the weather cooperated.
