Page 9 of The Moonstone Major
“You have?”
“And read them often.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “I am an orphan,” he said with a light groan, knowing it was a mistake to share any of his thoughts or dreams with this girl he liked too much already. “Never knew my parents. Nor do I know whether I have any siblings. You are the closest thing I have to family. I appreciated all your letters. You have no idea how much I looked forward to receiving those massive tomes.”
She laughed. “Massive? Tomes? They weren’t that long.”
“Yes, they were. Three or four pages each. I did not think that much went on in Moonstone Landing. However, I liked your keeping me abreast of the news.”
“So you don’t have a lady friend?”
He sighed and shook his head. “Chloe, there is no one special. All right? How can there ever be? I am a mere army major. What have I to offer a genteel lady?”
“But you must have saved enough of your wages to let Moonstone Cottage from us. You’ve paid your lease in full in advance. How did you manage it?”
“A ridiculous splurge on my part. It has taken up most of my inheritance. I was left a small sum when my benefactor died. Not enough to support a wife and children. I’ll be back in the barracks when the year is out. But there’s something special about your cottage. I know you and your sisters love it. I am drawn to it as well. I cannot explain why. Only that living there was something I had to do.”
“I know what you mean. I’ve been longing to move back in. But neither Cain nor Cormac,” she said, referring to her sisters’ husbands, “will allow it. They say I am too young to live there on my own.”
“You will be married by next year. Your sister, Henley, married the Duke of Malvern, and Phoebe married the Marquess of Burness. You can aim just as high for yourself.”
She frowned at him.
If he hadn’t just saved her life, she might have punched him.
Well, she was not a violent girl, but his remark had obviously angered her.
“My sisters married for love. Hen did not care about Cain’s title. Nor did Phoebe care about Cormac’s title.”
“I know they made love matches, but the outcome might have been quite different had the Duke of Malvern been a mere blacksmith instead. Same for the Marquess of Burness. Wealth and title are factors in their appeal. I know your sisters are not greedy and sincerely care for their spouses. Still, you cannot deny that a title and fortune count for something.”
“Perhaps for most women, but I am considered an heiress. I do not need a man with a fortune when I have a significant one of my own.”
“Do not go around talking about it. You will attract the wrong sort of man.”
“I don’t ever talk about it. Only to you.”
“Why me?”
“Because I trust you. Do not bother to scold me and tell me that my trust is misplaced. You saved my life today. You put your own at risk to save mine.”
He shrugged it off and said no more because he was in too much of a roil over her already.
“By the way, I will not be offended if you take a moment to remove your soaked jacket. It cannot be comfortable for you to keep it on while driving the wagon.”
“We’re almost at Westgate Hall. I’ll hand it over to Melrose when we get there.”
She inhaled lightly. “Then you’ll stay for Ella and Imogen’s welcome party?”
He gave a curt nod.
Staying close to Chloe was the worst thing he could possibly do, but his heart needed this additional time with her.
He wished it were not so.
“Thank you, Fionn. It is good to have you back with us in Moonstone Landing. Will you be angry if I tell you that I missed you?”
