Page 32 of The Moonstone Major
“The guards at the front gate.” Her eyes popped wide the moment she noticed he was shirtless.
She turned away with a squeal. “I had no idea you were… I… You see, I asked to see you, so the guards at the fort’s entry pointed me to your office.”
Blast again.
They must have recognized her and assumed she was to be let in.
Well, it was a correct assumption. He had put her on the list of those to be granted access to the fort. He simply hadn’t expected her to come on her own or without advance warning.
“No one said anything when I stopped one of your soldiers on the stairs to ask for directions. I assumed it was all right to come straight up here. I didn’t think there would be any harm. Nor did I wish to just appear on your doorstep again at the cottage. But I don’t suppose this is any better.”
“No, it’s probably worse.” He tossed on his shirt and quickly tucked it into his trousers. She was still turned away, no doubt mortified she had come upon him in his state of undress. “Why are you here, Chloe?”
She groaned.
He took her gently by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “Well?”
Her eyes widened again as she looked at him. “I wanted to show you my sketches for the courtyard. I know you think it is premature, but I hoped you might have a look and keep them in mind while you build. Stop frowning at me, Fionn. I think what you are doing is wonderful, and I would very much like to have some small part in it.”
“You could have just sent your sketches over by messenger. This is no place for you, especially to stop by here on your own.”
“Messenger would never do. I need to explain my ideas to you so you understand my reasons behind each planting. I’ve been wanting to talk to you for days, but no one in the family was available to accompany me here.” She sighed and slumped her shoulders. “Sometimes I feel my entire existence is a waste. I do nothing all day and have a retinue of servants at my beck and call to attend to me as I do nothing. If not for Ella and Imogen, I think I would go mad with boredom.”
“And what of Lord Claymore?”
She shrugged. “He comes by every day…he and his friends. He’s all right. Quite the gentleman, in fact. But I don’t fit in with his fast crowd.”
“No, I didn’t think you would.”
“Will you look at my drawings?”
“I’ll take them back with me to the cottage. I was about to ride over there in a few minutes. Did you come into town on your own?”
“No, I brought Imogen and Ella with me. We took Mr. Hawke’s wagon. I left the girls at the tearoom having strawberry ices while I stopped in to give you these. I had better return to them now.”
“Give me a moment and I’ll walk over with you.”
She cast him a smile that reached into her eyes and made them sparkle. “You’ll join us?”
He nodded.
“Join us for supper, too. At Westgate Hall. I know you are busy, but you needn’t come early or stay late. We always enjoy having you with us.”
He nodded again. “All right.”
He left her side to return to the commander’s quarters, where he quickly washed his hands and face, then donned a fresh shirt and put on his jacket, since he did not want to be seen outside the fort in anything less than his proper uniform. He grabbed the pouch he had been using to carry his plans and notes, and then strode back into his office, where Chloe was waiting. She had taken a seat beside his desk and now rose with a smile.
He’d left her no more than five minutes ago, and yet his heart swelled as though he were seeing her for the first time.
She stole his breath away.
He strode toward her and held out his hand. “Let me have your designs.”
There was something about this lovely girl, an irresistible appeal to the soft curves of her body and the perfect way her bosom filled out.
Perhaps he should not have been looking.
But how could he not?
