Page 42 of The Moonstone Major
It wasn’t long before the cave passage opened up into a larger, cavernous area, no doubt where the pirate smugglers hid their crates of illicit wares. Fionn gave the girls a little of the cave’s history. “The coast of Cornwall has been a pirate haven for hundreds of years. Imagine what it must have been like back then, their sleek ships sailing into the cove under cover of night, soundlessly dropping anchor, furling their sails, and then dropping their rowboats into the black waters.”
The girls stared up at him, rapt as he continued the story, looking very much the fierce and handsome pirate in the amber light of the lantern’s glow. The light accentuated the manly lines and fine hollows of his face. “They only sailed in on the new moon, for they dared not be seen by the silver glow of a full moon. Royal guardsmen patrolled the coast looking to nab these pirates as they unloaded their booty.”
“Were they ever caught?” Imogen asked breathlessly.
“Aye, matey. Some were. But it did not deter the others, for there was too much plunder to be had in smuggling. Crates filled with merchandise were piled upon this very spot where we are standing.”
Imogen and Ella looked down at their feet.
Fionn grinned at Chloe and then continued. “The cave was in use even as little as a decade ago, while we were at war with Napoleon’s forces. French lace, perfumes, and wines were banned here in England. But no one wished to give up those luxuries, so smugglers replaced the legitimate importers who could no longer bring in those wares.”
“Would the crates not get wet when the tide came in?” Ella asked.
Fionn nodded. “An excellent question, and the answer is…sometimes. The pirates would stack their crates on low tables so that the rising tide did not reach them. Usually the tides are strongest at the full moon and weakest in the new moon. But storms are a force of nature and do not wait for the turning of the tide or the phases of the moon. On occasion, a severe storm would hit and completely flood the cave.”
Imogen’s gaze remained on Fionn. “What would the pirates do then?”
“Lick their wounds, salvage whatever they could out of their losses, and go plunder more merchant ships for their booty.”
They took a turn around the cavern, taking note of messages scrawled into the rocks. “One-armed Wills was here,” Chloe murmured, reciting one of the inscriptions.
“Uncle Cormac has only one arm,” Imogen said. “He used to be so angry about it all the time, but he doesn’t mind so much now that he is married to Aunt Phoebe.”
“I overheard Papa tell him that marrying Aunt Phoebe was the first smart thing he’d done in years,” Ella said in a whisper that resounded through the cave.
Chloe laughed. “Your Uncle Cormac was an utter donkey before he met my sister and fell in love with her.”
Imogen nodded. “Mama called him an insufferable arse.”
“Imogen! You mustn’t repeat what Mama said. She used a bad word. But she likes Uncle Cormac a lot better now.”
“Yes,” Imogen said earnestly. “She likes him much better now that he got rid of his naked ladies.”
Chloe tried to stifle her laughter, but she wound up sounding like a snorting sow instead.
Incredibly, Fionn managed to keep a straight face, although she saw the amusement in his eyes and knew he was working hard to hold back his own burst of laughter. He held it back the entire walk back to the cave’s entrance and said nothing while the girls ran up the slope to be met by Mr. Hawke and Molly at the top. He kept a straight face while the girls disappeared from view over the rise, but their high-pitched voices could be heard telling Mr. Hawke and Molly about their pirate adventure.
Only then, once he and Chloe were alone, did he let out a deliciously deep and hearty chuckle.
His mirth set hers off again, and she joined him in the laughter. “Poor Cormac—his ears must be burning.”
“I’m sure.” Fionn doused the lantern and replaced it on the hook beside the cupboard, then he stowed the flint and rope exactly as he’d found them. “All done. Ready to go?”
His smile was captivating and his expression tender.
Chloe realized this was a moment not to be wasted, for when else would she ever be alone with him? Should she not take advantage of this fact?
She knew what she wanted from him, for who would ever be a more perfect candidate to give her a first kiss?
She watched him secure the items taken into the cave and make certain they were in order for the next party to go exploring. He moved with a lithe grace, his body lean and magnificent.
Kiss me.
Please, kiss me.
How was she to ask him such a thing?
What if he refused her?
