Page 50 of The Moonstone Major
“Yet.”
“Not ever. I will not deny my feelings for you, since I cannot seem to hold them back and they spill out in a flood. But it does not change anything between us. I am still a nobody, and you are still an earl’s daughter.”
She had a stubborn look on her face, but he noticed her eyes start to water.
All the better. A little hurt now would save her a world of hurt later.
“I am still a prideful arse and will not take a pence from you. I cannot do it. Iwillnot have my wife support me. Yet we can never live on my earnings.”
“Others do it. Many officers are married.”
“To women who are commoners. Look at this house,” he said, pointing out the finery. “And what of the duke’s home, St. Austell Grange? It is even finer. Where am I to put you? In a two-room cottage in the fort?”
“We could live at Moonstone Cottage. You are there already.”
He began to pace across the library’s carpeted floor. “Leave it be, Chloe. I am already in agony over our situation. Let me do the right thing.”
He had her in tears now.
He had two options at this moment—to take her in his arms or walk out.
He chose to walk out.
The rain poured down on him and a lightning bolt almost did fry him as he cut across the beach to return to Moonstone Cottage. He felt the sizzle of the sand beneath his boots, and a jolt run up his bones as the bolt struck close upon the water.
He stalked into the cottage and went straight up to his bedchamber, carelessly tossing off his boots and soaked uniform. He dried himself off with a drying cloth and then wrapped it around his waist and stretched out on the bed.
After a long moment of staring up at the ceiling, he turned to gaze at the portrait of Captain Brioc Taran Arundel.
The blasted portrait was staring back at him, as though the sea captain himself was following his every movement.
“Moonstone Landing’s hero,” he muttered, still sprawled upon his bed. “Did you really wait around for Chloe’s aunt, Henleigh?”
Of course, a portrait could not talk.
But he continued to talk to it anyway.
“How long do you think before Chloe tires of waiting around for me?”
Chapter Ten
Chloe could notcontain her excitement on the night of the church dance. She had agonized over her selection of what gown to wear, always keeping in mind Fionn’s concerns and determined to show him she could survive without all the luxuries her easy life had provided. Of course, she was not going to dress as a pauper.
But why overload her gown with silk ribbons and lace trim?
Nor would she overdo the jewelry. A simple necklace with a teardrop pearl.
“Chloe, are you not ready yet?” Phoebe asked, gliding into her room and looking every bit the marchioness.
“Almost. I’m just putting on my slippers.” They were satin slippers to match the sea green of Chloe’s gown.
She had spent days giving thought to striking just the right balance, so her heart sank when she arrived with her sisters and brothers-in-law only to find Fionn missing from the soldiers in attendance.
Every officer under his command was here, along with one of his drill sergeants she recognized. It was bold of her to approach him, but the hall was a crush, so who would notice? She would pretend to have encountered Sergeant Ames along her way and stopped to greet him out of politeness.
The man blanched as she addressed him, and he fumbled over a bow. “Lady Chloe…um, a pleasure. I hope you are enjoying the evening.”
She nodded. “We’ve only just arrived. I am delighted to see officers of the regiment in attendance. I suppose Major Brennan was delayed?”
