Page 94 of The Moonstone Major
Claymore laughed. “I have not changed my plans. I am determined to find a property here, and perhaps a wife along with it.”
After a few more words exchanged, Fionn moved on and sought out Chloe, who had been pulled away from him as guests surrounded each of them.
He shouldered his way toward her, lifted her into his arms, and gave her a searing kiss that had the men cheering him on and the ladies tittering and fanning themselves.
Chloe laughed and nuzzled his neck. “Was that for my sake or Lady Dowling’s sake?” she whispered in his ear. “What did she say to you?”
“Nothing that would ever tempt me. I promise you, Chloe.”
“I know, my love.”
When the tea ended, he and Chloe returned to Moonstone Cottage.
Her belongings had been brought into their bedchamber earlier in the morning before the wedding ceremony had commenced, and all was now neatly stowed away in the bureau and large wardrobe. “I’m afraid I’ve taken up most of the space with my gowns and undergarments. My reticules. Shoes. Parasols,” Chloe said, kicking off her slippers and taking a seat on the big, canopied bed.
“Take all of it, if you like. I’ll store my clothes in one of the empty bedchambers if you need more space in here. All I have is mostly my uniforms and little else.”
“Does it feel odd to you, Fionn? Our being married.”
“No, love.” He removed the jacket of the military dress uniform he had worn for this day and set it aside on one of the plump chairs beside the hearth. “It feels very right.”
He tugged off his boots and stretched out on the bed with a contented sigh, placing his hands behind his head as he relaxed. “Our ghosts are happy. I can feel their contentment in the air. Do you think they haunted the cottage all the while just to bring us together?”
“My Aunt Hen and your Uncle Brioc? I never thought of it that way. But it is obvious they were determined to have us matched.”
“Yes, they must have seen us together and immediately known we were meant to be together. All they had to do was give your stubborn, stupid husband a kick in the arse.”
She turned to him in dismay. “Does this mean they are ready to leave us?”
“I don’t know, love. Would you be terribly overset if they did?”
She nodded. “They are so much a part of our lives, but I would not hold them back if it is time for them to move on and find their peace. They deserve their own happiness, don’t they?”
“They are happy,” he assured her, for he truly felt it in the air, as though the wind played a melody and they were happily dancing to it.
“They might decide to stay around to see what happens with your heirship claim,” Chloe suggested.
“Perhaps.” He sat up and turned to her. “But that was never their true purpose. Whether I am ever recognized as viscount is merely a secondary concern. You did not marry me for a title. Dear heaven, we did not even know my true name until recently. You didn’t care about any of it, so why should they?”
“Thank goodness you did not need to change your name. I know it irks you, but Fionn suits you to perfection. I cannot imagine you being called George or Ernest or William.”
He grinned. “Then it is a good thing I am Fionn, or you might not have fallen in love with me.”
She laughed, a soft, lilting trill. “Oh, I think I would have loved you no matter what your name turned out to be. Ambrose. Felix. Ranulf. Oh, I rather like Ranulf. One expects a big, muscled warrior with a name like that. Perhaps our daughter shall meet her Ranulf. As for me, I am quite content with you.”
She rose and unpinned her veil, then set it aside while she removed the rest of the pins from her hair. He watched the mane of fiery silk cascade in a soft tumble down her back, knowing he would enjoy running his fingers through it tonight.
“Let me help you, love.” He rolled off the bed and came to her side to assist her with the lacings of her gown. It was a particularly fine silk gown and trimmed in lacy ribbons.
But truly, she looked beautiful in everything she wore.
And even more beautiful wearing nothing at all.
He slipped the gown off her with ease, allowing his hands to graze over her breasts as he did so, for he would make her his tonight, and it would happen soon. The sun was only now setting over the water. The sky and sea were no longer blue but ablaze in shades of fiery golds, pinks, and lilacs.
“Is it not beautiful, Fionn?”
“Yes, love.” He brushed her hair aside to kiss her neck before he removed the string of pearls at her throat.
