Page 37 of The Moonstone Governess
He sighed and shook his head in dismay. He was not even courting Brenna. Courtship implied patience, politeness, and care for another’s feelings. This was never in his nature.
Once again, he shook out of his thoughts. They were mostly inappropriate anyway. He cleared his head as his turn on the receiving line came up.
Although this was the Duke and Duchess of Malvern’s tea party, both of the duchess’s sisters and their husbands stood beside her to greet their guests. Daire, heeding Brenna’s words, strove to be more engaging—even to Viscount Brennan, who was still eyeing him warily.
The Duke of Malvern was far more jovial in his greeting. “Claymore, I heard you were back,” the big, gruff bear of a man said, giving his hand a hearty shake.
His duchess, Henley, who was as gentle and amiable as could be, greeted Daire with warmth and a merry lilt to her voice. “Brenna says you are bringing your mother and nephew to Moonstone Landing for the summer. That is wonderful. Do send word once they arrive, and we will have you over for supper. A quiet party, nothing as hectic as today’s affair.”
“Thank you, we’ll be delighted to join you.” He moved on to greet Lady Phoebe and her marquess husband. “Burness,” Daire said with a nod, uncertain how the marquess and his outspoken wife would receive him. “Lady Burness, a pleasure.”
Daire had acquired a reputation as a rake, but his reputation was nowhere near as reprehensible as the one earned by this marquess before he had met and married Lady Phoebe. For this reason, the love that burned in Burness’s eyes for his wife surprised Daire. If anything, it seemed the marquess was falling more deeply in love with his wife with each passing year.
Daire wondered if he could ever fall in love so completely, or think in terms of years instead of mere days or months when it came to being a faithful husband.
He glanced at the Duke of Malvern and saw that same doting expression in the man’s face whenever he looked upon Duchess Henley.
These men were committed to their wives, all in with their heart and soul. They were not likely ever to break their wedding vows. Daire hoped Chloe was as fortunate with her husband.
“Brennan,” he said, offering his hand to the viscount, who did not look particularly pleased to shake it.
“Claymore,” he replied, his tone still icy.
Lady Chloe showed no such reserve. “I am so glad you found your way back to us. And I hear your mother and nephew are to join you. Hen and Cain are going to grab you first, but we look forward to having you with us, too. Don’t we, my love?”
The viscount’s expression softened when Chloe reached up and kissed his cheek. Yes, this viscount was completely besotted with his wife.
Daire was glad for Chloe. She deserved the best.
He chuckled at the viscount’s chagrin. “That is very kind of you, Lady Brennan. I haven’t done much to endear myself to any of you, but I hope all this will change as my family and I settle in.”
“Settle in?” Her husband frowned. “I thought you were only here for the summer.”
“I hope to be here much longer, but that will depend on how my nephew and mother adapt to Moonstone Landing. As I am sure you’ve heard, I have let Stoningham Manor until the end of the year, but I hope to work out a longer arrangement.”
Chloe smiled. “We knew of it before the ink was dry on your lease. Fionn was not very happy about it,” she said, giving her husband a playful poke in the ribs, “but I think moving here will be very good for you.”
Daire nodded. “I hope so. I need to devote more time to my nephew, be a better man for him, and London is simply too distracting.”
The marquess overheard his statement. “Good for you, Claymore. My little nieces saved my sanity when I lost my arm.” He glanced at the empty sleeve hiding his missing limb. “I knew I had to do better for them. Then I met Phoebe and knew she would never have me unless I shaped up, not only for them but for myself.”
Daire nodded. “I have a bit of fixing up I need to do for myself. Not all of it can be blamed on the ravages of war.” He turned to Chloe’s husband, who was still regarding him with a strong dose of skepticism. “You were never in any danger of losing Chloe to me. You were the only one she ever loved.”
Brennan’s manner softened. “I know. I still cannot figure out what she sees in me.”
Chloe gasped. “Fionn! How can you say such a thing? To work your way up from nothing…less than nothing, the way you did? You have more strength of heart than anyone I know. There is no finer man than you.”
Chloe’s husband turned to Daire with a lopsided grin. “I hope you find someone just as outspoken who feels this way about you…so long as it is not my wife.”
Daire laughed. “It will not be Chloe, so put your sword away and stop scowling at me as though you intend to gut me.”
“Have you found someone?” Chloe asked, her eyes alight.
“I don’t know. That’s my problem, isn’t it? I would not know a good thing if it struck me in the face.”
“Well, you won’t be able to think clearly while you keep those friends of yours around,” she remarked, frowning as Hollingsworth, Danson, and the ladies approached.
“I’m shipping them off to Bath tomorrow.”
