Page 44 of The Moonstone Governess
How closely was trust connected to love?
Now, he certainly knew that caring for a mother was a far different thing from caring for a woman in a romantic, burned-into-my-soul way.
He thought about what Brenna had told him of the moonstones and how they did not shine for her and Albert. If the moonstone lore was real, was it possible they would one day shine for him and Brenna? Or was his heart too damaged to ever be capable of finding love?
This was what he feared—hurting this lovely girl. Having her fall in love with him, and then finding himself unable to love in return despite all his efforts to reform.
He glanced at Brenna, whose cheeks were pink from hopping about to the lively tune, and her smile was as soft as a summer breeze.
How could he not fall in love with this girl?
The partners twirled once again, and she fell back into his arms.
She cast him a dazzling smile.
How could she not be right for him?
Chapter Nine
By the followingday, business had returned to its normal, unhurried pace in Moonstone Landing. Daire caught the scent of pies baking in Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop ovens as he strode to the stable to take Scipio out for his early-morning run. Good weather had smiled on them all week, but the threat of rain was finally upon them today.
He rode off, hoping to beat the impending storm, but felt a tug of disappointment as a heavy mist hung over the poppy field. He could hardly make out the vibrant reds of the flowers. His view of the sea was completely obscured by low, wet clouds.
The air was thick and so uncomfortably damp that his shirt stuck to his clammy skin as he rode along the now-familiar pathways.
“We’re going to take it slow this morning, Scipio.” The visibility was bad, and he did not want the beast to stumble over an unexpected obstacle. He decided to cut the ride short and return to the inn as droplets began to fall.
He heard the roll of thunder in the distance.
“Blast,” Daire muttered, for he had not bothered to don anything other than his shirt, riding breeches, and boots. He had not given a moment’s thought to bringing along an oilcloth for protection against the rain.
This was a minor nuisance compared to the delay the rain would cause in the work needing to be done at Stoningham Manor. He knew Brenna’s uncle and cousin had planned to start this morning. Simon Angel and his crew intended to work on the chimneys first. Since this could not be done while a storm raged, Daire hoped they would have sense enough to shift their attention indoors.
The garden work would be a total loss and would have to wait until the weather cleared. However, this was of less concern to him, since his mother could sit outdoors with or without a view of flowers in bloom—and besides, she rarely sat outdoors anyway.
A heavier rain began to fall as Daire gave Scipio his lead and allowed him to gallop back to the inn. They neared Moonstone Landing’s familiar high street.
Mr. Matchett scurried out of the stable to grab Scipio’s reins as soon as Daire rode up. “There’s a deluge coming, Your Grace. I feel it in my knees.”
“I heard the clap of thunder.”
“Aye, storm’s rolling toward us like a mighty army. Let’s hope it passes fast. This could still turn into a glorious day. One must always look on the bright side.”
Daire nodded.
“Won’t delay yer house repairs, though,” the chatty man went on. “Miss Brenna and Miss Felicity have already been up to Stoningham Manor and back. Simon and his men are at Mr. Bedwell’s mercantile purchasing their supplies. But they’ll wait out the rain before loading their wagons and driving them up the hill. Those wagons will just get stuck in the mud if they attempt it now. I’m sure the girls are also smart enough to work around the rain.”
Daire certainly hoped so. He did not like to think of Brenna or her cousin caught in a dangerous storm. But she and Felicity were clever and understood the weather in these parts.
“I expect they know what they are doing.”
“Aye, m’lord. The Angels are good workers, every last one of them. Brenna’s been up since daybreak toting those big books around. She’s a busy little bee.”
What big books?
Not that it mattered. Daire would see Brenna later and find out what the ostler had been talking about.
Right now, he had to avoid the rain.
