Page 79 of The Moonstone Governess
She wanted to scream that he wasn’t a monster, and yes, he could be in love. Who else could ever make her happy? But he would not listen to anyone telling him what to think or feel. He had to come to the realization himself.
He slapped his hands on his thighs. “I had better see to Matthew.”
Brenna’s head was still a whirl of confusion as she set out their picnic fare while Matthew and Daire flew their kites. She watched them run back and forth for several minutes more until calling them over. The pair hurried back and sank onto the blanket quite exhilarated and hungry. Brenna thought Cook had overstocked their basket, but the chicken, ham, apples, cheese, and bread were all devoured within minutes. Since tearing across fields was thirsty work, the lemonade and ale were also polished off with due efficiency.
Brenna laughed. “I don’t think there is so much as a crumb to be found on our plates.”
The two Claymore men then stretched out on the blanket to study the clouds. “I see a bear,” Daire said, pointing to a cluster of tufted clouds.
“I see a hawk,” Matthew said, scrambling closer to his uncle and pointing to a wispy string of clouds toward the horizon.
Brenna’s heart filled with happiness.
She held her breath and simply watched nephew and uncle as they played their game. Daire was so gentle and patient with the boy.
“No rain tomorrow,” she whispered, praying for another beautiful day such as this one. She was serious about getting over her fear of water. It was important that both Claymores saw her do it, because they needed her to set the example and prove it was possible to get over one’s fears, although she did not want Matthew there for her first attempt, which could very well go awry because she was a coward.
She smiled again, watching those two.
Matthew appeared to be well on his way toward healing. He was laughing at Daire’s jests and talking to him without hesitation.
After finishing their cloud game, Daire and the boy flew their kites again.
Daire helped Matthew untangle his kite string when it got caught in a row of gorse bushes. Brenna sighed, knowing she was falling even more deeply in love with Daire as he knelt beside Matthew and the two of them worked on unraveling the knotted string together.
The lad ran across the poppy field cheering like a Pictish warrior once his kite was liberated.
Yes, liberation.
There was something quite freeing about this place, something that helped these Claymore men open their hearts and feel joy.
Daire walked over to her, grinning from ear to ear. “Don’t say it, Brenna. I know this afternoon has been a triumph. Matthew chattered the whole time. He called me Uncle Daire and forgot to be afraid of me. We still have a way to go, but it is an incredibly good start.”
“How does it feel?”
“Miraculous.”
As the clouds began to thicken, Daire suggested they head back to the house. Matthew skipped by his side, and then, without hesitation, took Daire’s hand when he held it out to the boy.
Daire cast Brenna a look of surprise, but he was happy and his expression filled with love. It was a feeling he was not used to having.
Brenna kept quiet as she watched them, standing back and trying not to show her elation.
Daire thought he was helping the boy open his little heart, but did Daire realize he was doing the same, opening his heart to let the boy in?
Would Daire let her in next?
Chapter Fourteen
Daire went upto Stoningham Manor the following day, arriving drenched to the bone because the rain had fallen in torrents. Scipio was not too pleased with him, his mount having gone soft during their daily rides across the countryside in what had been idyllic weather until now. “Where is everyone, Greggson?”
He had not expected Simon and his workers to be here, since the work that remained was mostly outside work and could not be done in a storm. Nor could Felicity work outdoors on such a day. He had no idea where Jax had gone, but he would not be surprised if he were paying a call on Felicity and her family. His friend had not left Felicity’s side since the moment they met, and everyone in the village had noticed…including Lady Dowling.
He only hoped Jax knew better than to fall into that widow’s trap.
Should he have said something? Given warning? He would make a point of mentioning it the next time he saw Jax.
Not that his friend was ever likely to rise to her bait. He had eyes only for Felicity.
