Page 84 of The Moonstone Governess
“I would never ask you for anything so impossible.”
“When there is love, I think nothing is impossible. Is this not what you have been trying to tell me? Is this not what all the tales surrounding Moonstone Landing prove? A ghost who falls in love? Moonstones that shimmer in the night whenever true love is present? How do you feel about me, little dove? Would you have me for a husband?”
“Are you asking hypothetically, or are you truly proposing to me, Daire?”
“True proposal.” He chuckled. “I would get down on one knee, but that would put us both underwater, and I do not think you are ready for that.”
She laughed and held him tighter. “Oh, it is much too soon for certain. I am not nearly brave enough yet.”
“Will you marry me, Brenna?”
“Are you sure, Daire? I am only your nephew’s governess. No title. No connections. You will be cut from Society, perhaps even by your closest friends.”
“If you are referring to Hollingsworth and his family, I assure you they are too enamored of my wealth to cut ties with me. As for Jax, I think it will be a race to see who gets to the altar first. Besides, you are not without your powerful supporters, your cousin Cara and her Duke of Strathmore. The Killigrew sisters and their titled husbands, duke, marquess, and viscount. You’ll also have the support of Jax, the earl. That’s quite an impressive start.” He kissed her on the brow. “You’ll always have me, little dove.”
She nodded. “I love you so much, Daire. I cannot think of anything more wonderful than to be your wife. I loveyou. I love your strength and kindness. I love that you burst into my life with all your bullheaded determination. Does this mean we are betrothed?”
He smiled. “Are you accepting me?”
“I cannot imagine my life without you. It would be a sad one, indeed.” She nodded. “Yes, I am accepting. I could never love anyone else. I couldn’t. I trust you with my heart, with my hopes and dreams. Even with my greatest fears. Can we get out of the water now?”
Her sweet body was still trembling.
“You just got in, love. Can you give it another minute?” He wasn’t going to force her, but she really needed to stay in longer. He was holding tightly to her. She was safe in his arms. That fear she had built up over the years needed to come down. “Put your arms around my neck and just talk to me of anything that comes to mind. Do this for me, Brenna.”
“Must I?”
“Yes.” He knew she wanted to tear out of the water, but she might never go in again if he let her out now.
“You’re right. I am being a coward.”
“No, love. It isn’t cowardly. Don’t think of it that way. Pretend we are on land, for this is little different…just wetter.”
She laughed softly.
“What’s on your mind, love?”
“Daire, that day,” she said, and he knew by the soft ache in her voice she was referring to the long-ago incident when she had been trapped on the sinking schooner as a child. “The waves were so high as they swept onto the deck. We all held on for dear life, grabbed on to whatever we could find. A mast. A stair rail. The wheel of the ship. But the waves were relentless as they crashed all around us.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “Go on, love. You can tell me.”
Tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Even though we were all very young, we understood the danger and knew we were about to die. Cara, Felicity, William, and me. We were all there, so little and helpless. We just stared at each other, too scared to talk or scream. This is what real fear does, simply paralyzes you. We held on and closed our eyes as the waves swamped us. After each wave, I would open my eyes with such fear, wondering whether one of us had been swept overboard. I shuddered with relief each time I saw them all still there. I know they must have been thinking the same.We survived this wave. Will the next one take us?Still, we held on and waited for the next wall of water to hit.”
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, glad she trusted him enough to let spill her feelings.
“Suddenly, Captain Arundel, this warrior angel, climbed aboard and loomed over us. He took William first because he was the littlest. Then he took Cara. He took all the children, one at a time, and told us we would be safe. He wasn’t going to let anything bad happen to us.”
He kissed her tears as they rolled down her cheeks. “And look at all you’ve accomplished since. I hope you know he would have been so proud of you. As I am, Brenna. I am yours, and I will always protect you. For any reason, if ever you are in danger, I will always come for you.”
“I do know. I trust you with all my heart. I would brave anything for you and with you, Daire. Although I’m not really being brave right now, am I?” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “He died saving us. Why did he have to die? He was such a good man, so brave and fearless.”
“I don’t know, little dove. But he saved you, not only for all the important work you did at the Rainard Academy and will continue to do as my duchess. He saved you for me, as well. I now have my chance at happiness because you are here for me. Just as you are here for Matthew. He is conquering his fears because of you. I am conquering mine because I now have you.”
“Daire, do you think the moonstones will shine for us?”
“Without a doubt, love. They’ll shine brighter than the sun for us.”
“I think so, too. I’m glad you kept coming back to Moonstone Landing year after year, even though you could not find a suitable house.”
