Page 85 of The Moonstone Governess
“I knew there was a reason I had to keep returning. You know it was never about a house. It was, and has always been, about you. I had to meet you. When I did, I knew you were the one. I felt it to depths of my damaged soul, Brenna.”
He tucked a finger under her chin. “Look at me, love. Let me kiss you.”
She nodded and raised her gaze to his.
He covered her mouth with his, pouring his heart into a gentle kiss. The hot, passionate ones would come later, but not now. She was so fragile, he thought she might shatter like crystal. He deepened the kiss, but kept it soft, and then ended it slowly.
She smiled at him.
He could not resist kissing her on her pert, wet nose. “I think there will be a double wedding. You and me. Jax and Felicity. I’ll take Jax with me tomorrow morning and we’ll obtain the licenses.”
“And marry here in Moonstone Landing? At St. Peter’s Church? Vicar Trask will be delighted. I’m sure it will draw his biggest crowd yet. Do you think Jax is ready to marry Felicity?”
Daire laughed. “He is champing at the bit. He would have married her the day he met her, had I not held him back.”
“Felicity and I survived the schooner together. As I mentioned, Captain Arundel took William first. Then he took Cara. The wave swells were getting bigger. Felicity and I were the last. We held hands, afraid to fall off the deck. Those waves were so big, time and again knocking us over. We thought we would die together. But we were happy that Cara and William were saved. It made us feel more at peace, knowing they would survive the squall even if we did not. Felicity said she loved me, and I told her that I loved her. We held on to each other and wrapped our arms around each other. Then Captain Arundel lifted us up.”
“Dear heaven, Brenna.” He kissed her closed eyes, her cheeks, and her lips. He then buried his lips against her soft neck.
“Nothing would make me happier than to marry on the same day as Felicity.”
“I love you, Brenna. I love you so much, my Moonstone governess.” He tipped her chin up so that she met his gaze. “Kiss me, little dove. Kiss me, my angel. A double wedding it shall be.”
Chapter Fifteen
Several days later,Daire and Jax returned to the Kestrel Inn, each one with a marriage license secured in his breast pocket. They marched in just as the mail coach rumbled to a halt beneath the inn’s sheltered portico. Daire waited for the mail pouch to be handed over to Thaddius, since there was likely to be correspondence in it for him.
Several passengers descended, a young husband and wife, and a gentleman who carried himself with a superior air. Daire took an instant dislike to him, for he could tell by the cut of his clothes he was notton.
Not that he was enamored of most members of theton, who were as aimless and insufferable as the friends he had recently dispatched to Bath.
This man was pretentious.
However, Daire, in a frame of mind to be generous, moved aside to allow these new arrivals to register.
The husband and wife went first, obviously not used to an inn as fancy as this one. They were a sweet couple, and Daire realized they were probably newlyweds splurging on a wedding night and had never been to any place this grand. That they rode here in the mail coach was a strong indication they were not a couple with means and had to scrimp on their fare. Their clothes were modest as well.
But they looked happy.
As they chattered with Thaddius, Daire heard them mention being childhood sweethearts. “I knew I had to marry her the moment I met her,” the man said, obviously still madly in love with his wife. “But it took me a while to gain her family’s approval. I never gave up, and here we are finally.”
The insolent man behind them grumbled impatiently.
“Thaddius,” Daire said, calling him aside a moment. “Give those newlyweds a nice room and put it on my charge. Their meals, as well.”
His eyes widened and he tossed Daire a lopsided grin. “That is most generous of you, Your Grace.”
Daire shrugged. “Every once in a while I lose my mind and decide to do something nice. Do not go blabbing about what I’ve done. Keep it to yourself. Tell them they are lucky winners of some contest the inn is running.”
Thaddius rolled his eyes and hurried back to his desk. “Well, look at that! You are our thousandth guest this year. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport.”
They turned to each other, looking pleasantly muddled, and then turned back to Thaddius. “My word, you are a popular establishment. Congratulations to you, Mr. Angel. We heard the Kestrel Inn was a wonderful establishment.”
“Well, put your coin purse away, Mr. Davenport. Just sign our registry. That’s all we’ll require of you, because your room and meals are on us tonight.” Thaddius, obviously unable to keep a secret, turned his smiling countenance toward Daire and winked.
“My word,” the husband said, shaking his head in awe.
His wife had tears in her eyes. “That is most generous of you.”
