Page 87 of The Moonstone Governess
“Yes, the very one. It happens to be an elite preparatory school where I taught mathematics and literature. You sabotaged my teaching position in an underhanded attempt to force me into accepting you. Do you dare deny it?” She placed her hands on her hips and pursed her rosebud lips in that kissable way Daire adored. “I am merely awaiting the proof of your reprehensible behavior from independent sources.”
“The proof? I do not owe you an explanation for my actions. Did you think I would allow my wife to demean my standing by having her work after our marriage?”
“You find the work I do demeaning?” Brenna approached him. “Well, go find yourself another woman’s dreams to stifle and crush, for you shall never get your hands on mine. I will never marry you.”
“Ungrateful girl! You ought to be kissing my hand that I even deigned to ask you. What are you other than a spinster with no prospects? Who better do you think to find in this miserable rabbit hole?”
Daire growled.
Brenna shot him a warning glance.
How could he keep out of it? The man was insulting his betrothed and Moonstone Landing. He was going to flatten the oaf.
He took a step forward and once again met Brenna’s glower. “Your Grace, I asked you to keep out of this,” she said.
He did not want to argue with Brenna, but he was not about to put up with this man insulting her. Then he remembered he had the letter just arrived from the headmistress of the Rainard Academy. “Brenna, take a moment to read this.”
Her eyes widened as she took it from Daire’s hand, gasping upon recognizing the sender’s name. She opened the letter and quickly read it. Her chin shot to the moon again. “Aha! You wretch! I knew it. The headmistress has confirmed your heinous act by letter to me. I have my proof. You are a bounder and an ignorant oaf. I demand you leave Moonstone Landing at once! Thaddius, what are you waiting for? Stop that coach!”
Thaddius ran out with arms waving in order to hail the driver before he started on his return route. “Horace! Wait! The professor is returning to Oxford.”
But Albert did not appear quite finished with her yet. “Fine, I shall return where I am appreciated. Go find a slovenly tavern keeper to marry you, Miss Angel. But do not think to come crawling back to me when you realize no one will have you. How are you going to manage now that you have no work? And no proposal of marriage from a gentleman? You are alone in the world, and I was willing to take you on as my wife. I deserved your gratitude, not your attack. But I was much mistaken in believing you were a demure young lady of good breeding. You are no better than an alewife.”
“An alewife?” Her eyes became dark, fiery emeralds. “Here’s my gratitude, you condescending oaf!” She grabbed a cane out of a nearby stand and went at him like a harpy.
Daire gave a hearty laugh as he caught her about the waist before she smashed the cane down on the poor man’s head. “Love, I think he’s got the message.”
Albert stared at him in surprise. “Dear heaven, is she your mistress?”
“Mistress!” Brenna raised the cane again. “I am His Grace’s betrothed, which is the only reason I do not hit him over the head with this cane right now for preventing me from hittingyou.”
Jax was laughing.
So was Thaddius.
Daire struggled to hold back his own laughter as he held on to her. “At least wait until we are married to do me in.”
She leaned back against his chest and groaned. “You know I would never really hurt you.”
“I know, love.”
Daire might have felt some pity for Albert if he looked at all wounded or contrite. But he merely looked down his nose at all of them, climbed back in the coach, and kept his gaze forward as the team galloped off.
The moment Albert was gone, Brenna burst into tears.
This surprised all of them.
Daire wrapped his arms around her. “Love, why are you crying? You were marvelous in chasing him off.”
“He called me an alewife.”
He caressed her cheek. “Well, you did go at him like Attila the Hun with that thick cane in hand. He certainly deserved it.”
“You would have handled it with far more tact. I flew at him like a demented witch. Are you terribly disappointed in me?”
He kissed her on the nose. “I am in danger of being more in love with you than ever. Brenna, you came so close to having your spirit crushed by that boor. Deep down you knew he wasn’t right for you. This is why you had to come back to Moonstone Landing. You were searching for the same thing I was—the one person who could make those moonstones shine for you.”
“Daire, what if the moonstones don’t shine for us?”
