Fiona could not resist a chuckle. Her laughter spilled forth as light and gentle as a summer breeze. “Not certain how hard you were trying,” she remarked. “Can you both swim?”
“Not all that well,” Jordan admitted, turning to Rob. “The current was swifter than I realized. I think it would have kept me under had you not come to my rescue.”
“How old are you?” Fiona asked.
“Eleven, and Rob is eight.”
“Rob?” she repeated softly, and then turned to the youngster. “Is this what your friends and family call you?”
He nodded.
“This is what the duke’s friends call him, too.”
Both boys smiled at Rob. He felt his heart turn soft. This was why Fiona was so adamant about his marrying and siring sons. It was not so much about the title, although that was important—it was more about becoming a father and having the joys and tribulations of raising his own children.
He had felt it when first seeing those children in Brighton eating their ices, and now saving these two lads. But this only added to his turmoil, for he could not imagine anyone other than Fiona as the mother of his children.
A deep and hollow ache filled his heart.
The ache was for her. This was what she had been desperately wishing for during her marriage to Shoreham, a wish never fulfilled.
But this also gave him a sliver of worry, for the marquess was a widower and had his two sons. They appeared to be good boys, even though they had done a foolish thing. But was this not the nature of boys? To be curious and want to explore?
It was in the nature of some girls, too.
Fiona, for example. She was always taking him on adventures whenever they were together in their younger days. Hiking, climbing trees. Pretending they were pirates exploring caves to hide their booty, mostly small caves hidden among the rolling hills on either of their family estates.
Would she be so foolish as to undertake another adventure…this time without him? Would she set her cap for the marquess?
He knew the workings of her mind. By marrying the marquess and helping him raise his sons, she would not only gain a family, but make herself unavailable tohim.
She would do this knowing he would never marry anyone else while she remained unattached.
No, Fiona.
Don’t.
Nothing ever affected him, for he had faced death and misery many times before, and had endured.
But losing Fiona to another? He could not allow this to happen again. It would destroy him.
He watched her as she chatted with the boys and they looked up at her as though she weretheirfairy princess.
He suddenly felt apishly possessive.
She ismyfairy princess.
Would the Marquess of Milbury steal her away from him?
Chapter Six
Rob carried Jordanover his shoulder while he climbed the beach stairs as they returned to Shoreham Manor. Fiona held on to the younger lad’s hand, keeping up a pleasant conversation to distract the child while his brother’s leg continued to bleed.
Mrs. Harris came running out when she saw them approach the house. “Your Grace! What happened?”
“We caught ourselves a big fish,” Rob said in light jest, although his expression remained one of worry.
Fiona quickly explained. Mrs. Harris listened as she relayed a shortened version of their adventure. “But young Lord Hatcher’s leg is still bleeding. We must attend to it at once.”
