Page 10 of The Moonstone Hero
“Cider will do. Bring a glass for yourself. Join me.”
“I ate just before coming over here. I’ll share some with you tomorrow. Do you like apple pie?”
“Yes, but I prefer ginger cakes. Does Mrs. Halsey make them?”
“Of course. It is another village favorite. I’ll bring you ginger cake and apple tarts tomorrow. She also has strawberry, peach, quince, or apricot tarts. Raisin scones. Crumpets. Almond biscuits. Sally Lunns and maids of honor. Damson jams.”
“Stop. Now I am starving again, which is ridiculous, because I just finished a large breakfast.”
She cast him a soft smile, the sort that made him want to reach out and draw her into his arms. It was something to consider once he stopped howling in pain every time he moved a part of his body. Lord, she had a lovely smile. “I’m glad you are regaining your appetite,” she said, giving her hair a light pat, since getting close to him obviously made her fidget. “You could do with putting a little meat back on your bones. Well…I had better get the cider for you. Don’t run off. I’ll be right back.”
“I doubt I’ll get far while dressed as I am.” His nightshirt was light and thin, perfect for the summer weather, but probably too sheer to walk around in the sunlight without giving her a view of his arse or privates. No, he would need a proper robe if he ever got out of bed. “Ella…”
She turned back to him as she was about to walk out the door. “Yes?”
“You said you rejected Maxton and Whitfield…”
“Yes, and I don’t regret it. Why do you ask?”
Because she overwhelmed him.
Because those feelings she had stirred in him all those months ago in those glittering London ballrooms were not mere happenstance.
There was no glitter here. Only Ella in her natural beauty.
In London, they called her a diamond.
Here in Moonstone Landing…she was a shimmering light of heaven.
How could every eligible bachelor in England not be after her? Or were they? Just because she had rejected Maxton and Whitfield did not mean she was on the shelf.
“No reason. Just curious. Is anyone else courting you at the moment?”
Chapter Three
“Several gentlemen arecourting me,” Ella said. Why was he asking? Idle curiosity? Or did he actually care? She hurried out of his room before he could toss more questions at her, and made her way to the hospital kitchen to fetch a small jug of cider and a mug.
She ran into Dr. Hewitt on her way back upstairs. He was the local Moonstone Landing doctor, but often volunteered his time at the army hospital whenever there was an overflow of wounded coming in, as it seemed there had been lately. “Lady Ella, how is the patient behaving?”
“Better than yesterday. He is now offering to drink his cider instead of hurling it at me,” she said with a gentle laugh.
The doctor joined her in a chuckle. “Well, that is a welcome improvement.”
“We shall see how it goes. He was a surly man before his injuries, and I doubt that will change. But at least he is not raging. I volunteered to read to him for the rest of this week. Perhaps by next week he will behave himself for someone else.”
“Maybe. I expect his grandfather will order him moved to London as soon as Dr. Spencer gives him clearance to travel.” Ella knew Dr. Spencer was the one in charge of the medical staff at this army hospital and responsible for signing off on all discharges.
“Oh, no,” she said, her eyes rounding in alarm. “You must speak to him. He mustn’t allow Lord Mersey to leave yet. His heart is not well. I don’t mean physically. I’m not sure what is going on with him, but there is agony in his eyes, and I don’t think it has to do with broken bones.”
“Ella, this is important… Has he said anything to you about his time in West Africa?”
She shook her head. “No, and I am afraid to press him on the matter. I’m sure he’s given a full report to his superiors.”
Dr. Hewitt cleared his throat. “What I heard from Dr. Spencer is that Lord Mersey told them all to go to hell.”
She sighed. “Sounds just like him. Well, I had better get back. I will let you know if he tells me anything significant. However, I will not betray his trust. If he asks me not to repeat what he tells me, then I won’t.”
“Nor would I want you to. The generals can do a little work on their own and get their information from other sources.”
