Page 109 of The Moonstone Hero
She shook her head. “I won’t lie and say it did not hurt, but I never doubted you. I was just sorry I wasn’t at the top of your list of importance.”
“But you are, Ella. Not that I have ever properly shown it. Quite the opposite—I’ve taken unfair advantage of your sweetness, and you have been an angel about it. It wasn’t intentional. I am pulled in a thousand directions and do not know where to turn first. Everyone tugs at me, but you never do…so I always seem to leave you for last.”
“I know how heavily burdened you are, Caden. You don’t need me adding to your load by demanding your attention. Besides, I never want to force you to come to me.”
He laughed. “I am such a stupid clot. All I ever wanted was to be with you, and yet I allowed everyone else to lead me away. We’ll try this again tomorrow.”
“No, Caden. My father is livid, and it will take quite some convincing before he calms down.”
“Lord, what he must think of me.”
“Well, you are not his favorite at the moment.” She winced. “He will grow to like you in time.”
Caden took her in his arms. “And you, Ella. Will you like me?”
“Yes, I will like you. I will love you. Idolove you, now and forever.”
“Same here.” He kissed her, an urgent kiss he hoped would convey the depth of his love. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Indeed, you don’t,” his grandfather interjected. “Nor do you deserve a good grandfather like me. Who do you think sent word to Ella and brought her here?”
Ella nodded. “I was heartbroken when you did not show up this morning,” she admitted. “Then I received your grandfather’snote and came over. We sat and chatted while you slept. We knew something important must have happened, since you returned home so late last night. Swindon reported it to your grandfather. Sharing you with everyone comes with the territory, doesn’t it? It is something I am going to have to accept if I marry you. And I do want to marry you, Caden.”
He gave her a weary smile. “I won’t always be England’s hero.”
“I’m sure someone else will come along in time, but not for quite a while yet.” She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “It is all right. You are a very special man, deserving of all the accolades. As for me, I would rather have bits and pieces of you than nothing at all. This is the sacrifice that comes with being in love with everyone’s hero.”
He groaned. “No, Ella. You haveallof my heart, not merely bits and pieces of it.”
“Ah, all right. Then, to be more accurate, the sacrifice will be in having very little of your time. It is obvious England needs you as much as I do. The mere fact you were in a room with Palmerston, Wooton, Wellington, and Grey for seven hours gives it away. I hope some good came out of your meeting.”
“It did. Quite a lot of it.”
“That’s nice to hear. As for us, Caden, is it too late for us to marry today?” She shook her head. “Of course it is. But is there a chance we might marry tomorrow?”
Caden nodded. “I would say chances of it are excellent.”
“You’ll need witnesses,” his grandfather said. “One of them shall be me.”
Caden’s eyes rounded in surprise. “How, Grandfather? Surely Dr. Farthingale will demand you remain in bed and rest.”
“He can demand all he wants. I am not going to listen. I will require a pushchair. Blankets and a shawl, too. I may be frail, butI have not lost my mental faculties yet. Where’s Talbott? Send him up to me.”
His attendant now rose from her chair in the corner. “Your Grace, you know Dr. Farthingale told you to rest. Nothing strenuous for at least another week.”
“This won’t be strenuous. It will be a pleasure,” the duke retorted. “My grandson is getting married tomorrow to the prettiest girl in London, and her father still needs to be convinced.”
Ella blushed. “I don’t know about my being the prettiest, but I do know my father will need more than a little persuasion to allow us to wed, especially after Caden failed to show up this morning. Thank you for helping us out, Your Grace.”
The old man chuckled. “I knew my grandson would choose wisely.”
Caden shook his head and simply grinned.
His grandfather had never been this amiable in his entire life. Perhaps Ella had worked her magic on the old man as she had on him. He dared not mention to her the odious Wycliffs or that his grandfather had been disparaging Ella throughout the entire hero tour. Nor did he need to remind the duke of Ella’s chasing him around with a broom.
He took Ella’s arm and escorted her out of his grandfather’s bedchamber once Talbott bustled in. “Where do you wish to go on our honeymoon?”
She laughed softly as he led her into the study and shut the door behind them. “Assuming we marry tomorrow?”
