Page 117 of The Moonstone Hero
“I have no secrets from my wife,” Caden said. “There’s no reason for Lady Mersey to leave, unless you wish to discuss confidential matters of national security.”
Each of them arched an eyebrow but nodded their consent to have her stay.
“I did not realize you had married,” Earl Grey said, resting his gaze a little too approvingly on Ella.
She did look beautiful, so Caden could not blame him for looking at her, although he would toss him a silent warning if he gazed too long. “Yes, yesterday.”
“For the sake of his grandfather,” Ella added. “As you know, he has not been well of late.”
Palmerston groaned. “Why did you not tell me? I would have cut short our meeting or not troubled you at all. I must have taken you away from your wedding breakfast and your lovely bride.”
“Your work is important,” Ella said, “and the wedding will still go on as originally planned, although the ceremony itself will merely be a renewal of our vows already taken. The wedding breakfast will be the real celebration with all our friends and family. I do hope you will both be in Town to attend.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” each assured her, then they turned to Caden and discussed the points he was to make in his speech.
It was time for him to make his address.
Ella took her leave to join her family in the spectators’ gallery while he made his way to the ceremonial floor in the House of Commons. He was surprised when he received a standing ovation from all those in attendance, although it was a frequent enough occurrence that he ought to have been used to it by now.
He smiled at Ella when he spotted her in the balcony with her parents and sister. She filled his heart with joy. On impulse, he blew her a kiss and noticed her cheeks immediately flush pink. She blew a kiss back.
The exchange, which was not as discreet as either of them had hoped, now had the crowd cheering loudly.
Yes, love always gave one hope and inspiration.
When the crowd quieted, he began his speech in a more solemn tone. “Who are we? Who do we promise to be to ourselves and others? What oaths have each of us taken to king and country? To our families? To the church? To our children?To all those who seek our help and protection? It is not merely the grand gestures and grand sacrifices that make a hero but the actions in our everyday existence. Stopping to help a child who has fallen and scraped a knee. Feeding a starving man. There is no kindness too small. This is how we inspire our children and others to be the best they can be, to stand up for what is right for no reason other than it is the right thing to do.”
One could hear a pin drop in the audience, for all were listening with rapt attention, no doubt thinking he had all the answers. But how could he when those answers resided in the heart of each man and woman—in what they were willing to sacrifice, in the kindnesses they were willing to show others, and the rights they were willing to fight for, not only for themselves but for others?
He then went on to speak of his regiment and how their lives were needlessly lost because of Fulke’s greed and the absolute power he had been given. “Hate begets hate. Violence begets violence. He died in retaliation for all the deaths he had caused to friend and foe. He caused the deaths of countless others because he had the unrestrained authority to do so.”
He saw his grandfather seated in the front row before him, but the aim of his speech was to inspire reforms, not sow discord. So he offered up the solutions he had discussed with Palmerston, Wellington, Wooton, and Grey.
He received another ovation when he concluded.
However, it came as little surprise when the newspaper reports that immediately followed spoke first of the kiss between him and Ella—an utterly harmless kiss, since he was on the dais and she was in the balcony. But this is what fascinated everyone. Only afterward did they report on his speech.
The gossip rags went wild.
This was the power of love, he supposed.
People loved to speculate. Had England’s hero been secretly married to Lady Ella all these months? Was there a child on the way, and would it be an early arrival? Or were they not truly married yet and living in sin under the Duke of Seaton’s very roof?
Caden paid little attention to the gossip, since Stafford knew their story and had their permission to print it with his exclusive interview. “You’ve gone and done it now, broken the heart of every lady under the age of ninety,” he teased.
That did not stop those who were determined to capture Caden’s attention anyway. Notes were still stuffed in his hands. Whispered trysts were still offered. Lord Wycliff and Melinda approached, still scowling and threatening to destroy his reputation.
Had they taken nothing from his speech about precisely their venomous behavior? It was easy to threaten and destroy, but what would be gained if they succeeded in damaging his reputation? In this instance, he doubted they would ever succeed, because the crowd adored him and Ella. Cheers resounded when Ella finally made her way to his side, beaming as she looked up at him in admiration. “You were brilliant, my lord.”
He wanted to sweep her into his arms and kiss her soundly.
Hell, why not?
“I love you, Lady Mersey,” he whispered, not sure whether she could hear him above the roar of the crowd.
She gasped and held on to his shoulders when she realized what he was about to do. “Caden! Put me down! Caden, it isn’t seemly.”
He did not care. He kissed her anyway, and did not hold back. No one was going to ban him from Parliament or censure him.
