Page 120 of The Moonstone Hero
He nodded. “I’ll survive a little sand up my arse.”
“Caden!”
“Come on, love.” He kissed her long and hard again. “I think it’s time we made a moonstone baby.”
“Dear heaven, you are a naughty influence on me. All right, lead the way. I cannot even imagine what a moonstone baby will look like or turn out to be.”
“Wonderful and special, like his mother.” He took her hand and carefully led her down the stairs that were sufficiently illuminated by the display of light.
“Hismother? You think we will have a boy?”
Caden shook his head and laughed. “I don’t know why I said that. It just popped into my head, a little boy with green eyes like his mother.”
“Well, we shall know in nine months, won’t we? You had better not toss our clothes too far away from us. I will never forgive you if the tide carries them out,” she said with a lilting laugh.
“Very well, no ferret-like frenzy, Miss Prude.” He kissed her on the nose. “You know how wild you get me when you give me that prim look.”
She smiled up at him. “I am only trying to be sensible.”
“I know, love. Which is why it is so much fun to lead you astray. Lord, you are luscious.” He proceeded to take off his clothes and then helped her remove hers.
The following day, everyone in the village commented on the dazzling display of moonstones the previous night.
“I told you Colonel Seaton loved her,” the very wise and cheerful Elmer Angel said whenever anyone mentioned those moonstones.
Epilogue
London, England
April 1831
Caden let outa whoop and tore into his grandfather’s bedchamber without bothering to knock. “It’s a boy! Ella’s fine and the baby is beautiful. He has Ella’s eyes.”
The duke laughed as he sat up in his bed and reached out to hug Caden. “Well done, but how can you know the color of his eyes, lad?”
“He had them open and was howling. Did you not hear him? He’s going to be as insufferably arrogant as we are.”
“Well, he’s a Seaton, after all. Is Ella’s family still here?”
“Yes, all of them. Imogen, Ella’s parents, Burness, and his wife, Phoebe. Phoebe’s sisters and their husbands. I’m sure Lord Fielding and his mother will stop by later this morning, too.”
“What are we running, a marketplace?” the duke grumbled, but he did not appear put out. “Give me a moment to get dressed and I will come out to greet them. I’m so happy for you, my grandson.”
Caden’s expression softened. “It feels good, Grandfather. But are you sure you ought to get out of bed? Dr. Farthingale did tell you to take it easy.”
“Pah! He did not mean for me to become a wilting flower. This occasion calls for a celebration. Do you think Ella might allow me to see her and the baby?”
“Yes, of course. I’ll come by in a few minutes to take you to our bedchamber.”
Caden was eager to return to Ella’s side, since he had been forbidden to remain while she was in labor. But now that the baby was born, he had no intention of leaving their side anytime soon.
Their door was open, and he was surprised to see only the midwife in attendance. “Where did everyone go?”
“Downstairs,” Ella said, sounding ecstatic but exhausted.
“I’ll give you two a moment alone,” the woman said, and quietly left them now that the baby was clean and swaddled and resting comfortably in a cradle beside his mother.
Caden knelt by her side. “Ella, you are so beautiful.”
