Page 2 of The Moonstone Hero
He slowly turned to face her, and then winced as he struggled to sit up. He wore a white linen nightshirt that was a tight fit on him. Ella could make out the flex and tension of his muscular arms and broad chest as he moved into a sitting position with obvious difficulty. “Two offers? Is that all? I would have expected more suitors flinging themselves at your feet, desperate to marry Lady Ella Stockwell, theton’s most brilliant diamond.”
She wanted to help him settle more comfortably, but refrained. He was feeling helpless enough already, and her fussing would only anger him. Besides, he really was a cynical clot, and she would just as soon punch him as tend to him. She was only in here because none of the other ladies who volunteered to read or chat with the wounded soldiers would go near him. “Let me amend that,” she said. “I actually received eight proposals in all, but only two were worthy of serious consideration.”
“And are you hoping for a third from me?” His gaze was now fully trained on her, those dark eyes searching her face. His nicely shaped mouth twitched at the corners, as though he found the notion amusing.
“I would have to be desperate or deranged to wish that on myself,” she remarked, wanting to be honest with him. Although he was one of the handsomest men of her acquaintance, every encounter with him felt as though she were walking into a tiger’s cage. But,dear heaven, he was gorgeous. “Fortunately, I am neither of those. Should I refer to you as Lord Mersey or Colonel Seaton, or perhaps you prefer Colonel Lord Mersey?”
His grandfather had given him the courtesy title of Marquess of Mersey several years ago, but now that he was a distinguished military figure, she did not know if he preferred to go by his military rank.
He grunted. “Caden will do. How have you been, Ella?”
“The more important question is: how haveyoubeen?”
He glanced away. “Is this why they shoved you in here? To get answers out of me?”
“No one shoved me in here. I only came to sit with you because none of the other ladies will have anything to do with you. Someone had to pop their head in to make certain you are still breathing. I had no idea it was a charged question. You needn’t answer it. I can see you are in agony, both physically and in spirit. Is this why they brought you here? Have you managed to frustrate, insult, and offend every hospital commander between here and Dover?”
He surprised her by grinning. “Yes, something like that.”
It was an appealingly lopsided grin tinged with a dash of wickedness, because this was Caden, sinfully handsome and extremely dangerous to a girl’s heart.
Hers was always guarded around him.
Nevertheless, it gave a little flutter when he smiled, for she did not think he had been remotely mirthful in a very long time. She was tempted to reach out and brush down the boyish cowlick that stuck up amid his slightly unkempt hair, but dared not be so familiar.
Instead, she clasped her hands and rested them on her lap.
Oh, yes. Much safer never to get too close to Caden Seaton. One risked getting eaten alive by this dark-haired, dark-eyed beast of a man, for he was that dangerous tiger pent up in his cage. She had not seen him in over a year, and he had grown handsomer than ever, that big, muscled body of his having filled out nicely, even though he appeared to have lost a bit of weight. This was no doubt due to his injuries. However, there was no denying his appeal. Despite his languid attitude and air of disaffection, she knew one did not remain as fit as he was by living a soft life.
He was never a lazy man and did not shirk hard work.
It was not as though she knew him well. They had only met last year in London during her debut Season, sharing a few conversations at various affairs, until he claimed her for the supper dance during Lady Marston’s ball. That supper dance was a waltz, and then he had escorted her into supper, where they truly had the chance to talk. A few days later, his regiment had shipped off for parts unknown.
Well, unknown to her.
He was back now after having marched into the jaws of death, judging by how battered he appeared. She resolved to read up on the newspaper accounts, for this past year had taken him to a very dark place in his soul, never mind the miles from England. If she was going to help him recover, then it was important for her to find out what had happened to him during his time away.
“They consider me a disciplinary problem and are not certain what do with me,” he muttered, “especially now that some idiotic committee of generals has decided to make me out to be a hero. In their infinite wisdom, they have lined up innumerable awards ceremonies across England to tout my valor—which, by the way, is nonexistent.”
“I find that hard to believe. You were insufferable, but never a coward.”
“Don’t make excuses for me, Ella,” he said harshly, the angles of his face hardening as his temper flared. There had always been a hardness to him, as though his handsome face and the heart he always kept securely hidden were carved out of granite. But that ruggedness suited him. Firm, masculine jaw, high cheekbones. An almost aquiline nose that might have once been broken and created that attractive imperfection. Broad, sensual mouth.
“I am not making excuses for you, Caden. If you wish, I will embellish the list of things I dislike about you. It is quiteextensive. I’m sure I will come up with more as I get to know you better.”
“I have no doubt. But do not bother to get to know me better. You will not like what you find.”
“I expect you are right,” she admitted. “Good grief, you turn every conversation into a battle. You are far too complicated for me. But do not pretend you have no honor. I will believe many things about you, but not this. You are right that I do not know you well, but a coward does not climb onto a rain-slicked rooftop to save a shivering kitten, or put himself between two drunken boors to keep them from hurting each other at Lady Marston’s ball last year. So, you do not need to tell me what happened to you in the year since I’ve seen you, because—”
“I am not going to talk about it.”
“As I said,” she continued with gentle insistence, “I am not going to ask you about any of it, but do not ask me to swallow that fable you are putting about. Lack of valor was never one of your flaws. Shall we move on now?”
He nodded. “You can move on right out of my room.”
“Ah, you are delightful as ever. No, I have a full hour with you. We can talk about me, if you like. Or this lovely village of Moonstone Landing. Or anything else you wish to discuss.”
He folded his arms across his chest and stared at her as though he could see straight through her garments and into her heart. She did not understand why his gaze bothered her so much, for he was not leering or ogling her, as other men sometimes did. Perhaps it was the piercing darkness of his eyes that unsettled her, for they were not completely black but a deep mahogany brown, only ringed by an outer circle of black. “Who has offered for you?”
