Page 33 of The Moonstone Hero
Perhaps Major Brennan was right. Was it not better to be home and hailed as a hero? There was a lot of good he could do while the country worshiped and adored him. He still wanted to shoot Governor Fulke, that treasonous weasel. Hewouldshoot him, too, if the man ever returned to England. Some betrayals required avenging.
But first, he had to attend to the good he could do while everyone regarded him as a hero.
Ella came back a short time later and resumed her seat on the stone bench beside him. She looked at him, staring quite openly and intently. “What, Ella?”
“Something has changed in you.”
“Really? In twenty minutes?” Perhaps she was right, for Fionn’s words had penetrated his thick, slightly dented skull.
She nodded. “Your eyes look lighter.”
“A reflection of the sun, no doubt.”
“No, Caden.” She reached out and put her hand over his, but quickly drew it away before anyone noticed and gossip started. “What did Fionn say to you? He’s very smart, you know.”
Caden laughed. “Yes, it is obvious. He told me to stop behaving like a petulant arse and do something useful.”
Ella grinned. “I’m sure he dispensed his advice with more tact than that. But I’m glad he got through to you.”
“Yes, he did.”
She wrapped her arms around her knees as she regarded him with her smiling countenance. “I am glad you have moved on from that sulking little boy. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Sulking boy?
Here he thought he was being deep and appealingly brooding, and she thought he was merely behaving like a spoiled child.
But she still liked him enough to kiss him. A first kiss, no less.
She must have seen some redeeming qualities in him.
Caden eased back in his chair once more and shook his head. “You are helping just by being yourself, Ella. But I may have to put a little distance between us, just for a while. Things are going to get heated between those generals and me. Not to mention my grandfather and me. I don’t want you to get caught in the crossfire.”
“I see.”
“No, I don’t think you do. I know I come across as severe and probably quite daunting. Certainly sarcastic, cold, and aloof. But I do let people in sometimes.”
“Those few you trust,” she said, still casually hugging her knees. This had to be a sign she felt comfortable and could be herself when with him.
“You are one of those few, Ella. But do not make too much of it. I trust you, but I also need to protect you from what is to come.” He leaned forward and took her hands into his own. Her eyes widened, and she tried to slip her hands out of his, but he would not let her go. “Never mind the gossip. Everyone knowsthere is a spark between us. Whether I am holding your hands or not won’t make any difference.”
She sighed. “I suppose.”
He cast her a soft smile, for she looked delicious with her brow knitted and her lips pursed as she fretted. “Ella, I wanted to kiss you and I wanted to dance with you. But I think perhaps I ought to put off those plans.”
“Put them off?”
“Yes.” He did not see a choice, given what he needed to accomplish.
This was his battle, and he was going to take on some powerful men. They had already proven how ruthless they could be. What would stop them from going after Ella if they knew he liked her? Would they be so low as to destroy her reputation in order to harm him? She was too sweet and gentle to survive the onslaught.
“I am sorry, too, Caden.” Tears filled her eyes, but she struggled to hold them back. “As you say, it is for the best. Anyway, I have more suitors than I can handle at the moment.”
He raked a hand through his hair. This was not going exactly as planned. He did not want to let her go completely, just have her remain quietly in the background for now. He did not want to lose her.
“Ella, I want you to know…there is no one else for me. It isn’t about any other woman.”
“But it will be. Maybe not right away, but soon enough.” She swallowed hard and then released a ragged breath. “You will find someone whose father is high up in government and who will groom you to be a future prime minister of England.”
