Page 34 of The Moonstone Hero
“Heaven forbid.” He shook his head with determination. “I could never keep my mouth shut long enough to gain supporters. I would offend everyone with my opinions within minutes of meeting them. No, I am no politician. But there arewrongs that need repairing, and for this I will need the support of Parliament and the ear of the royal family.”
“Then talk to my uncle, the Marquess of Burness. Also talk to his best friend, the Duke of Malvern. I’ve told you they both reside here in Moonstone Landing. But they have powerful connections in London and are much admired by the public. Let them help you. You do not have to take on the world all by yourself.”
“And risk bringing them down along with me if things go wrong? No, Ella. I would not do that to your family.”
“Do not underestimate them. They are fighters. In truth, they are always up for a good fight.”
Caden chuckled. “Well, I will seek their guidance. But nothing beyond it. Once I have set my path, it is my own to take.”
“And what about me, Caden? Will I have any role in your life?”
“I don’t know yet, Ella. This is as honest as I can be. But dear heaven, I cannot get you out of my soul. It is as though you have lodged yourself inside of me, and I crave you as desperately as I crave the air to breathe. However, I am a mess in body and soul, as you have pointed out more than a time or two. I do not know what additional chaos tomorrow will bring. Am I the one who will make those moonstones shine for you?”
“Do you think you might be?”
“I don’t know. How can I know anything when my heart is shattered and in constant turmoil?” He sighed, shook his head, and then continued. “And yet I want to be.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You do?”
“Yes, Ella.”
She cast him an impish smile and her eyes glittered with mirth. “Oh, Caden. Dare I believe what I am hearing? I had no idea you even liked me.”
He frowned. “How could you not know? I kissed you.”
“So? Is this not what handsome rakes do? Kiss any girl who strikes their fancy? I was not your first.”
“But I wasyourfirst. Being the only man to ever kiss you meant something to me.” Was he more infatuated with her than she was with him? He did not like this possibility at all.
“And it meanteverythingto me,” she said with sincere conviction. “Just think about letting me help you, at least with your exercises. Please, Caden. If you care for me, then don’t shut me out.”
Imogen and Elmer returned to their side before he could answer.
Ella took their arrival as her opportunity to leave him. He watched her walk away, her head bowed because he had given her too much to think about. No doubt, he had confused her by drawing her close, then pushing her away. Wanting her, and in the next breath warning her not to come near him.
He wasn’t trying to chase her away. Hell, he did not know what hewastrying to do.
But he could not risk having her fall in love with him, and then having his grandfather destroy her. For this reason, he was not about to make her any lifelong promises. He just wanted to insert a word of caution.
How else was he to protect her from a tough-as-nails duke and equally tough generals? Not to mention the nasty lords who were making a fortune during the Ashanti wars.
He did not care if they destroyed him. But he was not going let them harm Ella.
He caught a glimpse of her in the music room talking to several injured soldiers as Imogen and Elmer wheeled him back to his room a few minutes later.
“You like Ella, don’t you?” Imogen asked as they reached his hospital room.
“Yes, I do.”
“She says you are a complicated man.”
He turned to glance up at Imogen, who was staring back at him with eyes that were almost the size of her face. She was younger than Ella by a couple of years and still had much of the child in her with her round face and innocent features. “Iamcomplicated,” he said. “But this is how life is, and one must always think things through carefully to avoid making mistakes.”
“Ella is also a thinker. I think you both think too much.”
He laughed. “Maybe.”
“You ought to stop worrying about all the reasons things could go wrong. You will make them go wrong if you do that.”
