Page 35 of The Moonstone Hero
“And if I don’t worry about those things?”
“I am not suggesting you ignore obvious problems. But if you shut Ella out, you will lose her. Is this really what you want to have happen?”
Chapter Seven
“Look at that,m’lord,” Elmer said with his boundless well of good cheer. “You did it!”
“Another milestone to record, Elmer,” Caden replied with an exhausted laugh, tumbling onto his bed with satisfaction.
As the days wore on, Caden had found himself regaining more and more of his strength. Ten days had now passed since Lady Dowling’s recital and Major Brennan’s words of wisdom—words he had truly taken to heart.
He now spent his mornings exercising his leg, something that became easier as his ribs healed. He no longer felt a painful pang every time he drew a breath. The gash to his head had continued to heal, leaving behind no lingering dizziness. The spot where his head had been bashed was still tender when he touched it, so he did not touch it.
His wrist was still tender, but less so every day. His eyes still strained easily, but he was able to read more pages before the blurriness came on.
“I think you’ve done enough for today, m’lord. Lady Ella will be along soon, and you’ll want to wash up before she does. Can’t have you smelling like a cow, can we?” Elmer asked.
“Indeed, not. But I do wish you would scrounge me a bar of sandalwood soap instead of that infernal lavender. I am so sick of smelling like a damn flower.”
The boy grinned at him.
Caden laughed again. “What?”
“A shipment of Farthingale soaps just came in at Mr. Bedwell’s mercantile. I got you one.” Elmer ran out and returned no more than a minute later with something wrapped in brown paper and tied with a green ribbon. “Here you go, my lord. Sandalwood.”
Caden was now sitting up as Elmer handed him the small package and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Lad, you are a genius. Did you have Mr. Bedwell put it on my account?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Help me wash up and dress. I am putting on my uniform today. I think it is time I took a walk outside the hospital. Dr. Hewitt, Dr. Spencer, and Major Brennan have given their approval. I am officially released for the day.”
The boy’s eyes rounded in dismay. “But what about Lady Ella?”
Did the lad think Caden would ever forget about her? “I hope she will spend the day with me. I would like her to show me around Moonstone Landing.”
“Oh, that is an excellent idea,” Elmer said, his eyes once more bright.
Apparently, Caden was not the only one who believed he and Ella were meant to be together. The lad was fond of her, and it was quite humorous at times to watch the boy chase the other ladies away. Elmer had taken up the role of vigilant watchdog whenever Ella was not around.
Caden did not mind.
Ella had continued to visit him every afternoon, and Caden did not change that routine. He could not. She was his reward for working hard each day.
One thing that did change was his effort with the wounded soldiers who were also recovering here. Many had been shipped home from Africa, because this was the current battleground,the territory where the British government was making a determined push to bring its ideas of “civility” to the native populations. All the major European powers were doing the same throughout the region, so the battles were not always against native tribes, but often between age-old enemies.
Of course, the push to conquer was most pronounced in those areas richest in gold and other precious minerals, as well as those with fertile growing lands.
While Caden was a cynical bastard and did not believe for a moment there was a noble purpose to the Crown’s desire to expand its territory, he also understood it was a necessary evil if England was to maintain its influence throughout the world.
But England also owed a duty to the soldiers who returned home injured. Caden felt he owed these men something, too. He was heir to a dukedom, privileged and elite, and ought to be a generous leader to these men. His first task was to improve morale among them. Some would be discharged from service because their wounds were too damaging to allow them to continue as soldiers. They had to be worried about what would come next.
He sat with them. Spoke to them. He listened to what they would need once leaving military service. It did not matter whether they served in the army, navy, or Royal Marines. The wounds were the same. The needs were the same.
He had just finished washing and dressing when Ella arrived, gliding into his room like a breath of fresh air.
This was what she always was, a warm and gentle breeze. Her manner was quiet and understated…but oh so delightful.
She had on a simple gown of pale blue muslin and wore her usual white apron over it, that deucedly prim thing he wanted to peel off her body along with her gown to get at her spectacular curves. Her hair was done up as it always was, swept back in aglorious, golden mass at the base of her slender neck, with a few soft waves framing her face.
