Page 44 of The Moonstone Hero
Caden realized it, too. His grin was rather smug. “Stop tugging. I am not letting go of you.”
Ella sighed in exasperation. “Fine, but it is not proper.”
“Nor is this,” he said, raising her hand to his lips and giving it a light kiss. “Stop looking around in alarm. No one can see.”
Imogen had settled on the blanket with her sketchpad and pencils laid out before her, and was not looking at her and Caden. Mr. Hawke was already snoring under the shade of a stately elm.
The wind rustled through a nearby copse, whooshing softly through the silvery leaves. In the distance, Ella could hear the ebb and flow of the waves as the tide rushed out.
Caden kept hold of her hand while they made their way down the cliff steps to the pirate cave. “Are you sure you do not need your crutches?” she asked, because parts of the path were steep.
“I’m certain of it, Ella.” He kept hold of her hand as they made their way down. On occasion, he wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her steady.
She thought it was rather ironic that he was helping her, since he was the one going about on an injured leg and whose balance should have been off. He had stubbornly refused to bring his crutches along to the cave, but he seemed to be managing fine without them.
When they reached the beach, she looked him over to make certain he was all right.
He grinned back. “Feels nice, doesn’t it? Just you and me, enjoying the day.”
She nodded.
“We feel right together, Ella. Don’t we?”
She said nothing, merely turned away to adjust her riding habit so the hem of the flowing gown would not get wet.
Perhaps she ought to have agreed with Caden and told him they did feel right. But their situation was still too much up in the air for her to be convinced of it. She had already given too many pieces of herself to him.
Even if she gave all of herself to him, would it ever be enough?
“Blast,” he said softly. “Ella, why are you fretting?”
“I don’t mean to.”
He led her along the sand, and their boots sank into the soft ground as they walked to the mouth of the cave. When they reached it, he paused to grab a lantern. The villagers kept supplies in a storage box beside the cave that contained ropes, lanterns, and chalk to mark their way. These items were a convenience for all who wished to explore.
After lighting the lantern, Caden tucked some chalk into his pocket and then turned to study her. “Won’t you tell me what is wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. It is just me thinking too hard. Imogen says I do it all the time, and I need to stop.”
He cast her a soft smile. “I like this about you. You make me have to work harder to earn your approval. It keeps me from getting too full of myself when everyone else around me spouts flattering lies and panders to me. But what has you worried, Ella?”
He closed up the storage box and then took her hand in his again to lead her into the cave.
“Oh, Caden. I don’t know if I should say anything to you. It is presumptuous of me, since you haven’t mentioned anything about courting me. And here I am leaping ahead and…”
“Thinking of marriage?” He paused at the entrance to the cave and studied her. “You can tell me anything, Ella. You know I care for you and would never dismiss your worries.”
She turned away to watch the waves gently sweeping onto the rocks below them. They would wash in with more power as the tide rolled back in. “You have so many fine qualities.”
He laughed. “And this is a problem? I assure you, I am not all that fine a man.”
She looked up at him and gave him a gentle smile. “You are the finest I know. You are that hero the generals have been touting. You are, Caden. Even though you deny it. In fact, you are so heroic, it has me wondering whether I will ever be able to keep up with you, whether I will ever be enough for you. I don’t want to be that mouse of a wife who holds you back.”
“You? A mouse?” He shook his head and laughed. “That you have a quiet nature does not make you weak or dull. You certainly know how to stand up to me.”
“Because for all your barking and growling, you do not really give me a hard time. Often, you are surprisingly gentle with me. But my point is, who am I to presume you would ever want me as your wife? You’ve been clear about not wanting to marry me.”
“My concern is only for now. Do not make more of it than it is.” He groaned. “That sounded awful. I do not mean it that way.”
