Page 48 of The Moonstone Hero
She smiled at him. “Yes. Is it not perfect for today?
“Yes,” he said, and recited a few lines.
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea
He cast her a smile that melted her heart.
Ella set aside her book and watched the tide rolling in. The waves were now crashing against the rocks with greater force. Birds began to gather and circle what must have been a school of fish beneath the glistening swells.
The wind was picking up, as it often did in the afternoon.
Mr. Hawke awoke from his nap and ambled over to them. “Time I delivered you home, lasses.”
“Oh, yes.” Ella scrambled to her feet. “We ought to get back now.”
Caden helped Mr. Hawke load their supplies onto the wagon. Then he went to fetch the horses that had been nibbling on the plentiful gorse beside the stream. He helped Ella to mount and then assisted Imogen. Next, he secured the pouch containing Imogen’s drawing pad and pencils to the saddle.
However, Imogen had removed one of the sketches and now held it out to him. “Here, Caden. This is for you.”
As he studied it, his eyes widened and his expression turned softer than Ella had ever seen before. “Imogen…I don’t know what to say.”
Now, Ella was curious to see what her sister had drawn. “Let me have a look, Caden.”
He hesitated a moment, then nodded and came to her side to hand it to her. “What do you think?”
He rested his hand along her mare’s withers as he watched her peruse Imogen’s drawing. The man certainly was comfortable around horses, and they responded affectionately to him. Her mare was nuzzling his shoulder.
He casually patted the horse’s neck. “Well, Ella? What do you think?”
She studied the sketch of them seated on the blanket just as they had been a short while ago. Caden was drawn with his arms back and resting on his elbows while his large frame was casually stretched out on the blanket, one leg slightly bent and the other, the injured one, lying straight. The wicker basket was behind him. Ella was seated in front of him, her legs tucked under her bottom and the book of poetry on her lap as she looked out over the water and lost herself in dreams.
Caden was depicted staring at her.
Her heart fluttered, for Imogen had captured him perfectly, his every nuance and the feelings he often sought to hide. But he could not hide them from Imogen. She captured his hunger when he looked at Ella. His eyes also reflected the memories that haunted him. There was a familiar brashness in the curve of his mouth. Valor in his posture. Frustration and anger in the curl of his hands.
It was all there, especially his affection for her.
Dear heaven.
Was it possible Caden loved her so deeply?
“It is perfect, Caden.”
He nodded. “It is certainly revealing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, beautifully so.”
Was it possible? Her dream come true. Would those moonstones shine for them?
Chapter Nine
Caden was tiredby the time they returned to Westgate Hall. He knew he had overdone it, but tearing across the fields and country lanes had felt so good, even though his ribs were now sore because, perhaps idiotically, he had pushed Avenger to jump fences when he should have been taking it easy. They had remained sore as he and Ella explored the pirate cave, but he’d continued to ignore the discomfort because he wanted the time alone with her and to kiss her afterward.
That kiss was not well done of him, for Imogen had trusted him.
He had kept to his word by not kissing Ella in the cave, but had completely betrayed the spirit of that promise when hungrily tasting Ella’s soft lips as soon as they were back on the beach.
