Page 52 of The Moonstone Hero
“There are more who will join us. Not only will we have Fulke removed, but we will force a review of our foreign policies regarding such appointments. I am not talking about our withdrawing from the world around us, of course. We cannot forsake our leadership role. But we can take a moral stand on how we deal with our territorial goals. It is something argued often enough in the House of Lords. We abolished slavery in England, but have done nothing so far about it in our colonial territories. Why is that? Do we not have an obligation to apply our morality equally?”
Caden had not realized the extent of the discontent. He had merely assumed all peers, especially those all-powerful dukes, felt as his grandfather did. But he was clearly wrong about this.
Cormac now had several ideas whirling in his head. “Caden, write out a list of the military needs that require addressing. Include your concerns about men like Fulke, how they are assigned to their posts, their lack of training, and their betrayal of the Crown interests. You will gain royal support if you do not blame the Crown for the venal actions of these government appointees. Make the king out to be as much a victim as your men were.”
Caden frowned. “I am no political animal.”
“Yes, you are. The choice has already been made for you. I can assure you, this massacre has reached the king’s ears. The generals are scrambling to figure out how to protect their own hides. This is why they are so desperate to get information out of you. They may have blundered in declaring you a hero—although it seems to me you deserve this honor, and it was too obvious even for those fools to deny. They have given you that mantle and are now stuck with their declaration. Take full advantage. You have them by their nut casings. Take charge of the situation and have them do your bidding.”
In truth, Caden was ready for this.
The ache he felt for the loss of his men would never go away, but he could turn the tragic incident into a lesson for the future and save the lives of others. Fionn had told him this earlier, and now he was hearing it again.
Not that Caden believed for a moment he could change the world entirely. If anything, the good he did would only be short-lived, for men had been finding reasons to fight each other and betray each other for thousands of years, and this was never going to change.
But even small victories had far-reaching effect sometimes.
“I’ll give thought to all you’ve said,” Caden assured Cormac. “Will you be at the assembly ball tomorrow?”
“Yes—not that it is my choice. But Ella and Imogen enjoy dancing, and Phoebe insists we attend as their chaperones.”
“Good. I will be there, too. Do you mind if we speak more about this tomorrow night?”
“You really plan to attend?” Cormac frowned. “Are you in any shape to dance? I noticed your limping, and you winced every time you sat down or rose.”
“That is because I am an idiot and overdid it today. Avenger is an excellent jumper, and we took several high fences on our ride to the pirate cave.”
“And you just getting over broken ribs?” Cormac shook his head and laughed heartily. “Lord, I knew I liked you. That is exactly the stupid sort of thing I would do. Fine, I’ll see you there. Anything else you wish to discuss before I have my carriage brought around to return you to the hospital?”
“Such as Ella, you mean?” Caden wasn’t ready to talk about her yet.
“You mentioned her. I did not. However, now that you have brought her up, care to tell me what your intentions are toward her?”
“No, I have no wish to discuss her. And before you punch me, just know that my feelings for her are honorable. She is a treasure—how can anyone not see this? But I am not going to offer for her now. I’ve given it a lot of thought, gone back and forth about it. In truth, agonized about it. But my grandfather is a formidable man and has powerful friends, some of them quite nasty. I must take him and his friends on alone, especially as matters get ugly, as I am sure they will. Ella understands this.”
“You are doing it again, putting the entire weight of a problem on your shoulders. Do not mistake her quiet nature for lack of strength.”
Caden rose. “Duly noted, but I am not going to see her reputation torn to shreds by my ruthless grandfather and his confederates who see her as the way to weaken me. I may decide to accept your help. I certainly will seek more of your guidance. But I will never put Ella at risk.Never.So, if you wish for an explanation of our situation, then here it is. I have no present plans to court her. I have no present plans to offer for her hand in marriage. It is the only way I know how to protect her…even if it breaks her heart and mine.”
Cormac rose as well. “All right, Caden. Fair enough. I’ll have my driver take you home.”
“I appreciate your listening to me spill my guts, but I would ask that you keep what I have said among the men only. I expect the women will learn of it eventually, but I cannot talk about this with Ella, and she will press me about it when she hears.”
“I will keep your confidence, but why hide it? The newspapers are going to report every word you utter. The truth is going to come out soon enough anyway.”
He nodded. “Yes, certainly once I am on my caged monkey tour.”
Cormac sighed. “Caden, you are a hero. People need to see you and be inspired by you. Keep that in mind. Act as though you believe in this hero tour. Your attitude is going to guide theirs.”
Caden shrugged. “Everyone makes too much of my importance. But my concern is for Ella. She will never move on if she hears about the massacre now. She will pledge her heart to me, and I do not have the desire or the strength to refuse her. However, it is the worst thing I can do.”
Cormac shook his head. “I think it is already too late for that. She is going to pledge her heart to you no matter what you do or say.”
“But I will not be here to pledge mine back.”
“And you think that makes a difference?”
“I don’t know. I hope so. I don’t know how else to protect her.”
