Page 55 of The Moonstone Hero
Caden regarded him closer. “Fielding? Of course! How have you been?”
Lord Fielding was of a similar age to Cormac and his brothers-in-law, which meant he was perhaps ten years older than Caden, and had never been married. Was he interested in Ella? Well, who wasn’t? But Fielding was too old for her, at least to Caden’s way of thinking.
“The more important question is how haveyoubeen, Mersey? It is good to see you back home and safe. I hear it isquite volatile where you were serving. Malvern and I are eager to hear more.”
Caden did not wish to get into a discussion with him now, but expected Fielding would be joining the men later. He was a sensible man and very much aware of all that went on in London. It would not hurt to have his opinion.
But it did not mean Caden approved of his interest in Ella or believed him in any way suitable for her.
“Well, may I steal the lovely Lady Ella from you for a little while?” Fielding asked, rousing that ape in him again.
Ella tipped her chin up and emitted a soft huff. “Who I dance with is completely up to me. Yes, you may dance with me. Lord Mersey does not need me to act as nursemaid to him.” With that, she placed her arm on Fielding’s and turned away from Caden.
He frowned.
Was this what she thought he was asking of her? To stay by him because he needed someone to nurse him? It should have been obvious to her that he enjoyed her company. He particularly liked that they did not have to talk to feel comfortable around each other.
“Ella…”
He must have appeared pathetic, for she sighed and cast him a soft smile. “Do not mind my sharp tongue. I will find you when this dance is over.”
Fielding glanced from one to the other and frowned.
Good.
He should have known better than to set his cap for Ella.
The moment she walked away, women began to approach Caden. To his irritation, Lady Dowling was among them. Fortunately, he was able to blame his crutches for his inability to dance with any of them. If he danced with anyone, it was going to be Ella.
Since little remained secret in this village, the ladies knew of his exact injuries, and found it thrilling to be in his presence. He quickly realized the powerful allure of a soldier wounded in battle, especially one who was young and held a title, albeit the courtesy title of Marquess of Mersey. Perhaps this desire to fuss over him was in the nurturing nature of women, although he would not call Lady Dowling particularly nurturing. The woman obviously wanted to displace Ella and be the center of his attention.
That was never going to happen.
He repeated the same stories of his battle wounds, although he did not discuss the battle itself. He spoke of being placed on a Royal Navy frigate that was serving as a hospital ship, and how he almost did not make it home. He embellished the storms at sea. He exaggerated his fever, although he had been in a bad way for most of that trip and could have died.
Lord Fielding escorted Ella back to his side when the dance ended.
Caden noticed her hesitation and immediately drew her into the discussion before she could flit away like the silver dove she was to look for a safe place to land. “Lady Ella has been telling me of the work done for the hospital by the ladies auxiliary,” he said. “I understand you all take turns volunteering to read to the injured or help them write letters to their loved ones. You also maintain the hospital gardens. I noticed you, Lady Ella, working there this morning.”
“We all do the same,” Lady Dowling remarked, “and not just over the summer. Lady Ella will be leaving us soon to return to London and the Marriage Mart. You’ll be quite forgotten among her suitors.”
Ella arched an eyebrow. “No one forgets Lord Mersey after meeting him. I look forward to sharing a dance with him once he is back in London and able to move around without his crutches.Although he knows I will always welcome his company, with or without those crutches. It is the heart of a man that matters, is it not? And no one has a finer heart than his lordship.”
She then went on to tell the ladies how he had rescued a kitten from a roof last year.
Dear heaven.
The ladies were melting.
Caden had spent most of his life as a rude, disdainful arse. He did on occasion aid the weak and helpless, though mostly he did not get himself involved in other people’s woes. But Ella was purposely talking him up, and there was something to be said for his laying on the charm. People responded well to him. Of course, the responses would have been different if he looked like an ugly toad and held no title. He knew the ladies considered him good looking.
They listened attentively and were sympathetic to the plight of the returning soldiers. Were they really listening or merely going off on romantic fantasies about him? It did not matter, for some of what he had been saying must have remained in their heads.
Men soon surrounded him, too. He drew them in with talk of the Royal Marines and the role of this special force around the world. However, he was also honest about the monotony and hardship, because it was not a romantic life. If the younger men were to enlist, they had to do it with their eyes open to what they would be facing. In truth, life in the Royal Navy was more lucrative. The navy men, from captain to lowliest cabin boy, shared in the spoils of any enemy ships seized.
He managed a private moment with Ella just before Cormac approached to draw him away. “You were inspiring, Caden,” she said with quiet admiration. “You had such an effect on everyone.”
He shook his head. “I am one of the densest men ever to exist. I truly had no idea of the strength of my influence over these strangers.”
