Page 62 of The Moonstone Hero
Were they all going to be sniffing up his arse like dogs on the scent?
His grandfather was standing in front of the delegation as Caden finished speaking to the wounded men and approached his visitors. Several ladies had been volunteering to read or write letters, but they had scooted off to the side while the adoring scene played out among the soldiers. The ladies were still off in a corner, Ella among them.
“Shall we try this again, Your Grace?” Caden said, hoping this time his grandfather’s greeting would not end with punches thrown.
“Did you set up that mawkish scene just for me?”
Caden sighed, wishing his grandfather would stop being an arse for once. But that was hoping for too much. “Lying and scheming is not my style. Do not insult these men who risked their lives for England and will now be discarded by men like you because they have outlived their usefulness. Unlike the London politicians neatly tucked in your pocket, they cannot be bribed.”
The generals gasped. The reporters once again scribbled notes furiously. Fionn groaned.
Caden was not about to back down.
After glaring at him, the duke turned his gaze on Ella, who was still in the corner with the other ladies, broom in hand.
She smiled and irreverently tipped her broom at him.
Was it any wonder Caden loved her?
And was it also not eminently clear he had to protect her? His grandfather was not the sort to let insults slide, even if he was completely at fault and had brought the misery on himself. As the tour progressed from town to town, Caden hoped the old man would forget about Ella. Yes, she needed to become just a minor nuisance and not worth his trouble.
Unlike the other reporters, Stafford hadn’t written down a bloody thing. What was he going to report?
Could he trust this man not to hurt Ella?
Chapter Thirteen
“Caden was rightto keep you at arm’s length, Ella,” Cormac said as he paced the carpet in front of her later that evening. They were in his study at Westgate Hall, now joined by Fionn and Cain, who had come over for the sole purpose of discussing her unladylike behavior at the hospital this morning.
Well,discusswas not the right word.
They lectured her. Admonished her. Had the gall to berate her.
After ten minutes of droning on about the ills of her impertinence, they went off in a corner to quietly talk among themselves. They were discussing what, if anything, was to be done with her. She was too old to be spanked and sent up to her room without supper. Besides, they all knew Imogen, her ever-loyal sister, would sneak a king’s banquet up to her, so depriving her of food was never going to work.
Not that they ever seriously contemplated it.
For all their frowns and glowers, they were too soft-hearted to seriously punish her. In fact, they were probably going to dismiss her without any punishment at all.
But they felt she needed a bit more lecturing.
She waited patiently for them to finish before taking her turn.
“The Duke of Seatonhithis grandson,” she argued, having had enough of being told what to do. “Not a gentle slap, either.Closer to apunchin the face.” She tipped her chin up in indignation. “Was I to let that ogre get away with it?”
“Yes,” Cain said, emphasizing his response with a bearlike growl. “Caden is not a defenseless child. Do you have any idea how dangerous it was to get between them?”
“There was no risk to me. Even though Caden was not going to defend himself, he would have protected me to the death if his grandfather attempted to strike me. He is ridiculously honorable that way.”
The three of them were groaning again.
“You would have done the same if you were there. Caden was not even trying to protect himself. Who knows what more damage his grandfather might have inflicted if I had not come to his rescue? How can the three of you stand there and frown at me? The duke is the one who needs to be taken to the woodshed and have his bottom spanked.”
They struggled not to grin, but Ella knew they were not really furious with her. However, they were very concerned the duke might do something to retaliate for her smacking him on the backside with her broom…repeatedly.
She sighed. “Caden is leaving tomorrow morning and will forget all about me. His grandfather will forget me, too.”
“That boy is in love with you, Ella,” Fionn said. “I know exactly what he is feeling and how he is struggling, since I went through this same agony with Chloe. He is doing what he thinks is best for you now. We all agree with him. I will admit, I wasn’t sure at first. But after meeting the duke, I am on board with his decision.”
