Page 79 of The Moonstone Hero
Lady Lothbridge, an elderly but quite sharp friend of Lady Fielding’s, finally asked the most important question. “Does the Duke of Seaton know about his grandson’s feelings for you? Will he approve of this marriage?”
Ella strove to keep her answers honest, but she truly had no answer to provide about Caden’s grandfather. She expected the old man would not approve of her because she was not biddable and he could not manipulate her to gain his way. “I have not spoken to the Duke of Seaton, but I expect he will make his feelings known to us as soon as he arrives in London.”
“Mersey will deal with him handily enough,” Lady Lothbridge intoned. “His grandfather has little hold on him, since he is independently wealthy and not reliant on an allowance at all. Nor can the duke alter the bloodline. Mersey will inherit the title once his grandfather dies.”
Ella had not thought about Caden’s financial circumstances at all. She had a significant dowry, and had just assumed they would live off it after they were married. Caden earned a steady wage due to his rank in the Royal Marines. But it was hardly adequate to maintain them in their current standard of living. Not that she cared, for she assumed they would reside outside of London. Perhaps in Moonstone Landing.
However, that was a foolhardy notion.
Caden was a forceful presence, and everyone would want him to remain in London, take on a major role in government, perhaps a leadership role. He might also be asked to travelextensively on behalf of the Crown, visiting every country brought into the British Empire.
In truth, Caden was so special, he would belong to all of England and never to her alone.
“Thinking too hard again,” Imogen whispered in her ear.
Ella smiled. “Yes. Ah, here come the men to join us.”
The ladies fluttered around Caden the moment he walked in alongside Lord Fielding. But he spent no more than a minute before breaking away and coming toward her. Once again, her legs threatened to buckle. Her heart was overwhelmed as she watched him approach with his proud but limping stride.
He was all male, devastatingly handsome, and yet had just that touch of vulnerability to make him irresistible to women.
He made her swoon.
His smile broadened as he reached her side. “That’s a pretty necklace you are wearing.”
She placed a hand lightly on the opal. “I’m glad you like it. Elmer purchased it for me. He wrote the loveliest note with it.Always in my heart.I received eight more gifts and notes from him after that. Are you jealous?” she teased.
“Should I be? Well, he is a cheerful boy.”
“Imogen, Elmer, and I went together each week to pick out a gift for me. You needn’t have done it, Caden. But I will admit to loving the generous gesture. Elmer was quite the tyrant about it. He would not allow me to spend the weekly allotment on anyone but myself. I’ll show you the other purchases another time. But they are all beautiful memories of you.”
“As you are beautiful,” he said in a whisper for her ears alone. “Ella, I will burst if I don’t kiss you soon. What do you think? Shall I kiss you right here and now?”
Her face turned to flames.
He laughed. “Bollocks, I forgot how shy you are. Sorry, love. Forget I said that.”
Of course, she could not possibly.
Nor could she quite reconcile herself to this change in Caden. “Are you sure about this?” she asked.
“What? Declaring to the world I am courting you?”
She nodded. “Why the drastic turnabout?”
“Because I love you, and denying it was too hard for me and no longer felt right.” He took her hand in his, ignoring the buzz once again caused by his actions. “I was hoping for a little privacy, but that will not happen, since I am followed and watched everywhere I go.”
“I’m sorry. It must be so draining for you.”
“It is, Ella. But I brought this on myself, didn’t I?”
She nodded. “For a good cause.”
“That cause is still important to me, but so are you. I should have told you how I felt before leaving Moonstone Landing. I considered riding over to Westgate Hall that last night before my departure. I wanted to take you down to the beach. I did not care that the moon was not full. I did not care that the tide might not be out or that there might be fog upon the water. I knew those moonstones would shine for us no matter the conditions. I knew it because I love you, Ella.”
The declaration rang in her ears like a chorus of angels.
Had she heard right? Had she fainted and this was all a dream? If so, she did not want to wake up from it.
