Page 85 of The Moonstone Hero
“No. It is the last thing I ever wanted.”
He nodded. “Same for me. Being apart from you was more than I could bear. But this prolonged betrothal is also creating an impossible situation. This is why I wanted us to marry right away. No one would dare insult you if you were my wife. Care to elope?”
She looked up at him with pained eyes. “I am seriously considering it.”
“Good. Just say the word and I’ll take you to Gretna Green.”
She laughed. “Or we could just ask my father to give his consent and let us marry quietly here and now. What do you think?”
He was about to respond when he heard a violent crash. “What the…?”
All eyes turned toward the pianoforte at the front of Lady Mayberry’s music room. Two men in kilts stood on the dais beside the pianoforte while shattered glass lay strewn all around them. Sprawled on the ground beside them was one of the politicians who had been at the hospital earlier today. He was cursing at the two men and holding a hand over his eye.
“What is going on?” Ella asked, craning her neck to see.
Caden was taller than most people in attendance and had no trouble getting a clear view. “One of those kilted men must have punched Lord Abbott.”
“Abbott? That same unpleasant man who joined your grandfather today and kept making noises to have Crayapple kick us out?”
“Yes. Blessed saints, I think the Duke of Solway is the one who hit him. He’s the Scot standing on the right. The other one is the Duke of Mar.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “Do you know them?”
He nodded. “I’ve met Cheyne Lyon, the Duke of Mar, and his brothers a time or two. They are good men, although I do not know them well enough to call them friends.”
“And the Duke of Solway?”
“Never met the man, but I think that is about to change. He’s staring at you.”
The Duke of Solway was a big, red-haired brute of a man, while the dark-haired Duke of Mar was much more elegant, although he was also a big, stern man who tolerated few people except for his wife, whom he adored. Each man had a brandy in hand and now raised his glass in toast to Ella.
She was uncertain what to do, so she smiled back. But in the next moment, she burrowed into Caden. “Oh, no. They are coming toward us. What shall we do?”
He placed an arm around her shoulder. “It’s all right, love. They do not mean to hurt you.”
“How can you be sure? Is it too late to run?”
He chuckled. “Yes, and there is no reason to run. Anyone who hits that insufferable toady Abbott will earn my favor. Just be your beautiful self and smile.”
The Duke of Solway did not bother with polite introductions when he reached them. The man had notongrace, which Caden preferred at the moment, since so many around them, despite being considered elegant, were actually graceless curs who deserved none of his respect.
Solway gave a quick bow of his head, and then spoke in a booming voice that all could hear. Not that he needed to shout, for everyone had turned quiet as a mouse once this big Scot knocked Abbott to the ground. “Lass, I visited my men this afternoon in the hospital and heard what went on. So, it was with much dismay to learn of the shabby way that weasel Abbott is spreading lies about ye. Mar and I had no choice but to defend yer honor.”
Ella blushed. “Thank you, Your Grace. May I say, I was honored to spend time with your injured men. I hope to visit them again in the coming weeks.”
“I can see why they dubbed ye their angel. So I raise my glass in toast to ye again, with profound gratitude for yer kindness and caring. Ye lightened their heavy hearts. Ye showed that ye cared for their health, unlike the vipers in this room, who have not done a worthwhile thing in their entire lives. And yet they would sneer at ye unfairly. Ye are a lady through and through, and I mean to let His Majesty know about this unpleasant incident.”
The room remained quiet as a tomb while the Duke of Mar had his turn addressing her. “Do not let the petty liars and cheats get to ye, Lady Ella. We shall stand up for ye and for Lord Mersey in Parliament when the time comes. As for here and now, I shall call out any man who utters a snide comment about ye. Had they been to the hospital and listened to our valiant wounded give thetrueaccount, they would not be saying any such thing. As for the ladies, what is it ye Sassenachs like to do? Give one the cut direct? Well, this is what they shall receive from me, my wife, and all our kinsmen if they dare besmirch yer reputation.”
Ella was stunned.
Her parents stared at her in amazement.
“Thank you,” Caden said, more appreciative for their support than he could ever convey with mere words.
Ella nodded. “Indeed, you have my gratitude. I felt gutted as I heard those horrid lies being told about me.”
“They can be a mean lot, both lords and ladies,” Solway remarked. “I canna stand to be among them, but there is important work to be done in the upcoming session of Parliament. Mersey, I think we need to meet with ye to discuss all that needs fixing.”
