Page 90 of The Moonstone Hero
His gaze did not leave hers as he ran his fingers through the tumble of curls. “Gold silk.”
She could see by the flare of desire in his eyes that he wanted to remove all the pins and let her hair fall over her shoulders in sinuous waves.
“One more touch, and then I really must go.” He closed his eyes as he traced his knuckles ever so lightly along the line of her jaw. After placing another feather-soft kiss on her lips, he gathered her in his arms and leaned his forehead against hers.
“Caden…”
“I know, love. We all need to think this through.”
There was nothing for her to think about. “Goodnight, Caden. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He nodded, gave her a final, fiery kiss, and then strode out.
She stood at the study door and watched him as he crossed the entry hall.
Merrick, the dear man, had been standing by the front door all the while, probably with his hands over his ears so as not to hear whatever was going on in the study. Not that they made any noise beyond a few soft groans and breathy moans that should have been swallowed up by their kisses.
“Goodnight, Merrick,” Caden said, his expression giving away nothing as he walked out into the cool night air.
“And to you, my lord,” the butler replied, no doubt eager to leap back into his bed. He shut the door and bolted it.
“Goodnight, Merrick,” Ella said as she ran upstairs struggling to hold back more tears. She managed until she reached her bedchamber.
Imogen had changed into her nightgown and was seated on her bed, waiting for Ella to return. She had her hands clasped and a worried expression on her face. “Oh, Ella. Are you all right?”
“No.” Ella threw herself onto her bed and burst into tears.
After having a good cry, she dried her tears and kicked off her slippers. Imogen helped her out of her elegant gown and into her far more practical nightclothes, then removed the last of the pins from her hair and carefully unwound the strand of seed pearls that had been threaded through her tresses. She placed the delicate strand back in Ella’s jewelry box, then turned to her sister. “It will all work out,” she said, her voice wobbly, as though she was going to burst into tears herself.
Well, this was Imogen, always sensitive to the feelings of others.
“I’m sure it will.” Ella cast her a smile, wanting to reassure herself as much as her sister.
*
Come morning, thefamily assembled at the breakfast table to await Caden’s arrival. As the minutes ticked by, her father began to grumble. “He’s late.”
“He will be here,” Ella insisted. “His grandfather might have delayed him.”
Caden had taken rooms at one of his clubs rather than reside with his grandfather in the magnificent Seaton townhouse while the two of them remained at odds. However, knowing Caden, she expected he had gone to look in on his grandfather before coming over here. He had been worried about the old man after last night’s incident. Despite everything, Caden had an unwavering loyalty to his grandfather.
“I am all the family he has left,” he had explained to Ella when recovering in the Moonstone Landing hospital months ago.
But this also applied in reverse. The Duke of Seaton was the only family Caden had left. Did he not owe him some kindness?
How awful that the two of them were in all-out war. At least, his grandfather perceived it to be this way.
Caden was hoping to make him see reason, but his grandfather was never going to accept that his greed had anything to do with Caden’s injuries or the massacre of the regiment. Nor was he likely to forgive his grandson for taking him on regarding this matter.
Caden believed that, as Duke of Seaton, his grandfather was protected from any severe repercussions if changes were ever adopted in the Houses of Parliament. In truth, he was protected because Caden would intercede if the Crown ever thought to punish the duke. Not that the Crown would ever want to take on its most powerful peers. Territorial governors might be recalled, a few government officials might be dismissed, but the dukes would remain untouched. Perhaps a fine might be assessed, or a property here or there forfeited.
But this reconciliation Caden hoped would occur between him and his grandfather? That was never going to happen.
“He is half an hour late, Ella,” her father grumbled, shaking her out of her musings.
“I know, Papa. This isn’t like Caden. I am starting to worry. Will you take me to his club if he is not here within the hour?”
“Out of the question. You walking into a gentlemen’s club? I will not hear of it. Besides, I must get to my office. While I am gone, I do not want you going anywhere near the place.”
