Page 101 of The Moonstone Hero
Melinda’s mouth curled in distaste. “I did not like him. I broke off the engagement.”
“Youbroke it off?” Caden noted the flicker in her eyes and knew she was lying to him. “Or was it the other way around?” Good for Flint—took him long enough to realize that a whopping fortune was not enough to offset the misery he would have to endure while married to this girl. Not that Flint was any prize either.
She shot to her feet and slapped him. “How dare you!”
That slap awakened Caden to what was important…and what he had been taking for granted all these weeks. Love. Happiness. A wife who would challenge him but never demean him. Ella would never have struck him, not in a million years.
“We will battle this out in the press, if we must,” her father threatened, just as he had done the last time. Why did Wycliff think threats would force Caden into submission now, when they hadn’t worked while his grandfather was healthy and pressing for the marriage as well?
“You still haven’t learned, have you? All this will accomplish is making your daughter look the fool.” How many times were they to have this discussion before the pair slithered away like snakes in the grass? “The only reason to go to the press is because you have not a prayer of winning in the courts. Even if you produce a betrothal agreement, Melinda’s betrothal to Flint—as doomed as it was bound to be—will have made that earlier document irrelevant.”
“My wealth will insulate her from any damage,” her father insisted. “But your reputation will be destroyed. You will be no one’s hero, but branded a cad and a coward.”
“Do whatever you feel you must, but I willnevermarry your daughter. Save yourself the embarrassment and buy some other toady who is easier to manage than Flint turned out to be.” He rang for Swindon. “Please show my guests to the door.”
“This isn’t over, Mersey. You are not duke yet, and I will make you suffer!” The pair stormed out.
Swindon returned to look in on him. “My lord, I am so sorry. Your grandfather never refused his visits. I did not know what to do. I ought to have kept them out.”
“It is all right, Swindon. You did the right thing.” Caden gave the man an encouraging nod. “And nowImust do the right thing.”
He had to talk to Ella.
He rode over to the Stockwell townhouse. It was early evening, and the family would soon gather for the supper meal. The family now included the Marquess of Burness, who hadarrived for the purpose of participating in the upcoming sessions of Parliament.
Caden dismounted and was greeted at the door by the ever-reliable Merrick, then shown into the parlor, where the marquess and Ella’s parents were having a drink before they sat down to dine.
He had yet to greet them when Ella hurried in just behind him.
“Caden, I wasn’t sure we would see you this evening.” She was breathless and appeared happy as she bustled in with papers in hand. “I’ve made notes on all the places I visited yesterday and today, just as you asked. I hope you find them useful.”
He took them from her hands and quickly perused the neatly written lists. Everything he’d asked for was set out in an organized fashion and helpfully outlined. “Thank you, this is excellent. Your efforts are much appreciated.”
She gazed up at him with big, hopeful eyes. “I can tell you a little about my findings, if you wish to hear them now.”
He smiled, knowing how proud she must be of her work. But he glanced at the elders, especially her father, who did not particularly care about anything other than when Caden would marry his daughter. “Perhaps now is not the best time, Ella,” he said, setting the notes aside for the moment, since her father was glowering at him and showing marked impatience.
“But it won’t take long. Papa, you don’t mind, do you?”
“In fact, I do mind.” Lord Stockwell, not pleased with the idea of Caden’s hero tour and the frenzy of adulation surrounding him, had been the one to push for a delay. So why was he frowning now when he and Ella had been going along with his wishes? He could not have been too pleased about Ella making those hospital appearances in Caden’s stead.
Fortunately, the marquess seemed to be more tolerant of their situation. “Come on, John. Charlotte. What your daughteris doing is important, and she obviously enjoys the work. Give them a few minutes alone.”
Caden meant to express his gratitude, but the marquess patted him on the shoulder and cast him a warning look. “This does not mean you have my permission to kiss her. You have my blessing to talk…just talk.”
Ella tilted her chin up in indignation. “Well, I never. You are the last person who should level that threat. When have you ever—”
“Ella!” her father said sharply. “It is not at all the same thing.”
Ella merely harrumphed.
Caden knew she was going to grab him and kiss him just to be contrary. Not that he minded. He liked that she had her own convictions and knew how to think for herself. Of course, he would probably like it less if she were arguing with him instead of her father.
“Before you all leave, there is something I need to say,” he announced. “It is about Ella and me. Lord Stockwell, you have not been happy about my betrothal to your daughter. I have been giving it a lot of thought, and I see your point. What she has had to endure is unforgivable.”
Ella’s mother had a fan in hand and now began to flutter it in front of her face. “Oh, John. This is what you feared.”
Her father’s face turned red in anger. “I knew it. You are going to put off the wedding.”
