Page 31 of The Moonstone Hero
He wanted to tell her so, but Ella was surprisingly modest and responded to flattery with shyness.
Anyway, he was already too obvious about his feelings for her. It was particularly dangerous, since he was not ready to make her any promises. However, there were times like these, when she had a faraway look in her eyes and resembled a delicate bird, that he wanted to toss caution to the wind and tell her how much he loved her before she flitted away and was lost to him forever.
Oh, Lord.
Love?
He dared not act on those feelings yet.
Perhaps after his “I am abloodyhero” tour, assuming he hadn’t offended every general and government official from prime minister to rat catcher by the time the farce of a show ended.
Don’t fall in love with me yet, Ella.
Falling in love with him was still too dangerous for her. What if he could not heal his soul and wound up hurting her? Yet he was encouraging her, wasn’t he? Telling her that he wanted to dance with her again.
What was he thinking?
Well, he’d said it and was not going to take it back. Why should they not share a harmless dance? He would make certain she understood it meant nothing more than a simple twirl around a room.
Others were now walking out onto the courtyard.
Imogen and Elmer came over to take him back inside. “Not yet,” he said, liking the breeze around him and the sight of Ella beside him.
But the pair had no sooner gone off to assist other soldiers than Caden noticed Major Brennan striding toward him. The fort’s commander was a big man with a full head of dark hair and gray eyes that were as sharp as razor blades. Caden was often accused of being hard, but this man also had a look as hard as steel.
“Good afternoon, Fionn,” Ella said, casting him a sincere smile.
The major did not smile back, although his tone was gentle when he replied, “Ella, I would like a moment to chat with Lord Mersey.”
“Oh, all right.” She rose and quietly excused herself.
Major Brennan took the spot on the bench that Ella had just vacated. Both of them watched her go back inside.
Only once she was out of sight did Caden address the man. “If you are here to lecture me about Lady Ella, you can save your breath.”
The major arched an eyebrow. “I am not worried about Ella. She has a sensible head on her shoulders. Besides, you will not walk out of here alive if you hurt her.”
Caden frowned. “I am not so far gone that you need to toss threats at me. Do you think I would ever purposely hurt that angel? She was the best thing in London. I haven’t stopped thinking of her since I met her last year. But that is where it ends. I am in no fit condition to court anyone. And I have these damn generals ready to take me around the country and tout me as a hero. I am no one’s hero.”
Major Brennan returned Caden’s frown with one of his own. “Are you suggesting you were a coward?”
“No. I fought alongside my men. But all I did was survive because the enemy chose not to kill me.”
“Why is that, do you think?”
“The reason for my survival? Who is asking? You or those damn generals?”
He cast Caden a wry smile. “Those damn generals. They are now hounding me to convince you to go along with their plan. I don’t care what they think. But I do care about Ella and how her heart could be broken.”
“I know. I am doing my best to be careful around her. Just don’t take her away from me yet.”
Caden was surprised he had just said that. But it was true. He had no hope of healing if he was denied Ella. He did not need to kiss her, and he did not need to dance with her.
He just needed to be with her.
The request took Major Brennan by surprise. “Are you in love with her?”
Caden groaned. “I don’t know. It is safer for her if I am not. My grandfather will not be pleased if I marry her. Not that I care what he thinks. He is damn well not going to choose my bride. But he can be vicious when things do not go as he planned. I will not subject her to that old demon.”
