The Moonstone Hero (The Moonstone Landing Book 5) by Meara Platt

Author:Meara Platt [Platt, Meara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“Caden was right to keep you at arm’s length, Ella,” Cormac said as he paced the carpet in front of her later that evening. They were in his study at Westgate Hall, now joined by Fionn and Cain, who had come over for the sole purpose of discussing her unladylike behavior at the hospital this morning.

Well, discuss was not the right word.

They lectured her. Admonished her. Had the gall to berate her.

After ten minutes of droning on about the ills of her impertinence, they went off in a corner to quietly talk among themselves. They were discussing what, if anything, was to be done with her. She was too old to be spanked and sent up to her room without supper. Besides, they all knew Imogen, her ever-loyal sister, would sneak a king’s banquet up to her, so depriving her of food was never going to work.

Not that they ever seriously contemplated it.

For all their frowns and glowers, they were too soft-hearted to seriously punish her. In fact, they were probably going to dismiss her without any punishment at all.

But they felt she needed a bit more lecturing.

She waited patiently for them to finish before taking her turn.

“The Duke of Seaton hit his grandson,” she argued, having had enough of being told what to do. “Not a gentle slap, either. Closer to a punch in the face.” She tipped her chin up in indignation. “Was I to let that ogre get away with it?”

“Yes,” Cain said, emphasizing his response with a bearlike growl. “Caden is not a defenseless child. Do you have any idea how dangerous it was to get between them?”

“There was no risk to me. Even though Caden was not going to defend himself, he would have protected me to the death if his grandfather attempted to strike me. He is ridiculously honorable that way.”

The three of them were groaning again.

“You would have done the same if you were there. Caden was not even trying to protect himself. Who knows what more damage his grandfather might have inflicted if I had not come to his rescue? How can the three of you stand there and frown at me? The duke is the one who needs to be taken to the woodshed and have his bottom spanked.”

They struggled not to grin, but Ella knew they were not really furious with her. However, they were very concerned the duke might do something to retaliate for her smacking him on the backside with her broom…repeatedly.

She sighed. “Caden is leaving tomorrow morning and will forget all about me. His grandfather will forget me, too.”

“That boy is in love with you, Ella,” Fionn said. “I know exactly what he is feeling and how he is struggling, since I went through this same agony with Chloe. He is doing what he thinks is best for you now. We all agree with him. I will admit, I wasn’t sure at first. But after meeting the duke, I am on board with his decision.”

“And what do your wives say?”

Cormac frowned.

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