Page 12 of The Heir's Fortune
“The danger that comes from searching the paths of the grounds is all,” Gideon said with a forced smile, and his mother nodded, although she looked unconvinced.
“Have the Spanish returned, then?” his father asked, taking a bite of his bread, which was, perhaps, the only edible food on their plates.
“Returned?” Gideon said, his eyebrows rising. As far as Madeline was aware, they hadn’t shared with their parents thatDonRafael and his men had been so close to reaching Castleton after they had followed Faith and Lord Ferrington back toEngland. They had, however, been intercepted and seen to by the proper authorities.
“Yes, Grandfather chased them off not long ago when he found men on our land,” the duke said, his reference to his grandfather indicating that he was having a momentary lapse back to the past. “He was worried they would return.”
Gideon and Lord Ashford exchanged a glance.
“We’ll keep an eye out,” Gideon said.
Madeline knew that the threat that had followed them along this treasure hunt should leave her with some fear of what could be ahead if she stayed at Castleton, but she was more excited than anything about the risk. It wasn’t that dangerappealedto her, it was just that secrets and mysteries kept life interesting.
And not everythinghadto have a happy ending – a subject that she and Cassandra had argued more than once.
“Lady Madeline, how is your father?” the duchess asked, changing the subject.
“He is well,” she said, before adding nonchalantly, “In fact, he is considering marrying again.”
“Is he now?” The duchess asked, seemingly thrilled.
“Yes. He is concerned that he will be alone once I marry. I have told him that shouldn’t be an issue, for I have no intention of that occurring anytime soon.”
“Whyever not?” the duchess asked in surprise.
“Many reasons,” Madeline said with a small, satisfied smile that she was, apparently, still unpredictable. “I suppose I have not yet found the right man.”
“I’m sure you will one day, dear.”
After dinner finished, instead of the gentlemen remaining in the dining room, the duchess suggested that they all make for the drawing room.
“Shall we play whist?” she asked, to which they agreed.
“We shall need partners. Cassandra, you and Lord Covington best partner together. I will partner the duke, which leaves Gideon with Lady Madeline. Cassandra, why do you and Lord Covington not play Lady Madeline and Gideon first and then we shall play the victor?”
The duchess ushered them into places around the table, and Madeline found herself seated next to Gideon on the sofa, his hard thigh pressed against hers as she found she couldn’t stay upright on the soft cushions of the sofa. It took all of the strength of her body to keep herself from falling into him.
Madeline was perturbed to discover, however, that she was not completely averse to their proximity. There was no denying that he was an attractive man and, at one time, perhaps she would have considered him a potential husband.
If she wasn’t aware of how he had utterly betrayed Cassandra.
Cassandra might have forgiven Gideon and her mother for what they had done to her years ago. Madeline understood that they had thought they were in the right for sending her away when they had discovered her ruination, but it had affected Cassandra in ways that they couldn’t imagine.
Madeline could not find it in herself to forgive them for it – nor forget.
No matter how much they might have thought they were doing the “right thing,” ultimately, their love for their daughter and sister should have won out over whatever they thought society would expect.
At first, Madeline had hated Gideon for it. Over time, however, she had begun to understand the complexity of the situation. It lessened her degree of distaste for him, but she still could not imagine ever spending a great deal of time with a man who could do such a thing to his sister.
But here she was, his partner – for tonight, at least.
She glanced over at Gideon as he shuffled the deck of cards, his movements precise and controlled, as in everything he did. His blue eyes, so similar to Cassandra’s and yet with a wariness that his sister did not possess, were intense and guarded when he met her gaze.
Madeline was never one to be uncertain as to what to say, and yet she found herself at a loss for words in the uncomfortable silence of the room.
For quite some time she had wanted to confront him about the decision he had made in the past, but Cassandra had asked her to let it go and move on as she had, telling her that all had ended well and to bring it up again would only be causing trouble where it was no longer found.
At the moment, Cassandra and her husband were so involved with one another that they hardly seemed to recognize anyone around them. Perhaps once one found such a great love, nothing else much mattered anymore.
