Page 33 of The Heir's Fortune
“My mother has much on her mind,” he said. “I try not to bother her with such things.”
“You need a wife then,” Madeline said, her eyes gleaming, and Gideon couldn’t help but watch the way the silver spoon ran over her lips.
“Y-yes,” he stammered, losing the ability to think properly. Was that her goal here? “I have been aware of that for some time. I was waiting to discover what treasure awaited.”
“What does the treasure have to do with finding a wife?” she asked with a frown, and Gideon paused, uncertain of how much to tell her. To say it aloud sounded so superficial, and yet it was not as though it was his choice – it was simply how things were.
He leaned back against the wall behind him, throwing Scout the rest of the chicken without the bone. He was aware that he was only wearing his nightshirt and wrapper as well. It seemed too familiar to be in such a state of undress together, and yet it was also strangely natural as well.
“You know about the state of the dukedom,” he said as fact instead of a question, for he knew that Cassandra shared most everything with her.
“I do.”
“And you know I have been hoping that this treasure will help us restore our fortunes to what they need to be in order to look after our properties and our people?”
“Of course.” A light dawned in her eyes as she met his. “You will marry to restore that fortune instead.”
“If I must.”
“Cassandra never mentioned that was your plan, but it makes perfect sense. It is what most do,” she murmured. Gideon didn’t miss the look in her eyes, only he wasn’t sure if he was misreading it or only hoping for something more.
“Why have you not done so already?”
He had to look away then, for the truth was not one he had an interest in readily sharing.
“To be honest, I had always hoped I would have the opportunity to find someone who could be like a… partner to me.”
“A partner,” she repeated. “Knowing you, by a partner, you mean someone who could help you look after everything, who is practical and knowledgeable and understands the workings of the dukedom?”
That was not it at all. The truth was, he was hoping he might find someone he could love, who would love him in turn, but the notion was so fanciful that he couldn’t say it aloud. He barely admitted it to himself.
“Something like that,” was what he murmured instead.
“I see,” she said. “As it happens, I need to marry as well, but unfortunately I do not have the fortune you are looking for.”
He smiled ruefully. “I know.”
“Oh, you have considered me, then?”
His eyes shot up, meeting hers, uncertain of what the meaning was behind her words.
“What is happening here, Madeline?” he asked in a low voice.
“Do you mean between us?”
“Yes.”
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” she said, looking up at him from beneath her thick, dark eyelashes. “One moment you are kissing me in the woods, the next you are walking away from me as though nothing happened.”
“I wasn’t sure if it was something you would want to revisit or forget about.”
“I would never have kissed you first if I didn’t want anything more to occur,” she said, with a smile as she took a couple of steps toward him. “I just need to know if you kissed me back out of obligation or desire.”
His breath came faster the closer she moved. Her long dark hair was currently loose and free around her shoulders and he lifted his hand to run his fingers through it, waiting for her to pull back and away from him, but instead, she only leaned in,
“I do many things out of obligation, Madeline,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Kissing you is not one of them.”
He leaned down, then, cupping her head with his hands as he lowered his lips to hers. She was soft, lush, and pillowy, and he drank her in, his senses alive with the taste of her and the cranberries she had just finished. The kiss was a slow dance, one that spoke of longing for more. Heat radiated from Madeline's body, her warmth seeping into Gideon’s very soul.
