Page 42 of The Heir's Fortune
She had never considered all of that. She had only seen what he had pointed out, the obvious, the things that all of thetongossiped about. She had been a fool, and as selfish as he had explained he could have been.
“I’m sorry, Gideon,” she said, standing with the baby in her arms. Jack began to cry slightly, apparently sensing her discord,which in turn sparked Scout to whine. “I never thought of all of that.”
He ran a hand through his hair.
“I was rather harsh. I apologize as well. I suppose I am rather… disconcerted if I am being honest with you.”
“Why, Gideon, were you overcome with all that occurred last night?”
He chuckled as he watched her rock back and forth, swaying her hips from side to side as Jack cuddled into her shoulder.
“Something like that.”
“You seemed rather adept at what you were doing,” she said with a mischievous grin and Gideon’s cheeks heated.
“Adept, yes,” he said. “Affected… also yes.”
She only smiled as she began humming a tune and continued her walk around the room, and Gideon wished his heart wasn’t pounding quite so hard at the reminder of their night together.
“Once everyone else arrives, we will search for the treasure, will we not?” she asked over her shoulder, and he nodded.
“Yes. Then we will know… what is to come.”
She turned around, her dark eyes piercing into his, saying so much more than their words could. Gideon had told her more of his inner thoughts than he ever shared with anyone, but it was the only way he knew to try to help her understand.
“So we will.”
They were both silent for a moment, considering the implications of what that could mean.
“I heard from the magistrate in Colchester,” Gideon said, changing the subject. “It seems thatDonRafael was released, after all.”
Madeline’s jaw dropped.
“Why?”
“It was as you said,” Gideon admitted bitterly. “He was a nobleman from Spain. To keep him in English custody wouldonly sour what are already strained relations. He was seen to a ship and promised to return to Spain.”
“But you do not believe he did.”
“Of course not. If he was willing to attempt to kill English nobility, then he certainly would not abandon his quest. Not when he is this close. He may not have appeared here himself, but I know he was behind it all.”
“So how do we find him?” Madeline asked from over the sleeping baby’s head, holding him close against her chest as though she could protect him from all that the world had in store.
“We don’t,” Gideon said grimly. “He will find us.”
“So?”Cassandra said, peeking her head in the door of the parlor a short time later. “How was Jack?”
“An angel, like always,” Madeline said softly from where she lay back on the Chesterfield once more, only this time she had a baby in her arms instead of one of her scandalous books. She didn’t turn her body toward Cassandra for fear of waking the baby, but she did try to shift her gaze toward her. “I know what you did.”
“Oh?” Cassandra said with an air of innocence as she walked through the room and sat on the matching chair. “And what is that?”
“You were trying to bring me and Gideon together,” Madeline accused her, although without malice. She hadn’t shared with Cassandra what had happened between them. She and Cassandra usually told one another everything, but this was Cassandra’s brother. It hardly seemed like somethingthat should be shared. She also didn’t need another person devastated if this didn’t work out.
“And, did it work?” Cassandra said hopefully, and Madeline sighed, stroking her hand over the soft hair on Jack’s head.
“I will not lie to you, Cassandra. I do feel something for Gideon.”
Cassandra leaned forward eagerly at the news and waited for Madeline to continue.
