Page 44 of The Heir's Fortune
“So it has. But everyone is making do, and people support you, Gideon, truly they do. Everyone, from the servants to the tenants, knows what you have been faced with and what you are trying to do.”
“And I am failing.”
“You are not.” She stepped closer, that determined expression that he knew well covering her face as she lifted a finger and pointed it at him. “Believe that you are enough, Gideon. And if you forget, well, that’s why I am here to remind you.”
He sighed as she turned on her heel and walked away. He looked down at Scout, who was studying him quizzically as one ear flopped down low.
“I know. I should say something,” he muttered before calling out, “Cassandra?”
“Yes?” she said, turning around and taking a few steps back toward him.
“I just want you to know that I do… I appreciate you. All you have done for me and are still doing. Especially?—”
She grinned at his inability to express himself properly.
“I know, Gideon. I love you too.” And with a spring in her step, she turned and walked away.
“They’re here!”
As Cassandra with Jack and Madeline with Scout hurried to the front window, Gideon held back, his hands in his pockets as he waited for his friends’ arrival. Once they were here, their plan would begin to take place. He wasn’t nearly as excited as he had been before, for he knew now that there was far too great a chance that something could get in his way and halt this before it even began.
But once they all arrived, it would, in one way or another, be the beginning of the rest of his life.
Whether that journey was a smooth road or a treacherous one remained to be seen.
“Whitehall, good to see you,” he said, shaking the viscount’s hand as he and his wife, the former Lady Hope, walked through the front door. They lived the closest to Castleton so it made sense that they would arrive first, although Gideon knew they had already taken extensive travels over the past year.
It would take longer for Hope’s sister, Faith, and her husband, Lord Ferrington, to journey to Castleton, for they lived a good deal farther and had just returned home a few weeks ago. Although Ferrington was always up for adventure, so it likely didn’t take much to have him back in his carriage once more.
Rowley – Ferrington’s brother – and his wife, whom all of the women affectionately called Percy, would likely beat them here as they were travelling from London, where he was working on his research.
Here Gideon was, disrupting all of their lives once more.
He knew they wanted to help, but he also hated that they likely saw him as a chump who they had to continually leave the rest of their lives behind for. Did Madeline feel that way too?
“Who is this?” Whitehall asked, bending down, surprising Gideon by showing attention to the dog, who jumped up and licked his face.
“Scout,” Gideon said. “We found him on the property and he’s decided to make himself at home here.”
At that moment, Madeline looked across the room and caught his eye, and suddenly it seemed as though Scout belonged to both of them. Which would make it difficult if she eventually had to leave.
The women followed Hope upstairs, likely to discuss all that had occurred and Gideon did his duties as host, even though he couldn’t help but wish that this was all over – and he could know whether he had a chance with the woman he was falling in love with.
The rain was falling softlythe next morning – which was exactly as Madeline preferred it. She knew that she likely shouldn’t be out riding alone, not with everything that had happened to her, but she was confident enough on a horse that she knew no one could be a threat as she rode. One thing she could say for her father was he had always found the best mount for her.
Victor, the stable hand, was less than thrilled that she was alone, making his opinion known with frowns and continual comments about the weather.
“It is really raining, my lady,” he said. “You will be soaked.”
“I like the rain,” she said with a smile, although he still seemed dubious. “It is freeing.”
He nodded, although from his expression she had the feeling that he thought she was out of her mind.
Her horse whinnied at her when they stepped outside the stables, but after a toss of her head, continued on, used to Madeline taking her out in all kinds of weather. Madeline knew Lady – she would rather be out here running in the rain than cooped up in the stables, much like her.
She led her to the field where she and Gideon had raced before, giving her the lead to run as she wished. It was tranquil out here, the air filled with a subtle mist, the rain not pouring any longer but rather descending gracefully from the heavens.
The grass below her horse’s feet took on a deeper shade of green, the scent of the wet earth rising around them.
