Page 68 of The Heir's Fortune
“We wouldn’t want to disappoint Scout,” Gideon said, tugging Madeline into his side.
“No, we wouldn’t,” she said, shaking her head with a smile. “That settles it, I suppose.”
Soon enough, the horses were saddled and Gideon and Madeline were riding away as Scout made himself comfortable with Victor and the rest of the stable. Madeline looked over at Gideon with such love in her eyes, and Gideon didn’t know how he had become so lucky to have her. He wasn’t sure if hedeservedher love, but he had found it all the same.
“Would you like to race?” she asked with a grin.
“Of course,” he said as they set off toward the tree line. It would be the first stop to their final destination – one that he was hoping she would be happy with.
They pushed their horses until he and Madeline were neck and neck. She was bent low over Lady, in perfect form, and he couldn’t help but take a moment to admire how they moved as one. She truly was a formidable rider. Of course, riding side saddle restricted her some, but still, she was nearly out of her seat, urging her horse on.
He was so distracted that he lost focus for a moment, which was enough for her to pull ahead and beat him.
“Aha!” she called out when she made the treeline, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright. “I hope you did not allow me to win.”
“Never,” he said, shaking his head. “You are one with the horse, Madeline, truly. I never did tell you how impressive and brave it was when you escapedDonRafael.”
She shook her head. “It was the only way out that I could see.”
“Well, I’m glad that you took it, for I must tell you, I know that I could not do this life without you. Not anymore, now that I know what it is like to have you in it with me.”
She reached out, trailing her hand along his cheek as their eyes met and held.
“Where are we going?”
“Do you recall the groundskeeper’s cottage?”
“I do,” she said as they urged their horses forward and began walking.
“I thought perhaps we could make ourselves comfortable there. Soon enough it will be occupied again as I hope to hire him back soon.”
“Gideon, that’s wonderful!”
“He has done much for our family, it makes me feel like a boor for having let him go.”
“You did what you thought was best. It was either him or someone else, was it not?”
He nodded. “There was nothing else to go. We spend money on almost nothing besides food for the house as well as caring for our staff and the horses. Mother hasn’t had a new dress in years. It is one of the reasons she does not attend many social events.” He looked up at her with a troubled look. “I’m not sure what that will mean for you, but I promise I will do my very best?—”
“Gideon,” she said, holding up a hand. “I told you that I will help you. I do not need a multitude of new dresses every season to feel beautiful when the way that you look at me is more than enough.”
He smiled softly as they pulled up to the cottage, tying their horses on a nearby tree.
He stepped forward, taking her into his arms. “You are the most amazing treasure there could ever be. You know that, right?”
“I am beginning to,” she said softly.
He led her inside the cottage, which was small and cold at the moment, but he intended to fix that. He walked over to the fireplace, finding the tinderbox before lighting it and starting the fire, as a few logs still sat in the grate.
“That should warm up in a few minutes,” he said. “It’s not a big room so it shouldn’t take long.”
He set the tinderbox down, suddenly feeling rather awkward. He didn’t want to undress Madeline when it was so cold, and yet to stand here and wait?—
His thoughts stopped, however, when she came behind him and wrapped her arms around his back, pressing the side of her cheek against him.
“Gideon,” she whispered. “It’s me.”
“I know,” he said. “Who else would it be?”
