Page 71 of The Heir's Fortune
She sensed Gideon’s presence behind her before she heard or felt him, and soon his arms came around her waist, his mouth nuzzling into her neck, which she leaned into.
“Are you not afraid that someone might see us?” she asked.
“What does it matter?” he said. “Our servants have certainly proven their loyalty and our friends do not hide their affection when they are here.”
“True,” she said with a laugh that quickly died away when she thought of the future. “I will miss them when they all return home.”
“I know,” he said. “They have all noted their intention to stay until our wedding and then they will return to their prospective estates. Do you think your father will be here to see us wed?”
She shrugged. “It is not as though we are particularly far from London, and he loves the ride so it is possible. Whether he will choose to make the time for it or not is another question.”
“Does that trouble you?”
“No,” she said truthfully, turning in his arms. “I have you and the rest of our friends, who are my chosen family now.”
“We most certainly are,” Cassandra said as she walked into the foyer, Devon behind her. “Well, you and I were always family, but now you have the rest of us too. We all do. I believe it is time that we properly celebrate your engagement and the end of this treasure hunt, what do you think?”
“I think that is a brilliant idea,” Devon said, even as Gideon was shaking his head.
“A nice dinner will be enough.”
“Gideon,” Madeline said, tilting her head. “We are at Castleton. A nice dinner might not entirely be part of our plans.”
“Actually,” he said, with an incline of his head. “I have a surprise. Anderson told me his sister was looking for work, and, as it happens, she is a cook. A good one too,” he said at Cassandra’s skeptical look. “I spoke to Mother about it and she was infinitely relieved. In the meantime, Hattie has expressed her desire to be a lady’s maid, to which I am told by the housekeeper she will be much more suited. As you told me that yours would prefer to return home closer to her family?—”
“She can be mine,” Madeline said with a smile. “Perfect.”
“I feel as though you are already part of Castleton,” Gideon said as the four of them began walking together to the drawing room, where the rest of their friends awaited. “Mother will likely spend more time here in the country as well, now that she doesn’t need to be in London with Cassandra for the Season. We will split our time with my Parliamentary obligations but she spends so much of her time with Father that I am sure she would love to have you take on some of the household duties.”
“She most certainly would,” Cassandra said holding out a small glass to Madeline that she had collected from the sideboard of the drawing room, where the drinks had already been poured and awaited them.
It seemed that this party was happening whether Gideon wanted it to or not. His demeanor was relaxed, however, and Madeline had the feeling that as much as he protested, he was happy to be free of his obligations – for one night, at least.
Madeline felt a touch on her elbow and she turned, finding Faith standing behind her.
“Madeline, could I speak to you for a moment?”
“Of course.”
They moved off to the side and Faith reached out and took her hand.
“I need to offer you an apology,” she said.
“Whatever for?”
“For being uncertain about you and Gideon. I was wrong. Seeing the two of you together, it is obvious how much you love one another and how you complement one another well. I should know better than to assume opposites would not work well together.”
She smiled in recognition of her own marriage, and Madeline patted the top of her hand.
“You were only looking out for me, which I appreciate. But thank you.”
Faith smiled gratefully at her before Devon called out their names.
“A toast!” Devon said, waving all of them forward, until the ten of them stood in a circle in the middle of the drawing room, glasses held up before them. Gideon wrapped his free hand around Madeline’s waist, holding her against him, her back to his front.
“Gideon, would you like to do the honors?” Devon asked, and Gideon lifted his drink toward him.
“You start,” he said. “I will finish.”
