Page 98 of The Lyon Returns
“He did not think her too good for you, but the reverse,” she summarized neatly.
“He always did see me as better than I am,” Gideon admitted.
“I doubt that very much,” Gwen said, then shivered.
“Here,” Gideon said, pulling back the bedcovers for her to climb between the sheets. Once there, she sidled up close to him and propped herself up with pillows.
“In the end, I did as Father instructed. I sailed for India.” That had been the start of his shipping venture, and what he’d thought would be, lifelong friendship with Dirk, a man who had worked for his mother’s family for many years and who smoothed the way for Gideon to step into the role he currently held. In an unheard-of amount of time, thanks to Dirk’s influence, Gideon became one of the top shipping magnates operating out of Calcutta.
“Having successfully founded my shipping company in the east, I returned to London at age twenty-four to establish the western front of my business. I expected to learn of Grayson’s engagement, or perhaps even marriage, to Lady Francis.
“Instead, I learned he had recently left on a tour of the Continent. The duchess called to tell me. She had other news as well. It seemed Grayson had compromised Fannie that summer but did not wish to wed her. Of course, I had my theories on how such a course might have transpired.”
“You had dealt with her machinations, yourself, and wondered if the so-called compromising had occurred at her behest.”
“Yes. Either way, however, each of us must own our actions.Grayson was responsible for his part.”
“Yes,Grayson,” she said stressing his brother’s name. “What had any of it to do with you?”
He met her compassion-filled eyes, and knew she had already worked the answer out for herself.
“Lady Ashwood said atonement must be made. She said I owed Grayson and my father, and, if I did this one thing, I could consider the debt paid.”
“Thisonething?” Gwen spat, then made a visible effort to tamp down her temper before speaking again. “She wanted you to marry Fannie in Grayson’s stead? Why could he not do right by Fannie?”
Gideon shrugged. “Unfortunately, he was not around to ask. In the end, I did her bidding, for my brother and my father. I could not allow scandal to wreak havoc on their lives when it was in my power to stop it.”
“Of course, because you are honorable and loyal to your core. Your family is very lucky to have you, sir.”
He shook his head, uncomfortable with her praise. “I do not know about that, and after all, as you yourself said earlier, there are many different bases for marriage. This one was as good as the next. One thing, however, I have never been able to fathom, a truth I gleaned only after the ceremony.” He swallowed down the old bitterness. “My brother had done more than dally with her.”
Gwen’s hand shook as she drew it to her face to cover her mouth. “You mean, the baby she died giving birth to was…”
“Grayson’s.”
“Oh, Gideon. And you married her not knowing.”
When Grayson returned from his long voyage, he came to see Gideon. Gideon had anticipated some sort of admission, perhaps an apology, or at the very least, thanks.
Instead, Grayson half-heartedly congratulated Gideon. “Better you than me, old boy,” he’d said.
Gwen cupped Gideon’s cheek. “Do you think…surely he did not know of the babe. And, if I know you, you did not tell him, so as not to cause him undue pain.”
Gideon covered her hand with his, then took it and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I do not know if he was aware of the child. I like to think he was not, however, something Fannie said…” He broke off, not wishing to speak the words aloud. “Something she said led me to believe Graysondidknow about the child.”
He recalled Fannie, that last night, as she lay dying.I told him…about the babe, and he said…let Gideon raise my bastard. Tell him, Gideon, that it was a boy.
Mother and son were buried together. Gideon attended the funeral, then left for India the next day. Nothing had ever been the same between him and his brother since.
What had Brice said recently? Something about Grayson being a grown man now, and, as such, Gideon should leave the past behind. Mayhap he was right. Somehow hearing Gwen’s own tale made it clear in a way he had never understood before. To move forward, one must release the past or be bound by it.
Suddenly, he wanted very much to move forward, not that he knew what that might look like.
Gwen snaked one slender arm from beneath the covers and traced her fingertips over his brow, along his hairline.
He repressed a shiver, closing his eyes as she continued her gentle exploration.
“Gideon?”
