Chapter Three #4
“Not all of the pledges might be honored,” Gideon warned, moving to the side and propping his shoulder against the hearth mantel. He had made note of those who could not be trusted, and knew there would likely be about a five-hundred-pound shortfall.
Lord Berwick nodded. “How much do you think I ought to deduct from the total?”
Gideon gave him his estimate.
“Ah, then that might leave us a few pounds short of our goal.”
“I’ll make up any shortfall,” Gideon said.
“In fact, here.” He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and withdrew a bank draft he had written out before arriving.
The sum happened to be in the same amount as his estimated shortfall, but this was mere coincidence.
Five hundred pounds had felt like a good number to donate as a start.
He was ready to give more as needed over the course of the year.
Berry’s expression turned tender when he handed the draft over to her. “Thank you, Mr. Knight. This is very generous. You did not need to give me anything.”
He shook his head. “There is no better cause for me, as you know. St. Brigid’s is where I was raised. Where many of us survived and thrived because of your family. This is only the start. Never hesitate to come to me if more is ever required. But I do have one request.”
She was already nodding without having heard him out. “Yes?”
“My donations are to remain anonymous.”
She stared at him in surprise. “But why?”
“Two reasons. The first is that I have a bad reputation and wish to maintain it.”
Her eyes, those lovely, sparkling orbs he was going to dream about tonight, widened. “You cannot be serious.”
“Oh, but I am. Not everyone I deal with is as honest and decent as Lord Berwick. Some are only kept honest through fear of what I might do to them if they ever tried to cheat me. If word gets out that I am contributing to charities, they might believe I have gone soft and seek to take advantage.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Lady Berry, no one takes advantage of me and gets away with it.”
“Oh.” She put a hand to her throat. “You hurt people?”
“No, I never have done. But this is precisely because they fear me and no one will dare put me to the test.”
“Would you ever hurt anyone?”
“I don’t know. Never a good person, for those I will protect. But as to the bad ones? Depends on how bad they are and whether they are trying to hurt an innocent. Who would you rather see harmed? The innocent or the vicious attacker?”
“The attacker, of course. Well, it appears you have a soft heart for some things.”
“For most things,” he corrected her. “But when one deals with bad people, it is always wisest to appear more dangerous than they are.”
“I shall honor your request. If you wish to be thought of as an angel of vengeance or retribution, I shall not give you away. What is your second reason for maintaining anonymity?”
“You.”
She blushed. “Me?”
He nodded. “You would have brought in more donations from your friends and acquaintances had I not been here today. While many might not say it to your face, they resented my presence and resented you for inviting me. More than a few went out of their way to give me the cut direct. If they were to learn I was one of the orphanage’s benefactors, they might break off any association with St. Brigid’s.
They might go so far as to distance themselves from you. ”
She tipped her chin up. “My true friends never would.”
He sighed. “You would be surprised how few true friends one gains over the course of one’s life. Lady Berry, everyone adores you. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?”
“All right,” she said with a bob of her head. “I understand your reasons and will honor them. But I want you to know that you have my sincere gratitude, and I am not ashamed to consider you a friend.”
Bollocks.
She was going to turn him soft as pudding.
“I am honored,” he replied. “But do not consider me a friend. It serves you no good purpose and can only damage your reputation. However, if you ever have a worry or need my help in anything, you have only to ask. Please, never hesitate.”
He now turned to Lord Berwick and contemplated the reason he was asked to stay on. “I think this is why you brought me here, isn’t it? Hoping that I might quietly watch over Lady Berry now that we are neighbors.”
Lord Berwick nodded. “Yes, in part. But there’s more. Berry’s father trusted me to look out for her, and I hope I have done my best.”
“No one could have been kinder or shown more care than you and Lady Berwick,” Berry insisted. “Not only have you been a trusted guardian, but a wise friend, advisor, and trustee.”
“Yes, and this is my concern. The trustee situation, my dear. Lord Wilkins was to be my successor, but he is ailing and cannot possibly manage your funds. So, who is to succeed me when I am no longer able to perform my duties? Lord Wilkins wishes to resign immediately. My solicitor is drawing up his resignation as we speak. The terms of your father’s trust allow me to appoint a successor trustee. I wish to designate Mr. Knight.”
Gideon was rarely ever caught off guard, but this threw him. He was certain Lord Berwick had only meant to give him some of those charity funds to invest.
But all along, Lord Berwick had meant to give him Berry.
Blessed saints. He had not seen that cannonball coming at all.
This also meant he would be given responsibility for St. Brigid’s, since the Thane family had been the orphanage’s life support for generations.
“Obviously, Berry no longer needs a guardian. It is the matter of her trust fund and the management of St. Brigid’s endowment.
I can think of no one more capable or trustworthy than you, Knight.
Please, this is very important to me. Berry is as dear to me and Lady Berwick as our own daughters.
I hope to have many more good years ahead of me, but let us be realistic.
I am older than Lord Wilkins. I must protect Berry, and that means having the best man to look after her when I am gone. ”
Berry began to cry. “You must not speak like that, Lord Berwick. Indeed, you must go on forever. I would be lost without you.”
Gideon wanted to reach out and take her in his arms, but that was a bad idea. He was already too attracted to her and this was dangerous.
Lady Berwick hugged her, and then Lord Berwick came around to the front of the desk and took her in his arms. “There, there, my sweet Berry. I am not going anywhere just yet. And you will always have my dear wife and daughters for family.”
Lord Berwick looked over at Gideon and cast him a pleading look.
Bollocks.
Double bollocks.
He could not refuse the man.
But how would it look if he were taking care of Berry?
Well, he was only meant to look after her finances. No one had to know he would also be watching over her like a hawk and chasing away snakes like Viscount Hawthorne and other assorted vermin. Perhaps it would be all right.
She also had a woman by the name of Mrs. Garland that Lord Berwick had hired as a chaperone and companion for Berry years ago.
A genteel lady of Berry’s stature could not live alone without being looked upon with censure.
But Gideon understood Mrs. Garland was also getting on in years.
Miranda and Berry had just been talking about how the old woman stayed mostly in her bedchamber now.
Berry could not reside alone.
So, who would take over as companion to Berry if something happened to Mrs. Garland? Who would be in charge of interviewing and hiring her replacement?
Lord Berwick was right. Gideon needed to take charge.
Who else would better protect Berry?
He gave the nod. “Have your solicitor draw up the designation and my acceptance. I’ll sign whatever you need.”