Chapter Twelve #3
After another brief dance lesson, Gwenys and Miranda went off to run errands while Suzanna and Gwendolyn agreed to return to Gideon’s shambles of a townhouse with Bonham to work on yet another plumbing innovation.
Gideon frowned at his friend. “I thought you took care of all the plumbing issues.”
“I did,” Bonham said. “But Suzanna has a brilliant idea about a piping system to bring running water directly up to your private quarters. She says the Romans had these types of water conduits in place a thousand years ago. One can see just this example in the Roman baths that still exist in the town of Bath, she claims.”
“Those old Roman baths? Are you talking about a communal bathing system? In my own dressing room? Am I supposed to throw a party every time I bathe?”
Bonham chuckled. “No, you arse. Although you can take whomever you wish into your bath. But would it not be convenient to shorten the time and effort in getting water to you? As much as you need within reach of your hand.”
Gideon sighed. “All right. Just show me the plan, but do not rip up any floors or walls until I give the nod.”
“Got it,” Bonham said, and walked off with Suzanna and Gwendolyn.
Berry was now left alone with Gideon. “Will you return to your club now?” she asked.
“No. I meant it when I said we would spend the entire day together. I am not letting you out of my sight.”
“Because of Hawthorne? He’s probably drunk by now,” she said, not bothering to mask her disdain.
“It troubles me that he got so close to me. In truth, it scares the wits out of me. What if I had slept with my bedroom window open? He could have climbed in, and I would have been stupidly unaware because I took that sleeping powder. What a foolish thing to do.”
“It wasn’t foolish. Just don’t take anything tonight.”
“You can count on that. I doubt I will sleep a wink this entire month. I pray he loses interest in me and moves on. But what am I to do if he refuses? How am I ever to be rid of him while my fortune remains a temptation to him?”
“Hopefully, his creditors will run him out of England soon.”
“Even so, what’s to stop another greedy fool like Hawthorne from attempting the same? I am a target for every cad and bounder so long as I remain unmarried.”
Gideon frowned. “Are you contemplating marriage? Do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes and no. Yes, I need to think seriously about marriage. I never expected to remain a spinster. But here I am, approaching thirty and no prospects in sight. And no to your second question, I do not have anyone in mind.”
“No one at all? Berry, rushing into marriage with the wrong man will only lead to a different set of problems. You cannot accept just anyone who asks you to be his wife.”
“Then what is the solution? Am I to stay awake with a shotgun in hand every night?”
“Of course not. I’ll be guarding you. No one will get into your rear garden tonight, or any other night. I have a clear view of your home from mine, as you well know.”
Yes, a clear view.
And it worked both ways.
She and her friends had been ogling him all month long while he toiled on his renovations.
“How can you possibly work all day and stay up all night guarding me? And you run your clubs at night, so don’t you need to be there?”
“I’ll hire permanent guards for you. My expense.”
“That is foolish.”
“No more foolish than your choosing to marry in haste or out of fear.”
She sighed. “I won’t. But marriage is a sensible solution that I ought to pursue more seriously. That’s all I mean by it. Since we are to spend the day together, we can think on it and come up with a workable plan to solve this problem. In the meanwhile, would you like to shop for furniture?”
He let out a breath and laughed. “Sure, why not?”
“Or we could select floorboards and stains for the floors of your house. But it must be marble tile for your entry hall, and I have an idea about that tile flooring. How tight is your budget?”
He shrugged. “Spend whatever you like.”
Her eyes rounded. “No, really. Tell me what your limit is for the entry hall decoration.”
“No limit. The moon’s the limit. I am entirely in your hands. Spend whatever you think necessary. But if it will make you feel better, give me an estimate of the cost.”
“I have to price the malachite. It is the most beautiful green stone you will ever see. I heard there was a Russian czar who had an entire staircase made of it. He believed it had protective powers to ward off evil spirits. I’m sure he made a lot of enemies who wished evil on him.
The stone is also known to promote health, wealth, and fertility.
So be careful if you bring a young lady to your bed,” she teased.
“Berry, there will be no ladies brought here.”
“Oh, I see. Yes, of course. You would take them to your club. Like the beautiful ladies I saw you with at the theater the other night.”
“This is not a proper topic of conversation,” he cautioned her. “Tell me more about the malachite stone.”
“Well, I have no intention of using it on an entire staircase. It will be used sparingly on the design of the entry hall floor as an accent piece. Even that small piece will be expensive. But extremely tasteful.”
“Everything you do is tasteful. I know I am in the best hands with you. Is there a shop we can go to that will have this precious green stone?”
“Yes, there’s a warehouse near the docks. We’ll find the malachite and wood samples, and whatever else we might need for the other rooms in the house.”
“All right, let’s go,” he said. “But we’ll use my carriage. Brent is my driver and he is most reliable in a fight. Still, bring along your two armed footmen.”
“Do you think there will be a fight? It isn’t a good part of town, but ought to be safe enough at this hour when the docks are so busy. The thieves and cutpurses generally come out later in the evening.”
“It is Hawthorne I am concerned about. He might be following us. Well, it is you he would be following.”
She looked up at him and cast him a fragile smile. “I’m not afraid when I’m with you, Gideon. You make me feel safe.”
“Gad, the way you look at me,” he muttered, casting her a wry smile in return as he caressed her cheek. “Oh, Berry. I am not safe at all. Careful, or I might be tempted to take you into my bed.”
“I hope so,” she whispered, and then gasped. “I mean… Oh my. I…” She clutched her stomach. “That came out wrong.”
But she did mean it.
And now he knew how she felt about him.
“I…” She let out a breath that ended in a pained groan.
She avoided his stare by gazing directly into his chest, his broad and hard-as-rocks chest.
He tucked a finger under her chin and tipped her head upward. “Berry…”
She eeped and immediately closed her eyes because she was too ashamed to look at him.
“Berry, open your eyes.”
“No. How can I when you now know how I feel about you? Although you must be used to ladies swooning over you. I’ve never swooned over anyone before. Not even an errant tingle. But I turn feverish whenever I look at you. It is awful. Tell me this is nothing serious and will quickly pass.”
He gave her cheek another light caress. “Nothing serious? Are you talking about love?”
“Oh, you must not mention that word.”
“Love?”
She groaned. “I don’t know what this is. My heart races and I can never catch my breath when I am with you. I do not like this helpless feeling at all. I’m so sorry. This must be so awkward for you. It certainly is for me. I do not understand what is going on with my heart.”
“It is no different than how I feel about you,” he said, his voice husky. “Why do you think I said that I would never bring another woman into my house?”
“Because it is your sanctuary,” she replied, her eyes still firmly shut.
“No.” He ran his thumb lightly across her lower lip.
“It is because of you, Berry. I have been in agony ever since meeting you. Here is my truth, and I can assure you I am not happy about it, either. I have spent a lifetime guarding my heart and ensuring no one would ever take possession of it. Five minutes with you, and all my defenses crumbled. You’ve had my heart since our first encounter.
You are the only woman I ever want sharing my bed. ”
Her eyes flew open.
He cast her a wry smile. “I had resolved never to tell you, but it would have required me to lie to you. And I want only the truth between us, especially about something as important as this. I am in love with you. There, it’s all out now.
But we are going to do nothing about our feelings for each other. ”
“Nothing at all?”
“No, not a thing.”
“Not even a kiss?”