Chapter Seventeen
Berry had closed her eyes a moment, for she was exhausted but also exhilarated by Lord Berwick’s admission that Gideon might be the right man for her. He would give his blessing if they chose to marry, and that was all that mattered.
Upon opening her eyes, she had expected to find Gideon returned to her side. Instead, she saw one of those beautiful ladies Gideon had escorted to the Covent Garden theater shortly after they had first met.
Up close, she did not look quite so pretty. In fact, she looked haughty and held malice in her eyes.
Berry realized this woman was not meant to be here, for Gideon would never have allowed someone like her anywhere near her or Lord Berwick.
“He is mine,” the woman spat. “He’ll drop you now that he has bedded you. You were nothing more than a challenge. The high and mighty Lady Berry. Well, he’s had you now and will soon lose interest.”
“Had me?” Berry wanted to laugh at the notion, for were her lumps and bruises not obvious enough indication that something other than a tryst was going on?
Gideon walked in just then—a relief, because Berry thought this woman was capable of putting a pillow over her head and suffocating her. “Get out, Jasmine,” he said harshly. “Who let you up here?”
“I know my way well enough. After all, I am quite familiar with your bed,” the woman purred. “You used to enjoy my company once.”
“Dear heaven,” he muttered, approaching her. “That was in the past.” He cast Berry a pained glance, no doubt mortified about what she was thinking.
She made no effort to say anything.
What could she say? He obviously had an imperfect past, but was he any different from other bachelors who sought out ladies for casual encounters or took on a mistress?
What mattered was his conduct since meeting her, and had it not been exemplary?
Whether he would revert to his past ways and past dalliances was a question yet to be answered, but Berry was ready to wager her heart on his being faithful.
She did not think that a man who valued loyalty as dearly as he did would ever be disloyal himself.
Gideon groaned. “You’ve had several benefactors since that time, Jasmine. Do not pretend there is anything between us.”
Jasmine placed her hands on Gideon’s chest with proprietary familiarity. “But none were as good as you, my love. Why did you take me to the theater the other night if you did not wish us to get back together?”
“As a favor to you and Chloe, that’s all. Nothing more to it. Come downstairs with me.” He took her by the elbow and attempted to steer her out of his bedchamber.
“No, I will not go. Get her out of here.”
“Do not make it more embarrassing for yourself,” he warned. But she was intent on causing a scene.
“I am not leaving!” Jasmine glared at Berry. “She is the one who must leave!”
“Are you that blinded by jealousy?” Gideon spoke softly, but Berry could tell he was seething. “Do you not see she is injured? Lord Berwick was also hurt tonight and he is now settled in Bonham’s bed. They almost died. How could her gashes and bruises have escaped your notice?”
“Hah! Too bad they didn’t die. They don’t belong here. She doesn’t belong with you. Her sort will never accept you.”
Gideon frowned. “What is wrong with you? Why aren’t you with Haverstock? What brought you here at this hour? Come downstairs and talk to me. You have been acting oddly lately, and I am very worried about you.”
“You think I am demented? Isn’t that a laugh,” she said harshly. “Perhaps I am. But it is men like you who have made me this way.”
Berry was listening intently to this exchange.
“No,” Gideon said firmly. “I offered you a respectable position, but you chose this life for yourself. Do not blame me for the path you now regret.”
“I do not regret my choices!”
“Then why are you here?” Gideon appeared to be struggling to understand what was going on in this lady’s mind. “Why rage at Lady Berry when she has never done you any harm?”
“Because she does not need to lift a finger and has everything. And now, she even has you. Or is it the fact she is an heiress that attracts you?” She laughed once again.
“Beware, Lady Berry. He can be quite persuasive when he wants to be. But do not be fooled by his charm. Beneath it all he is ruthless in getting what he wants, and in disposing of whoever he no longer desires. Run away from him while you can, because he will destroy you once he has you in his grip.”
“And yet you would return to me. Why, if I am as ruthless as you say?” Gideon asked.
The question seemed to confuse Jasmine. Unable to respond, she broke free of Gideon’s grasp and started toward Berry with her fingers curled into claws.
Gideon immediately stepped between them and drew her toward the door.
“You’ll both regret this! I’ll tell the gossip sheets all about you and her. Your precious Lady Berry will be ruined.”
“Then your precious Gideon will be forced to marry me to protect my reputation,” Berry pointed out. “Is this what you want? You will chase him straight into my arms.”
Jasmine cursed Berry and ran out.
Gideon followed, but Berry suspected it was only to make certain the woman left the premises and was never permitted to return.
He strode back in a few minutes later and sank into the chair beside her bed.
“Well, that was restful,” Berry remarked.
He shook his head. “There are no words… I cannot apologize to you enough. Please believe that I was never one of Jasmine’s benefactors.
Not that I am blameless, for I did not reject her occasional advances.
I was no celibate monk. Perhaps I should have taken more care in the past. I’ve had nothing to do with her in that fashion for some time now.
Not that I am proud of my actions back then, but I am no liar.
I have always been honest about my intentions.
I never claimed to love her, nor have I ever treated her cruelly. ”
“But she is in love with you. To see you in love with someone else must be quite a heartbreak for her.”
“You are being too kind. She never cared about me, and never thought twice about sharing herself with other men if there was something to be gained by it. She valued expensive gifts above all. She has always put her own interests first, being faithful to Jasmine and no one else. I think she is angry because she thinks her allure is fading. She’s had two benefactors in short succession.
I’ve tried to tell her that it isn’t her looks that are the problem but her volatile temper.
Who wants to face her tantrums every night? But she won’t listen.”
He took a breath and continued. “That night you saw me at the theater with her and Chloe, she had wanted to see that play and her benefactor refused to take her. Of course, he could not be seen in her company, since he was married. Similarly for Chloe and her benefactor. So I escorted them. We saw the play and nothing more happened afterward.” He buried his face in his hands.
“Not that this excuses any of my past. She’s going to cause problems for you.
She’ll sell the information to the gossip rags.
I’ll do what I can to keep your name out of print. ”
“You won’t be able to stop any of it.” Berry knew how those scandal sheets operated. The shock value was what sold papers, so why should they care to dig beyond the apparent scandal to get at the truth? “But I think she may keep quiet.”
Gideon glanced up at her. “Why would she keep it a secret? What is in it for her?”
“As I mentioned to her, and I hope she takes it to heart, you will be forced to marry me in order to protect me from the scandal if people learn I slept here tonight. Once she calms down, she will think it through and not do anything that will bring us together.”
“Or she will see that I have already lost my heart to you and do whatever she can to pull us apart. It is my dearest wish to marry you, but not under a cloud of shame. You deserve better.”
“So, you would not marry me if the gossip rags report what she tells them?”
He gave a mirthless laugh. “I would crawl on my knees to marry you. Walk through brimstone and fire. Yes, I would marry you today, tomorrow, or any day if you agreed to it. Will you have me, Berry? All I meant was that you deserve a proper wedding and a proper courtship.”
“Oh, I think I deserve you. Whatever happens, you are still my knight in shining armor. I think our tale can be spun quite romantically, especially as you will have Lord Berwick’s blessing and support.
” She cleared her throat. “Assuming he has not heard Jasmine’s ranting just now.
That might give him pause in embracing you wholeheartedly. ”
“And you? Did she scare you off?”
“No, although perhaps that scene she caused should have. But I am not sophisticated and do not have any experience with men. Not that I think it matters. Lord Berwick taught me early on to look at a person’s actions, not their flowery speeches or ardent declarations.
Your actions speak for you, do they not?
I am not talking about your prowess with women.
That is a given. Even my dear friends turned into lusting beasts as we all shamelessly spied on you. ”
He cast her a wry smile.
“But what Lord Berwick saw in you, and what you have also shown me, is the heart of a lion. The valor of a man who cares deeply about people and wishes to rescue as many as he can. My family cared for the orphans brought to St. Brigid’s, but you have been caring for many of them after they were forced to leave.
It is no coincidence that you were the one to save Lord Berwick, or that it was one of your lads who got me away from the carriage and brought me to your club where he knew I would be safe and protected by you.
See, you are that knight in shining armor. ”
“Then you still wish to marry me? No doubts? Not even the fact that I own these gaming clubs?”
“You and Bonham were already in the process of selling them, weren’t you?”
He nodded. “Yes—in fact, I was thinking of buying into warehouses along the London docks. Mr. Dunning has a fine operation going with his lumber and fancy tiles. Worth looking into, I think. But that is for a later discussion.”
She smiled. “I think Lord Berwick will love the idea.”
“Berry, do you think this awful evening can be spun into something acceptable to the ton?”
“Yes, for you are a genuine hero.”
He leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “And you are the love of my life. I shall spend the rest of my days proving it to you. Oh, tears again?”
She nodded.
“Why are you crying?”
“Because you’ve turned this horrible night into the best one of my life.”
His regard turned tender. “Is that a yes to my proposal?”
She cast him a glowing smile. “That is a fervent yes. I will gladly marry you.”