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 youeverhurt 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 fromyou.”
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.”
