“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 Iam 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.”
Chapter Four
“You have agreedto be Lady Berry’s guardian?” Bonham asked incredulously, dropping into his usual chair across from Gideon’s desk within his study at the Musket Club around noontime. Several days had passed since Berry’s charity affair, and Gideon had gone to the Thane family’s solicitor just this morning to sign the necessary documents.
“Hertrustee,” he clarified, recently returned and now filing the copies he had been given into a secure drawer. “I am to be the successor trustee, that’s all. She isn’t an infant and does not need me to be her nanny. However, if Hawthorne or some other fortune hunter starts sniffing around her, rest assured, I will make them regret it.”
Bonham nodded. “I have to give it to Berwick. He is an excellent judge of character. I’ll wager he’s been following your progress for years, perhaps as far back as when we were living at the orphanage. You were hard to overlook.”
Gideon snorted.
“I did not think he would look outside his elite circle for a suitable replacement, but I am glad to be proven wrong. You are the best man for the task. I heartily approve Lord Berwick’s choice.”
“That remains to be seen, doesn’t it?” Gideon said with a shrug. “But I will give it my all. Lady Berry deserves no less from me.”
“By the way, she knocked on your front door again this morning.”
“She did?” Gideon looked up from the pile of papers on his desk that he needed to review before the end of the day. “Why?”
