She cleared her throat. “Um, shall I give you my thoughts on the paint colors for this room?”
Chapter Six
Gideon began towonder whether Bonham was right about Berry, because she was disarming.
And charming.
And graceful.
And achingly sweet.
His heart skipped beats whenever she smiled at him, which she did often because it was in her nature to be warm and sunny.
Bollocks.What a time to find out that his heart was not permanently frozen and he might fall in love.
What a disaster this would be. A cataclysm of incompatible worlds colliding. As much as he ached for Berry, she was not for him. He would never have her, even though she was the pinnacle, the dream woman he had wished for but never expected to find.
Berry was the one who would be hurt the most in attaching herself to him. Thetonwould be cruel and unforgiving because she was a shining star in the firmament and he was entrenched in the gutter.
Well, he came from the rookery streets and had been found wandering there as a child. That much was true. He had done everything he could to lift himself up from the dregs, but it would never be enough for those like Hawthorne whose views represented most of theton.
For the past several years, Gideon and Bonham had been working to shed their gaming hell investments and build respectable enterprises. But the transition would take several years because they were not going to give their clubs away for nothing. Only a sale for fair value would be acceptable.
Also, these gaming hells were profit centers for them and provided employment for many of the lads coming out of the orphanage. He supposed any new businesses acquired could take in most of them, and perhaps even a few of the girls.
“Eggshell white for the walls and antique ivory for the trim,” Berry said, regaining his attention.
“What?”
“Your new ballroom. These are the colors you must have. And three chandeliers, because the room is so large. Shall I help you select those?”
He smiled. “Yes, Lady Berry. That would be very much appreciated.”
“As for floors, I think oak, hickory, or maple woods are best. But my preference is for a dark oak.”
“Then oak it is. Next?”
She laughed. “Aren’t you going to question me as to why?”
“No, I trust your judgment.”
“Oh. Well, thank you. Mr. Knight, I—”
“Do you mind if we set aside formality? I prefer that you call me Gideon. May I refer to you simply as Berry? Of course, in public I realize we must maintain decorum.”
She nodded. “I suppose it is all right. You have a fine name. Gideon. I like it.”
He cast her a wry look. “So do I. It is all made up, of course. Gideon Knight. I spent the first fifteen years of my life as Gideon No-Name. I think the director of St. Brigid’s gave me the name Gideon, just pulled it out of thin air because I had no idea what my mother had called me. I don’t even know if the woman whoabandoned me on a London street was my mother. No idea who my father was or whether he ever saw my mother again after I was conceived. Who knows if they were acquainted at all? It is highly possible I sprang from a five-minute encounter between strangers.”
He gave a dismissive snort and continued. “Sorry, Berry. I did not mean to be so crude.”
“No, it is all right. Please go on,” she said gently, and gave him an encouraging look.
“Bonham and I are about the same age. We grew up at the orphanage together and left together. His name really is John Bonham, by the way. He even has a birth record to prove it. But as for me, I could have been dropped to earth from a cloud for all I know.”
“How did you end up with the surname of Knight?”
“Bonham and I happened to be watching a parade shortly after we left the orphanage and were scraping by on our own. There was a man dressed in shining armor upon a massive steed. His armor was the brightest silver and blinding in its brilliance. I had never seen anything so impressive. Someone mentioned the rider was supposed to be a Knight of the Round Table out of the legends of King Arthur.”
