“Goodness, and this is how you came up with your family name of Knight?”
“Knights lived by a code of honor. Their code of chivalry. Do no harm to ladies. Be loyal to the Crown. Be merciful. I thought it was a good code to live by. So I became a knight. Gideon Knight.” He cast her a pained smile. “Pathetic, isn’t it?”
“No, it is a testament to your honor and courage. This is why Lord Berwick knew you were meant to be his successor…my very own knight in shining armor.”
He noticed a tear spill onto her cheek and gently stroked his thumb along her soft skin to brush it away. “Berry, you are fartoo sentimental. Do not cry because of what I’ve just told you about me.”
“But it is a beautiful story, Gideon. A tale of courage and perseverance. Of triumph against all odds. Yours is a story that ought to be told to others.”
He shrugged. “To the orphans, perhaps. A way to inspire them and tell them to not believe those who might put them down and insist they will never amount to anything. But I’m not sure it is a story to be told to yourtonfriends. They would not see it as a victory for a young boy who started out with nothing.”
“I see. They would believe you are a threat to a societal hierarchy that has placed them at the top.”
“Quite so, and they do not want an upstart pushing them off their precious pedestals.” He took her gently by the elbow and led her to his study. “What about this room? How should it be decorated?”
She perked up right away and began tossing out ideas. “Mahogany desk and bookshelves. Although a cherry wood would also work nicely. Do you have a preference?”
“No, Berry. Whichever you think best.”
“They are both beautiful. I lean toward the cherry.”
He nodded. “So be it.”
“Warm, dark colors are most appropriate here, for it should be a masculine room. Do you prefer maroon or green?”
He shrugged. “No preference.”
She sighed. “Green. A deep, pine-forest green. Maroon leather wing chairs for your guests. A manly carpet. Paintings of horses.”
He laughed. “What is a manly carpet?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll know it when I see it.” She cast him an impertinent smile. “Dining room next?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” he said lovingly. “I am but your humble servant.”
She scribbled notes to herself as they moved on from his study. “Fiona had wallpaper here, as you can plainly see. Isn’t it lovely?”
“Pure heaven,” he remarked, not meaning to let his sarcasm slip in. But how could he not? She did not need his input when she clearly had a more refined palate than he had or ever would have. All she needed him to do was bob his head as they went from room to room and she spouted ideas, all of them brilliant as far as he was concerned. “Yes, it is lovely.”
“The wallpaper certainly took a beating during her move. It has to be replaced, but I think we ought to stay close to this oriental flower design and its color scheme, don’t you?”
“Berry, if you think we must, then so be it. I have complete faith in you.”
We.
Ifwemust?
Yes, somehow this was no longer just about him, butthem. He could see her in his home. Indeed, he could think of nothing nicer than coming home each night to be greeted by Berry’s smiling face.
But who was he fooling? He was slipping into his dreams again.
“Kitchen next?” she asked as they finished with the rooms on the main floor.
“Sure.”
“Go on ahead. I’ll meet you in a moment. I just want to check on a measurement in the library.”
“I can wait for you. Do you need my help?”
