Gwenys giggled, drawing her out of her thoughts. “It is transporting. I cannot wait until I am out in Society. I think I shall fall in love after every dance.”
Miranda pounded a discordant chord on the pianoforte. “My girl, you had better stay clear-eyed and clearheaded or you will end up married to a scoundrel who will steal your wealth and your happiness. Is this what you want?”
Gwenys sighed. “No, Aunt Miranda.”
“Then do not give in to silly infatuation. Marriage is a serious business. There is no easy fix to a mistake in marriage.”
“How am I to know when it is right?” Gwenys asked, sounding quite petulant.
“First, it mustfeelright,” Berry said, clasping her hands as she spoke, and trying not to look at Gideon because he had felt so right to her from the very first moment of their meeting. He was still looking at her in that soft way that was making her tingle.
Well, it wasn’t really soft. More like hungry.
Devouring.
She cleared her throat. “It is important that you simply enjoy being in his company. But that is just a beginning.”
“That’s right,” Gwendolyn said, now offering her opinion. “Does he listen to you when you converse? Or does he simply dismiss you? Does he take the time to get to know the things you like? Appreciate the things you know how to do? Will he be faithful to you and honor your wedding vows? Trusting in each other is most important. A man who keeps a mistress while he is courting you is unlikely to be faithful.”
Gwenys appeared confused. “But so many men do this. Mr. Knight, is Gwendolyn right? Would you keep a mistress?”
“No,” he said emphatically, and fixed his gaze on Berry again as though he were speaking directly to her. “If I were in love, she would be the only one for me. I would make her that promise and hold to it until my dying breath.”
Berry’s heart stood still.
Was he promising this toher?
“But not everyone marries for love,” Gwenys argued. “Some must marry to bring wealth into their family.”
He nodded. “But that isnotyou, Gwenys. Nor am I saying that you must dismiss anyone who is poor. It is all too common for a good man to inherit the burdens of a wastrel ancestor. What matters is finding a man of valor, one who will care for you, keep to his promises, and do all in his power to make you happy. All the better if he holds a title, I suppose. Thetonhas strict rules on who is deemed worthy and who is not.”
“Those rules are antiquated,” Berry said, indignant on his behalf because there was no way on this good earth that Lord Hawthorne was worthier than Gideon Knight.
“But those in power still follow those rules and punish those who do not,” he pointed out.
Oh, he was still looking straight at her as he leveled the warning.
“Being cast out of Society would not be much of a punishment for me.” She tipped her chin into the air. “My close circle of friends will not abandon me. So what if I am no longer invited to balls and musicales or al fresco picnics?”
“What about your annual charity event on behalf of the orphans?” Gideon reminded her. “It is not only you who will be punished if you stray fromtonrules.”
The air went out of Berry. “That is true.”
He studied her for a long moment. “You mentioned that you had an idea to increase profits. Why don’t we take a break from dancing and I’ll listen to what you have to say over lemonade and cakes?”
Gwenys clapped her hands with glee. “Yes, an excellent idea. My throat is parched. Do you mind if we listen in, Berry?”
“Not at all. It is no secret.” Berry rang for Melton to deliver refreshments on the terrace.
Bonham and Suzanna joined them, for they had just finished putting the lift and pulley together.
“It is all working perfectly,” Bonham said with much satisfaction. “Lady Suzanna is brilliant and realized the mistake in the instructions at once. We could not have completed the installation without her.”
Suzanna blushed.
“Nor could I have figured out the plumbing on my own,” he added, casting her a sincerely warm smile.
“I enjoyed helping out,” Suzanna remarked.
