Gideon stepped to his wardrobe and withdrew a black banyan. “Here, have him put mine on. Foolish old man. The doctor told him to stay in bed. He was quite clear in his instructions.”
“Well, he isn’t listening, is he?” Horace turned toward Berry. “He insists there is something important he must tell you.”
Gideon’s heart sank.
Was it to warn Berry not to involve herself with him? Would Lord Berwick maintain this class distinction even after all Gideon had done for them? Well, he hadn’t done it with the expectation of any reward. He had done it because he loved Berry, and she was all that mattered.
“Uh oh. He didn’t wait for me. I think I hear him coming down the hall,” Horace said, and dashed off to assist Lord Berwick…and slow him down to give Gideon and Berry time to look as though they had not just been in the throes of a hot kiss.
Gideon knew he looked fine. But Berry?
Gad, that kitten. She had that just-kissed look on her face.
Well, there was no help for it. Lord Berwick was not going to be fooled even if Berry managed to look expressionless.
Gideon smiled at her. “Sorry we had to cut it short.”
She blushed. “Was there more to the kiss?
“Yes. Much more. I was just getting started.”
“Oh my.” Her eyes widened. “Well, the sample I got was awfully good.”
She had the sweetest way of making him smile. “Then you liked it?”
“Tremendously.”
He nodded in approval.
“What do you think Lord Berwick wants to tell me? I am not going to listen if he’s just going to bluster again about the importance of bloodlines and family connections. You are the right man for me, and there can be no doubt of it after tonight.”
“Again?”
She sighed. “We spoke of you tonight while on our way to Lord Folger’s party.”
“And he warned you against liking me?” Well, he should not have been surprised. Business was one thing. Love and marriage were quite another.
“Gideon,” she said softly, for he was not hiding his irritation very well, “I am a grown woman and know my own mind. I spoke out of turn. Lord Berwick is an intelligent man. There’s no need for either of us to get worked up before we know what he intends to say.”
“But is it so difficult to figure out? I am good enough to risk my life for you, but I will never be good enough to be your husband. So, after all this, we are right back where we started. Do you think he would cause problems for the orphanage if you ignored his concerns and married me?”
“No, never. He cares for those children dearly.”
Gideon shook his head. “But he might influence your donors. St. Brigid’s will be harmed if the donations dry up.”
“Let’s hear him out first.”
Gideon rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. Berry believed that love could triumph over everything, but Gideon was too cynical to hold out such hope.
He realized she was struggling to hold back tears. He silently cursed himself for getting angry before even hearing the old man out. “I am upsetting you. This is exactly what the doctor ordered me not to do. Ignore me. I am just mouthing off. I love you and I am not going to stop loving you or striving for the right to earn your hand in marriage. We’ll figure it out. I am not going to lose you. I’ll fight heaven and earth, if this is what it takes. I will always fight for you.”
Lord Berwick, with Horace’s assistance, now stood barefoot at the threshold of the bedchamber dressed in Gideon’s nightshirt and banyan, which were taut around his belly. “You can stop fighting, Mr. Knight. Sit down and stop looking as though you want to strangle me. I’ve been bruised enough for a lifetime after tonight.”
Gideon felt ashamed of his stupid rant. “My apologies, my lord. Have a seat.” He carried one of the larger chairs to the bedside. “I’ll leave you and Lady Berry to speak in private.”
Lord Berwick settled in the chair with a grunt, for he was obviously in pain. “No, Mr. Knight. Stay. This concerns you, too. I could not rest until I had spoken my mind.”
Gideon motioned for Horace to get out and shut the door behind him. He then stood beside Berry and the man who had taken care of her for almost two decades. “Go ahead,” he urged, knowing he owed the man enough respect to hear him out.
