Page 67 of Once Upon A Bear

Gideon

Gideon led her into the family’s sitting room with triumph flowing through his body. He hadn’t ruined everything.

Guinevere was here, with him, and he didn’t have to worry that she would never come back.

At least for now. Perhaps he should be worried that she wouldn’t stay, but somehow he couldn’t find it in him to be concerned. Not when she was here.

The ball had come to an end, it seemed, and the only ones left in his family’s sitting room were Beatrice and Alexander, who, despite the late hour, still seemed rather chipper.

“I hoped you’d be back,” Beatrice said with a grin.

“I wasn’t sure he would be,” Caspian said in pretend shock. “Gideon, not Guinevere.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d be able to find her,” Beatrice teased. “When Guinevere doesn’t want to be found, she can practically disappear.”

“I’m not that hard to find,” Guinevere protested.

Beatrice simply raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, maybe sometimes,” Guinevere admitted, “but it doesn’t mean that you should be doubting him.”

She was defending him. Gideon grinned as he led her to the only open couch that was left and settled onto it, pulling her against his side.

“They’re only teasing,” he told her, and he was far too pleased in this moment to worry about that.

“I would like to have a word with you, Miss Guinevere,” his father said.

Guinevere eyed Lord Rendon warily.

“I need a healer on my lands,” his father said. “My sons get into far too many scrapes for us to be running to town every time, and our old healer passed away a few years ago. Do you think you would be willing to work for me in that capacity?”

Guinevere’s eyes widened, her hand clutching his. “You want me to work for you?”

Father nodded. “You see, I have many people under my care, and they don’t always take good care of themselves. Of course, I would be willing to offer whatever it is you need, whether that is accommodations or a retainer. And if you decide that you would prefer not to be tied down, I will completely understand.”

“And of course,” he added as if it were an afterthought, “anyone who works for me would have my full protection, if there were any issues that might call them into court.”

If it were possible to burst with pride, Gideon was in danger of bursting. Without him even asking, his father had come up with a solution to protect Guinevere.

The question was, would Guinevere be willing to work for his father, or would she resist it because it was close to him?

“That is an incredibly generous offer,” Guinevere said, with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Lord Rendon. I shall need some time to consider what I might need, but I would be very happy to work for you and your family.”

“Good,” his father said, rubbing his hands together before leaning back and putting his arm around his wife. “I hope that we can reach a solution together. I will say that I am hopeful you can help me with another issue that has come to my attention recently, too.”

Gideon and Guinevere exchanged a glance as everyone in the room studied Lord Rendon.

“I think it’s time that our country revisits the laws concerning magic,” he said. “And I hope there might be a few people in this room who would be willing to assist me with that.”

Tears filled Guinevere’s eyes, and she clasped Gideon’s hand as she smiled at his father. “It would be my honor to help,” she said, letting out a sniffle.

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“You will have my support as well,” Alexander said.

Beatrice smiled gleefully, rubbing her hands together in joy as she looked between her husband and her friend.

Had they cooked this up while he was chasing after Guinevere? Beatrice might have just given it away.