Gideon caught the slight lift of Lady Longford’s eyebrows, but she did not protest, for which he was greatly relieved. Perhaps she realized that there were things of significance that were ready to pass between them, things that they could not speak of when they were in company.
“Very well, my dear.”
Lady Sara was practically out of the room as her mother finished speaking, with Gideon following soon after. They said not a word to each other until they were out in the gardens, whereupon Lady Sara let out such a long breath of relief that Gideon could not help but chuckle.
“You tease me, but you cannot know of my relief on seeing you today. My heart has cried out with such happiness that I did not think I could endure being in company with my mother for a moment longer!”
There was no more hesitation. She reached out and took his hand, and Gideon drew close to her, suddenly desperate to pull her into his arms, even though they were still in full view of the house, and the maid who lingered some considerable distance away on the path.
“I felt the same upon seeing you,” he replied truthfully. “You will be glad to know that Lord Wiltsham was successful. He has been able to recover Lord Coatbridge’s records of debts and the supposed payments of them. I shall soon begin the process of recovering my fortune, or as much of it as I am able.”
Lady Sara closed her eyes for a moment.
“That has made this moment all the sweeter.” Opening her eyes, she smiled up at him, then turned, tugging him with her. “Come this way, there is a small arbor a little further along here, where we might speak entirely in private.”
Realizing that she had not called her maid to follow, and probably had no intention of doing so, Gideon went willingly. The moment they stepped into the rose-covered arbor, he had her in his arms, unable to wait a moment longer. A soft sigh broke from her lips, and he closed his eyes, swallowing hard as all thought of what he had wanted to speak to her about fled. The nearness of her was utterly enchanting and he breathed her in, taking in sweetness. Whether it was the scent from the flowers or from her hair and skin, he could not tell, but it almost overwhelmed his senses. His hands were about her waist, and she moved even closer to him, her fingers tracing up the line of his coat until they moved around the back of his neck. Gideon opened his eyes, and his jaw tightened as he forced himself to remain steady, looking into her deep blue eyes and finding himself transfixed. Everything he had intended to say had disappeared and his emotions were rising like a sweeping tide, pulling everything else away.
“I have longed to be this close to you.” Lady Sara’s soft words gave voice to the same sentiment that was in his heart. “I believe you must feel the same since you are not pushing me away nor declaring that I ought to find my maid!”
“Do you doubt it?” Their eyes locked and Gideon chuckled quietly, catching the way a smile danced beautifully across her lips. He lifted one hand to the curve of her neck, then ran his fingers upwards towards her cheek. “I have been sure that you knew the depths of my affection for you, since the night of our waltz. It all came upon me so suddenly – but my heart was in such agonies, forcing myself away from you.”
“But you did so to protect me.”
“Because I thought you required a good deal more than a gentleman without a fortune.”
Lady Sara smiled, her fingers twining together at the back of his neck and sending sparks running from them to the tips of his toes.
“I do not require wealth nor position, nor even comfort, to be happy. All I require is you.”
It was as if her words were drawing him to her all the more, and Gideon could not help but respond. Lifting his other hand to cup her face, he dropped his head and gently touched his lips to hers.
Everything exploded in a whirlwind of absolute astonishment, delight, joy, and desire, and Gideon was entirely unprepared for the burst of feeling that caught him. It ran around him, offering him everything he had hoped for in this one single, beautiful moment. His hands slid from her face, running down her shoulders and her back until they rested against the soft curve of her waist.
And then a sudden thought struck him, and he broke their kiss unexpectedly, tugging a gasp from her lips.
“Wait a moment.” Hating every inch of distance it created, he stepped away from her. “Thus far, I have not yet regained my fortune, and it may take me some time before I am able to do so. Until then, Lady Sara, we must be –”
Laughing, she stepped forward, refusing to allow him to push her back.
“What must we be, Lord Stoneleigh? You cannot mean to separate us now!”
“It is only that I cannot ask you anything of importance until I have regained my fortune. It is not that I do not wish to, but rather that for a gentleman’s honor, I must –”
Reaching out, Sara caught both his hands in hers and pulled herself close to him again.
“Have I not just said to you that I do not require everything thatyoubelieve is necessary for me to be contented?” she asked quietly, Gideon swallowed the rest of his words. “Whatever it was that you wish to ask me, I beg of you to do so now, for I promise you that my answer will be the same, whether or not you have your fortune.”
The worry in his heart shriveled away as he looked down into her beautiful, gentle face. She trusted him as much as he trusted her. She was genuine in her desire to be by his side, no matter the circumstances, and his heart warmed all the more, blowing away the ashes of his concern.
“Very well.” Clearing his throat, he dropped his head for a moment, then lifted it, regaining himself. “I did not think that I would ask this today, but after what we have shared and after your assurances, I have no desire to wait for another single moment.”
“Then what is it?”
From the light in her eyes, Gideon was quite sure that she already knew the answer, but was waiting in eager anticipation for him to say those words.
“We have been through a great ordeal together, have we not?” he began as she nodded, a wry smile tugging at one side of her mouth. “Initially, I found your curiosity both confusing and a little irritating, but now I find myself in a place where I am nothing but grateful for it. I do not believe that I can never fully express the depths of my gratitude for everything you have given me. Were it possible, I would find a way to recompense you for it all, but the only thing I can do is to swear to you that I will be your most devoted gentleman. I have come to care for you so very deeply and have no wish to separate us one from the other – and thus, as a consequence of that, I should like to offer you my hand.”
She hesitated, and for a moment, a great and dreadful fear tugged at his heart. But the next instant, she was in his arms, laughing and crying at the same time, with happy, joyous sobs. Sparkling tears twinkled in the corners of her eyes as she smiled up at him
