“Sir Gideon, surely under the circumstances…” Sir John looked across at him hopefully.

Time to play the hero card. Gideon straightened and let outrage infuse his reply. “When I left this country to risk my life in its service, an Englishman’s home was his castle. Unless you intend to invoke the full power of the law, Sir John, I must on principle refuse this monstrous imposition on my rights. I have returned after years of danger and deprivation beyond mortal imagination. Was it to face tyranny in my own homeland? Surely not. If so, His Majesty will hear of it. When he knighted me for my services to the Crown, he was most effusive about his gratitude and favor.”

“So you refuse?” Felix’s voice was dangerous. His eyes didn’t waver from Gideon.

“Look here, Lord Felix,” Sir John said. “Sir Gideon is a national hero. You can’t barge into his house unannounced and insist on turning the place upside down. Good Lord, man, we’re not even sure the girl he picked up in Winchester is Lady Charis. Sir Gideon’s description leads me to believe she can’t possibly be a lady. He’s a man of great perspicacity. If he says she was a serving wench, my bet is that’s exactly what she was.”

“We only seek to confirm your story,” Lord Burkett said sullenly.

“A gentleman’s statement should suffice.” Gideon turned toward the door. “Now I am no longer at leisure.”

“You haven’t heard the end of this, Sir Gideon.” Felix spoke as if addressing a minion.

The urge to knock Felix to the ground was so strong, Gideon could taste it. With difficulty, he maintained his lordly tone and kept his hands to himself. “I suggest you return to Portsmouth and pursue more fruitful leads there, my lords. You’ve come a long way for nothing.”

“Topping idea.” Sir John rubbed his hands together nervously as he stepped up to Gideon, obviously eager to end this encounter. “I’m sure the lady is in Portsmouth. Or safe at home, now she’s discovered life away from her family is no picnic.”

Felix pulled on his leather gloves with a slow deliberation Gideon knew was meant to constitute a threat. His tone was deliberate too. “We’ll return to Portsmouth to pick up the trail. But if it leads us back here, my dear Sir Gideon, your renown won’t save you from the consequences. Good day, sir.” After an insolent bow, he strode out, his older brother shambling in his wake.

Sir John stayed behind and muttered under his breath. “Sir Gideon, most regrettable incident. Two unpleasant young men. I pray they find their troublesome sister and don’t bother us again. The Farrells always were a thoroughly bad lot. Father was a drunkard and gambler. Left the sons nothing but a mountain of debts and the wardship of young Lady Charis, the Earl of Marley’s heiress. Hope the poor chit is safe.”

“You’re very well informed, Sir John.”

“The late Lord Burkett was notorious. The sons are chips off the old block. I wouldn’t trouble you, except they have their rights. They’re the chit’s legal guardians. Lord Felix was correct. Anyone keeping her from them breaks the law.” He paused and frowned. “Of course, I knew a gentleman such as yourself couldn’t possibly be involved. Good God, you’ve hardly been back in the country a month. Barely time to unpack, let alone get entangled with a runaway heiress. That’s what I told those two braggarts. But they wouldn’t take the word of a mere country squire.” He put on his hat with a disgruntled gesture and collected his stick from near the mantel. “Come to dinner once you’ve settled in.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” Gideon said, showing Sir John the door.

Outside in the foyer, Tulliver stood stolidly guarding the two Farrells, who looked annoyed. Gideon guessed they’d tried to take advantage of his conversation with Sir John to do some reconnaissance.

“Good day, Sir Gideon. Our apologies for disturbing you.” Sir John ushered his companions outside. Gideon followed and stood on the steps to make sure the Farrells left. He sent a groom after them to confirm they didn’t return. He trusted Charis’s stepbrothers as little as they trusted him.

“Get the girl out of her hiding place,” he said to Tulliver, when they were alone.

“Do you want to see her, guvnor?”

“Not immediately. Tell her I’ll talk to her in the library before dinner. In the meantime, have my mother’s trunks brought down to her room and tell the maids to burn that rag she’s wearing.”

“What do I say about yon smarmy buggers?”

Gideon stared down the drive, empty now of Felix and Hubert and the reluctantly involved Sir John. When he replied to Tulliver, his voice was steady and very sure. “Tell her I’ve pledged myself to her safety. She has nothing to worry about.”

With a sudden spurt of energy, he leaped down the steps to the courtyard. He turned left through the stone arch and headed for the windswept cliffs.

Ten

Her stomach somersaulting with nerves, Charis approached the library. This afternoon from behind the wall, she’d listened to Gideon keep Felix and Hubert at bay. She’d silently cheered his cleverness and bravery. But how would he greet her this evening? He’d discovered she was the richest heiress in England. Would she glimpse greed in his eyes as she’d glimpsed greed in so many men’s eyes?

Or worse, would she see disgust as he recalled the way she’d flung herself into his arms?

Sick humiliation made her hesitate, trembling outside the closed door. For one blazing moment in the attic, she’d believed he felt the ineffable connection between them. It had been a mistake she’d bitterly repented since.

Courage, Charis.

Stiffening her shoulders, she wiped her damp palms on her skirts and quietly let herself into the dimly lit library.

Gideon didn’t immediately notice her arrival. He stood near the grate, staring down at the fire with a somber expression. From the shadows on the edge of the room, her gaze hungrily traced the flame-gilded angles of his face, the lean power of his body. He was dressed more formally than usual, in a dark blue superfine coat and biscuit trousers. He looked like the elegant man she’d met rather than the dashing, disheveled pirate she’d come to know at Penrhyn.

The memory of the brief, dazzling heat of his mouth overwhelmed thought. Then she recalled how he’d wrenched away as if she carried some contagious disease.

Tags: Anna Campbell Historical
Source: readsnovelonline.net