“Why?”
“To determine how much youlove him.”
Moira slammed the book shut. “Itdoesn’t matter what my feelings may be. If he cared or wanted tomarry me, he would have told me and not made up some estate inYorkshire.”
“He does own an estate inYorkshire, and a townhome in Mayfair.”
“If only he needed mydowry.”
“Be glad he doesn’t. Thenyou would never know if it was you or the pounds hewanted.”
“That is just it,” Moiracried as she stood, knocking the chair backwards in her haste. “Hedoesn’t want me at all.”
The footman stepped through the door.“Excuse me, Lady Moira.”
She glanced up at him.“Yes?”
“Viscount Ainsely to seeyou.”
Moira clenched her teethand inhaled deeply. Anger like she had never experienced beforecoursed through her veins. How dare hecome to call on me?
Gideon was left cooling his heels inthe blue parlor. He couldn’t sit, he couldn’t stand. All he did waspace through the room, the bouquet of fresh flowers clutched in hishand. If Moira did not make an appearance soon, they would bewilted.
His stomach was in knots. What if sherejected him? Maybe the kiss had meant nothing to her. He had takenher unawares, while she was stuck in the phaeton besidehim.
No. She’d enjoyed the kiss as much ashe had. She had to have. He couldn’t accept otherwise.
Damn. He turned on his heel and pacedback across the room. He had never courted a lady before. Did theyusually keep gentlemen waiting? He glanced at the clock. He hadbeen here for thirty minutes. What could she be doing that wastaking so long?
Hopefully she wasn’t trying a new hairdye or worse, binding her breasts.
What if she rejected him? No, hecouldn’t think of that.
Perhaps he should approach Hearnefirst, ask permission, and then Moira wouldn’t have a choice.Besides, wasn’t a gentleman supposed to speak to the guardianfirst?
Gideon thrust his fingers through hishair. He was going to bungle this, he just knew it. At the end ofthe Season he would return to Scotland, alone, his heart back herewith Moira.
“Why?”
Gideon turned to find Moira framed bythe doorway. Her calico hair curled and fell haphazardly aroundher, and those glorious breasts were free. She stood erect, chinhigh, and hands clenched into tight fists. Anger?
“Why what?” he askedcautiously.
“Why did you lie tome?”
His gut tightened. “I haven’t lied toyou. Can you be more specific about what you perceive as a lie?” Heneeded to tread carefully.
“Of course.” Her laugh wasbitter. “You didn’t lie when you told me you owned an estate inYorkshire.”
His gut twisted further and his heartlay in his boot.
“You simply omitted thefact that you live outside Selkirk, Scotland.”
“I can explain.” He thrustthe flowers at her.
Moira grabbed them from his hands.“Thank you.” Her shoulders dropped as if some energy had left, buthe knew better than to think the flowers had completely disarmedher.
“Why?” she asked quietly,burying her nose in the bouquet.
He was at a loss for words. Whateverhe said would hold the power to turn her away from him for the restof his life, or bring her into his arms where she belonged. Onewrong word, and she would be gone to him forever.
She looked up, and unshed tearsshimmered in her eyes. “Was it a game to you?”
“No, of course not.” Hetook a step forward, wanting to draw Moira into his arms. The painin her eyes was a knife to his heart. “Why would you think such athing?”
“Because you let me go onand on, agreed to help me find a husband.” Tears fell freely downher cheeks, and Gideon resisted the urge to wipe them away. “Youkissed me, made me feel beautiful and long for Yorkshire more thanScotland.”
She did want him, for himself. Hopesurged. But were their chances destroyed because of hisomission?
She sniffed, wiped her nose with theback of her sleeve, and continued. “You told me to only accept aScot who felt that way. You never offered yourself.”
Gideon fished a handkerchief out ofhis pocket and handed it to her. Moira accepted and blew her nosein the most unladylike fashion he had ever witnessed. God he lovedher.
“Come here.” He held hishand out to her.
Moira eyed it suspiciously.“Why?
“Just comehere.”
Reluctantly, she took his hand andGideon led her to the settee. She sank down onto the cushions, andhe sat beside her.
He kept her small, trembling hand inhis and took a deep breath.
“It isn’t what you think.”He prayed she understood.
“Then explain,” shedemanded then sniffed.
“I was afraid that if youknew, all you would see was Scotland.”
“So?”
“I feared you would try tocompromise me.” The thought of a bonny woman throwing herself athim had never caused fear before. It would be rather humorous ifthe situation weren’t so important. “You only cared about beingfree of your mother, living far away. I would never have beenconfident of your feelings for me.”
Her brow furrowed. “I don’tunderstand.”
“Many marriages arearranged because of status, wealth, connections, and some havethrived on much less. I did not want to be in a marriage where onlyone set of feelings were involved—mine.”
“Yours?”
Gideon closed his eyes and took a deepbreath before moving from the settee and down on one knee beforeher. “Lady Moira Kirkwood, I am in love with you. I don’t know whenI fell, but I did. I would be honored if you would become my wife,and live with me at my home in Selkirk, Scotland.”
She stared at him, studying his face.His heart ceased beating, waiting for a response. Slowly her lipsturned into a smile. “You love me.” Tears formed onceagain.
“Aye, I do.” He picked upthe hand he held and kissed the back. “I can only hope that youreturn the feelings one day.”
Her face lit as if sunlight burst frominside. “Oh, but I do, I do. I was willing to settle in Yorkshireas long as I could have you.” Her arms came up and around him asher lips connected with his. The momentum of her embrace sent themsprawling onto the floor. Gideon wrapped his arms around hisimpetuous future wife and deepened the kiss, holding herclose.
“Moira Kirkwood,” theDowager Countess Hearne screeched. “You must stop accostinggentlemen in the parlor.”
Gideon chuckled and broke away fromthe kiss. Moira looked up, her face a lovely shade of rose, andmoved away from
