“Furthermore, I don’t deserve such familiarity from you when I seem to keep behaving like an ass. On that note, I’ve had a temporary bedchamber set up on the first floor in the antechamber off the drawing room for Mrs. Tucket. Now she will only need to bother with one set of stairs.”
“That’s incredibly thoughtful of you. Thank you.”
“I should have thought of it immediately.” He pressed his lips together and appeared disappointed—in himself. “I’m sorry I didn’t.”
Fiona moved her hand toward his neck, wishing she could wipe the lines in his features away. “It only matters that you did.” And he was also giving her his mother’s house. She knew that wasn’t precisely the case, but his actions, or inaction, made it seem like a gift.
They danced without speaking then, and Fiona was only aware of the way they moved together and the touch of his hands upon her. He smelled of sandalwood and…maps. Probably because she associated them with him now. He’d increased the quantity of them in his library so that she had yet to peruse them all.
“Are you going to take my grandmother’s advice?” he asked, startling her slightly but not breaking the spell between them.
“To be honest, I’m still trying to decide what to do. I have made one decision though.”
The music drew to a close, and the dance ended.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I need to settle Mrs. Tucket somewhere—either in Shropshire or at Horethorne. I plan to discuss it with her tomorrow.” She realized they were still standing on the dancefloor, their hands clasped, as if they would continue dancing if only the music would begin again.
Tobias seemed to recognize this too, for he released her, only to tuck her hand around his arm and lead her from the floor. “Has she expressed a desire to leave London?”
“Yes. The incident at the ball last Saturday was rather embarrassing for her.”
“I am sorry for that. Please let me know what I can do to help. Although, I am not sure your cousin would allow her to live on his estate. He was quite relieved that your invitation to London included your maid.”
Fiona had thought of that. It was another reason she was glad to have Horethorne. “Yes, that is a concern. Is there someplace she could retire on the estate? Just a small cottage would be acceptable.”
“I’m not certain, but Mr. Davies is the steward, and he can help you. He’s incredibly kind and knowledgeable.”
“You know him well?”
“My whole life.”
She couldn’t discount the sensation that this wasn’t right, that Horethorne should be his. They were heading toward the garden, she realized. The doors were open, and the air in the ballroom was quite warm. “Are we going outside?”
He slowed. “Do you want to?”
Her eyes met his, and instead of answering, she continued through the open doorway out onto the terrace. Lanterns lit the walkways, and an oval pool in the center reflected the light. She’d somehow missed that aspect of the garden when she’d rushed inside with Mrs. Renshaw the week before.
“If there’s nowhere suitable for Mrs. Tucket at Horethorne, I will find a place for her at Deane Hall.”
Fiona paused near the pool. “You would do that?”
“Of course.”
“Your father’s support of me is such a mystery, and now you are continuing it. I will be forever grateful. And indebted.”
He shook his head and guided her along the pool, then veered away from it toward the wall that divided this half of the garden from that of the men’s. It was less illuminated here and more secluded.
“It is no longer a mystery.” He stopped and turned to face her. “My grandmother explained why our fathers were so close.”
Fiona withdrew her hand from his arm. She could just make out his features in the shadows. “Why?”
“They were lovers. Since Oxford.”
Sucking in a breath, Fiona felt as though she’d found a long-missing piece of a puzzle. “That explains why my parents’ relationship always seemed so aloof.” It also explained why certain pages of that book Fiona had found in her father’s library seemed more worn than others—specifically the ones with drawings of only men engaged in sexual acts. “Did they love each other?”
“They must have. Look at the lengths to which my father went to provide for your future.” He smiled. “I admit I was glad to learn my father had known love. I was also jealous, since he wasn’t ever able to bestow any upon me.”
Fiona reached up and cupped his jaw. “I’m sure things were very difficult for him.”
“Certainly, yes. I can’t imagine the life they were forced to lead. I am sad they had to live falsely, which perhaps resulted in our mothers’ unhappiness. However, without that, you and I would not be here. I must also admit that when my grandmother first began to reveal this to me, I thought she was going to tell me that we were somehow related.”
Gasping, Fiona took her hand from his jaw and covered her mouth. “Oh, that would have been awful.”
“I thought so too, but then I wondered if it mattered since it seems we do not have a future together.”
She lowered her hand between them. “Tobias—”
He put his gloved finger on her lips. “Just let me say one more thing. When I spoke earlier about the woman of my dreams, I meant you, Fiona. I love you, and not because you’re inheriting my mother’s house or because I desire you above all other women. Which, I do, by the way. I love you for your sweet nature, your inquisitive sensibilities, and your hunger for life. You make me laugh, provoke me to think about things I don’t usually, and you inspire me to be a better man.”
Her throat constricted, and it was a moment before she could speak. “So your grandmother was playing matchmaker when she deterred me from
