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And Eleanor? He could see only the back of her head, but Gideon’s hand was ru her with such tenderness that even he, coldhearted bastard that he was, felt…so

"Isn’t it ro his hand

It took everything he had not to pull away from her

"They love each other so much She waited for him And he came to her the very firstof her every day for years"

He could just iine that

Unfortunately

Chapter Twenty

The Duchess of Montague was s with a fierce happiness that Eleanor hadn’t seen since her brother gained his majority "Just wait until your father learns of this," she said to Eleanor, more or less under her breath "He’ll be so pleased"

They were leading Gideon to the drawing roohter ht have a short unchaperoned conversation with the duke

"It’s utterly mad, of course," she continued "We’ll have to deny all ru Ada; of course, he isWe’ll keep it entirely secret You’ll have to drop Villiers But no one knows of your engagement to hioing to lanced back to find that Gideon had been caught by Anne She felt a qualiven Anne’s express dislike for Gideon, but her sister seeh

"Lisette’s father won’t be happy with that Gilner will have to cohter to marry Villiers, not with those children of his in the picture"

"Villiers is a good man," Eleanor said "And a duke"

"What’s more, there’s the question of Lisette herself," her ht the squire rattled on about his elder son being engaged to Lisette, but it was clear to me that the man was desperate to save his son The poor boy has been living abroad for years, ducking the e"

The conversation felt both morbid and ill-bred, so Eleanor moved to a sofa and sat down, hands folded

"I’ll allow you fifteen ether," her mother said "No ossiping more than they’re already likely to do I suppose Astley will spend the night, but I’ll instruct hiraceful visit" She looked entirely happy

Gideon appeared, and the duchess slipped out, closing the door firmly behind her

Eleanor felt as if she were having one of those odd experiences described in the papers by people who claihost Surely this Gideon could not be the living, real Gideon? But there he was, standing in the door frame, apparently solid and real

Yet the Gideon she had known for the past few years, ever since his eighteenth birthday, was polite, unfailingly mannered, and distant Entirely correct behavior for a married acquaintance

This Gideon had feverish eyes, so fervent that her own dropped, whichobject in his right hand

A feeeks ago she would have flown to hiht of her panniers on either side of her legs, holding her down

Gideon didn’t move either "You’re so beautiful," he said finally All she felt was a wave of embarrassment because his voice was thick with emotion