Page 62 of The Rogue’s Offer

Chapter 14

Ophelia ran her finger over the list of accounts in the journal in front of her. Ever since George’s death, she’d learned to be frugal, and restoring Marymont to its original beauty had been nothing more than a dream. It was a dream no longer. Even with the extensive restoration costs, her father’s debts, and the almost certain need of a wedding trousseau for Lizzie, there would be more than enough money to live quite comfortable in the country.

Closing her eyes, she rubbed her fingers against her temple. It had been almost a month since the Meacham affair, and her pain had not lessened. In truth, it had only deepened. By the time Gideon had escorted her to her front door that night, she’d become numb to everything around her except her pain. For two days she’d retreated to her room to nurse her wounds in the way an injured animal might.

Even despite her broken heart, every time the front door bell rang, hope would rise up inside her only to have it wither and die when it wasn’t Mathias on the doorstep. One day rolled into the next, and hope gave way to despondency then resignation. Not even Gideon’s quiet reassurances that time would ease her suffering allowed her to refute the reality of her situation.

It had taken her even longer to remember Mathias’s words alluding to her relationship with Gideon. In the end, she’d been grateful he believed she was to marry. It had afforded her the time to put her finances in order and prepare to leave London. The sooner she returned to the country, the sooner her heartache would ease. She ignored the scoffing laugh in the back of her mind and forced herself to bring forth a picture of Marymont.

The effort only caused her to close her eyes in pain before she looked down at the ledger on the secretaire. As much as she loved her home, she knew it would take her away from London and any hope of ever seeing Mathias again.

On the few occasions Lizzie or Gideon had been able to gently bully her into attending the theater or a social affair, she’d done so only in the hope of catching a glimpse of Mathias. The two or three times she’d caught sight of him had merely been a brief glimpse of his profile.

Only once had their eyes met. The contempt and loathing on his face before he’d turned his back on her left her reeling. She’d been thrown back to that moment in the library at Meacham House when she’d seen him in the doorway as Gideon had been comforting her.

Ophelia shivered at the painful memory, and her body grew cold. She turned to look at the elaborately decorated coal stove that had been installed recently. Through the thin grates she could see the fiery glow of coal. It was clearly not the room, only her body reacting to her memories.

At the sound of the front doorbell, Ophelia closed the journal, placed it in the secretaire’s drawer, and locked it. The sound of Gideon’s voice made her smile slightly as she rose to greet him. As he strode into the room, Ophelia stretched out her hands to welcome him. Gideon kissed both her cheeks then with his hands on her upper arms, he pushed her away from him to study her with a grave expression. A moment later, his features lightened to one of relief.

“You look better today than I’ve seen you look in weeks.”

“If that is what you call a compliment, I would hate to hear one of your insults.” She laughed, and Gideon grinned unapologetically.

“Making you laugh is always my first goal no matter how skeptical you are of my words of admiration.” His cheerful reply made Ophelia shake her head with amusement as she gestured toward the room’s small settee and chairs.

“Shall I call for tea?” she asked as she sank down into the cushions of the settee.

“No, I can’t stay for long as I have another appointment. I simply wanted to tell you that I paid the last of your father’s debts from the monies you gave me.” Satisfaction crossed his face as he smiled. “I’ve also discreetly made it known he has no money with which to gamble, and that I will not cover any debt he incurs in the future.”

“I cannot express enough my gratitude for what you’ve done, Gideon. If Father were to learn I’d regained control of my money, his gambling would have been out of control.”

“Are you aware he came to visit me a few days ago?” The question startled Ophelia, and she stared at her friend in open-mouth dismay.

“Oh dear Lord, surely he didn’t ask you for money.” Embarrassment caused her cheeks to burn.

“He didn’t ask me for money.” Gideon’s gaze narrowed on her. “He asked when we intended to marry.”

“Merciful heaven. I hope you explained we’re simply friends.”

“I did.” Gideon nodded as his mouth twisted wryly. “It will ease your mind to know that he thanked me for settling his debts, which is one of the reasons he broached the subject with me.”

“At least he had the good graces to express his gratitude.” Ophelia didn’t bother to hide her anger at her father’s behavior. Gideon was all too aware of her feelings about her father’s lack of decorum.

“Sometimes I think you’re too hard on him, Ophelia. He has a problem, but he obviously cares about you. He’s noticed how unhappy you are, and he said I could make you happy. I would have to agree.”

“Please Gideon, don’t…”

“I know you’re not in love with me any more than I am with you, Ophelia. We both know our affection for one another is nothing more than friendship.”

“We’ve had this conversation before, and my answer hasn’t changed.”

“Have you no desire for companionship in the years ahead, Ophelia?” The puzzlement in Gideon’s voice brought a small smile of sadness to her lips.

“Companionship?” Ophelia dragged in a deep breath, held it for a brief moment, and then slowly released it. “Not at your expense or that of my freedom. I could—”

“Are you telling me that if Gilchrist suddenly appeared on your front step with an offer of marriage you would turn him away?”

The amazement on his face made Ophelia hesitate to reply, and she looked away from her friend. Only in the deepest part of her heart had she considered the possibility of being Mathias’s wife. Even though she’d accepted the fact there would never be such an offer made, what would she have done if Mathias had proposed to her?