Page 63 of The Rogue’s Offer

Would she have actually been able to refuse him? The question was moot. Mathias didn’t love her, and the depth of his contempt for her solidified her belief the question was one she would never have to answer. But despite that knowledge it did nothing to change her own feelings. She looked back at Gideon and shook her head.

“I will love Mathias until I breathe my last breath, but it’s a question I’ll never have to answer.”

“You do the man a disservice to think him capable of locking you in a gilded cage.” There was a slight hint of rebuke in her friend’s voice. Ophelia rolled her shoulders in a small shrug.

“It’s still pointless to contemplate what my answer would be.” There was a slight bitterness to her reply, and Gideon frowned.

“And is that why you refuse my proposal? Do you believe I would try to control you—restrain you in any instance?”

“No, I don’t think that at all,” she said with a small sigh. “But I refuse to restrict your freedom either. What would you do if you were to meet someone, and you were tied to me? Then you would know the depth of my misery.”

“As I’ve said before, I’m a realist when it comes to love.”

“A point of view that your—” Ophelia stopped in mid-sentence as she remembered her promise not to mention the dowager’s visit.

The dowager Countess of Chelmsford was determined to see her son married and had called on Ophelia yesterday morning. The woman had come straight to the point of her visit. She’d gently, but firmly, demanded to know why Ophelia was refusing to marry her son. Startled by the woman’s question, Ophelia hadn’t been able to form a reply.

The dowager had quickly apologized for speaking out of turn, but it didn’t hinder the woman in her objective to persuade Ophelia to accept Gideon’s offer. The countess had reassured Ophelia that she would welcome her as a daughter-in-law and never interfere in their marriage. It had been impossible not to like the woman’s pleasant, forthright nature or her efforts to emphasize all of her son’s good qualities. It illustrated how deeply the woman loved her son, and a tiny part of her regretted her inability to marry Gideon.

“You were saying?”

Her friend narrowed his gaze at her as he waited for her to continue. When she remained silent, Gideon eyed her with puzzlement. A brief moment later, his handsome features darkened with annoyance as his gray eyes flashed with anger. “Has my mother been to visit you?”

“Only once,” she said in a placating tone of voice.

“Once too many. She should not have interfered,” he muttered fiercely.

“She loves you, Gideon. She only wants your happiness.” At her quiet words, her friend shook his head.

“My mother is a hopeless romantic. I learned a long time ago not to indulge in whimsical fantasy.”

“Whether you believe in whimsical fantasy or not, it doesn’t change the fact that a marriage between us would be a mistake.” The resolute statement made him attempt to protest, but Ophelia stopped him with a wave of her hand. “You know I’m right, and I value our friendship too much to jeopardize it by marrying you.”

Gideon stared at her in silence for a long moment before he nodded. In the hall, the clock chimed the half hour, and he grimaced.

“I’ve stayed longer than I should. I have a meeting with the Lord Admiral on the hour.” As he stood, he took her hand and kissed it. “Are you still standing firm on your decision not to attend the Melton dinner party next week?”

“Yes. I cannot risk Louisa or Constance meddling again by inviting Mathias.”

Gideon nodded his understanding and with a tender kiss to her brow, he left the house. Her friend had barely been gone five minutes when the front door opened with a loud bang. Alarmed by the sound, Ophelia jumped nervously then relaxed as she heard Lizzie calling her name with great excitement. As her younger sister hurried into the room, Ophelia saw Paul Nickens following close behind. Lizzie rushed forward to hug her enthusiastically.

“Father said yes, Ophelia. Father told Paul we could marry.”

Happiness swept through Ophelia for the first time in weeks. She returned her sister’s hug before kissing her cheek. As she released Lizzie, she turned to her future brother-in-law.

“I couldn’t be more delighted by this news,” she said with a smile as she moved forward to kiss the young man’s cheek. The bright flush of color rising in his face made her smile.

“Thank you, my lady, I—”

“Please, call me Ophelia, and I shall call you Paul. After all, we are to be family.” At her gentle command, Paul’s face deepened with color, and Lizzie quickly moved to his side and kissed his cheek.

“I told you Ophelia would be happy for us. She knew precisely when I fell in love with you.” Lizzie looked over her shoulder. “Didn’t you, Ophelia?”

“Yes, I remember exactly how moonstruck you were.”

“We want to be married right away, Ophelia,” Lizzie said firmly. Surprised by her sister’s declaration, she shook her head in dismay.

“But there are things to do. We need to order you a wedding trousseau, make arrangements for a wedding and reception.”