The Heir's Fortune: A Best Friend's Brother, Opposites Attract Regency Historical Romance by Ellie St. Clair

Author:Ellie St. Clair [Clair, Ellie St.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prairie Lily Press
Published: 2024-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

“So?” Cassandra said, peeking her head in the door of the parlor a short time later. “How was Jack?”

“An angel, like always,” Madeline said softly from where she lay back on the Chesterfield once more, only this time she had a baby in her arms instead of one of her scandalous books. She didn’t turn her body toward Cassandra for fear of waking the baby, but she did try to shift her gaze toward her. “I know what you did.”

“Oh?” Cassandra said with an air of innocence as she walked through the room and sat on the matching chair. “And what is that?”

“You were trying to bring me and Gideon together,” Madeline accused her, although without malice. She hadn’t shared with Cassandra what had happened between them. She and Cassandra usually told one another everything, but this was Cassandra’s brother. It hardly seemed like something that should be shared. She also didn’t need another person devastated if this didn’t work out.

“And, did it work?” Cassandra said hopefully, and Madeline sighed, stroking her hand over the soft hair on Jack’s head.

“I will not lie to you, Cassandra. I do feel something for Gideon.”

Cassandra leaned forward eagerly at the news and waited for Madeline to continue.

“I am hesitant to pursue it, however.”

“Whyever not? I know that Gideon can sometimes be a little prudish, but⁠—”

Madeline bit her lip, hoping Cassandra wouldn’t see the blush that was stealing up her cheeks.

“It is not that,” she said. “At first, to be honest with you, it was due to knowing about how he sent you away.”

“Oh, Madeline, we have spoken about that⁠—”

“I know,” Madeline said, “and I do have a better understanding of what happened now and that he thought he was doing the right thing but listened to the wrong people. Now I am uncertain since Gideon might have to pursue another woman. One with a more significant dowry.”

“That is rubbish,” Cassandra said, waving a hand in the air as though pushing away the idea. “He is doing a fine job rebuilding the dukedom as it is. Yes, the progress is slow, but eventually, he will get there, with or without a dowry to assist him.”

“Perhaps, but he does not think it will happen fast enough,” Madeline said with a sigh. “He is worried about all of the people without employment, all of the people in the village and tenants on the land. His hopes have been resting in this treasure, but if it comes to naught, then this is his secondary plan. I wish I could help him, but it would be slow progress and I would never want him to live in guilt or to resent me.”

“Well, then,” Cassandra said, standing with her hands on her hips, “we will just have to make sure the first plan works out so that he doesn’t have to do something stupid.”

She began to stride out of the room, likely to tell Gideon exactly what she thought.

“Cassandra?” Madeline hissed as loudly as she could.

“Yes?” Cassandra said, stopping in the entrance.

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