Page 244 of From Rakes to Riches

“We both deserve to be loved.” She thought of how he’d lost his mother and the ensuing years of a difficult relationship with his father. Yes, love. And for herself, she also wanted freedom. “None of this changes where we are.” Except if she married himbefore the twelfth, she’d lose Horethorne. “Did you ask me to marry you because of your mother’s house?”

“No.” He blew out a breath. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that was an added benefit. I could obtain a special license, and we could be wed next week.”

“Or I could repeat my answer—it’s still no—and I’ll inherit the house in a matter of days.”

“Is that what you want?”

She heard the anguish in his voice, and her heart twisted. “I want…freedom.” She thought of her mother’s warning, that she be sure before making a lifetime commitment. There had been regret in her counsel, and when Fiona recalled her mother’s occasional melancholy, she knew she didn’t want to feel that way. As though she were trapped with no choices, no freedom. “This is awful.”

“Just the way my father liked things.”

“You believe he envisioned this would happen?”

“I believe he set me up to fail.” Tobias raked his hand through his hair, and his shoulders drooped. “Or he knew me better than I know myself. Whether he expected me to surrender to temptation with you or someone else, he seemed to have been betting on the fact that I wouldn’t be able to wed in three months.” He let out a soft, humorless laugh. “I came close though.”

Until she’d ruined his chances.

“Fiona, I understand the lure of everything my father has dangled before you, but please reconsider. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose Horethorne.”

“You wouldn’t lose it. I’d allow you to visit whenever you like.” Allow him. He would need her permission, and that wasn’t the same as calling it your home. Fiona understood that distinction and couldn’t ignore the guilt cutting through her.Could she really consider this a dream come true when it came at the expense of Tobias’s dreams?

“But that isn’t quite the same, is it?” He bent and retrieved his waistcoat and cravat. Pivoting toward the chair, he swept up his coat and laid it over his arm with the other garments. “Good night, Fiona.”

She said nothing as he disappeared into his chamber, the door clicking shut behind him.

Coming here tonight had been a terrible idea. What had she hoped to accomplish?

Conflict battled inside her. Tobias had admitted he’d never wanted to be her guardian, and he’d repeatedly done things that indicated his lack of genuine concern for her. But then he’d also done the opposite—listened to her and changed his mind, given her things and experiences that brought her joy and showed how much he cared.

He hadn’t asked to have her in his life or to steal the thing that meant the most to him in the world. The real miracle was that he didn’t despise her. Still, her presence was likely a painful thorn.

Well, then she would remove it. As soon as she inherited Horethorne, she would go there immediately. Then she wouldn’t be his concern any longer.

Or you could marry him.

She shook her head, as if the question had been spoken aloud and the speaker could see her reaction. His proposal had been made in haste, in a completely heated moment. Even if it hadn’t, could she ever truly know if he wanted her and not just his mother’s house? Did she want him to want her?

Stalking from his sitting room, she stopped short as she took in her surroundings, looking for anyone who might be about. It was quite late. Even the servants would be abed, wouldn’t they?

Fiona went to her room and, removing her dressing gown, slid between the covers, shivering for a few minutes until the bed began to grow warm from her heat. Or was it his lingering heat?

What a blissful interlude that had been. Totally unexpected.

Totally?

After their kiss last night, a small part of her hoped it would happen again, but she hadn’t expected the combustion that had flared between them. She’d dreamed it perhaps…

Now, she must accept that it would never happen again. Not after she took his house. They would go their separate ways, and she would hold on to tonight as a cherished memory.

Except they wouldn’t go their separate ways. How could she when she owned his beloved Horethorne? They would be linked together, through the estate, forever.

She forced herself to think of the assembly the following evening, or more accurately, tonight, given the lateness of the hour. Since working so hard to be able to attend, she should be filled with anticipation. Instead, her emotions were bittersweet. It was likely to be her first and last Phoenix Club ball.

She would just have to ensure it was memorable.

What a wretched night of sleep.

Tobias yearned to lay his head down on his desk, but he needed to go to Westminster before coming home to dress for the assembly. Before he could stand, Carrin came into his study. The butler looked…harassed.

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