Page 254 of From Rakes to Riches

Fiona paused near the pool. “You would do that?”

“Of course.”

“Your father’s support of me is such a mystery, and now you are continuing it. I will be forever grateful. And indebted.”

He shook his head and guided her along the pool, then veered away from it toward the wall that divided this half of the garden from that of the men’s. It was less illuminated here and more secluded.

“It is no longer a mystery.” He stopped and turned to face her. “My grandmother explained why our fathers were so close.”

Fiona withdrew her hand from his arm. She could just make out his features in the shadows. “Why?”

“They were lovers. Since Oxford.”

Sucking in a breath, Fiona felt as though she’d found a long-missing piece of a puzzle. “That explains why my parents’ relationship always seemed so aloof.” It also explained why certain pages of that book Fiona had found in her father’s library seemed more worn than others—specifically the ones with drawings of only men engaged in sexual acts. “Did they love each other?”

“They must have. Look at the lengths to which my father went to provide for your future.” He smiled. “I admit I was gladto learn my father had known love. I was also jealous, since he wasn’t ever able to bestow any upon me.”

Fiona reached up and cupped his jaw. “I’m sure things were very difficult for him.”

“Certainly, yes. I can’t imagine the life they were forced to lead. I am sad they had to live falsely, which perhaps resulted in our mothers’ unhappiness. However, without that, you and I would not be here. I must also admit that when my grandmother first began to reveal this to me, I thought she was going to tell me that we were somehow related.”

Gasping, Fiona took her hand from his jaw and covered her mouth. “Oh, that would have been awful.”

“I thought so too, but then I wondered if it mattered since it seems we do not have a future together.”

She lowered her hand between them. “Tobias?—”

He put his gloved finger on her lips. “Just let me say one more thing. When I spoke earlier about the woman of my dreams, I meant you, Fiona. I love you, and not because you’re inheriting my mother’s house or because I desire you above all other women. Which, I do, by the way. I love you for your sweet nature, your inquisitive sensibilities, and your hunger for life. You make me laugh, provoke me to think about things I don’t usually, and you inspire me to be a better man.”

Her throat constricted, and it was a moment before she could speak. “So your grandmother was playing matchmaker when she deterred me from Lord Gregory. She was trying to drive me to you.”

“If that’s true, she did an exceptionally poor job of it,” he said with a laugh. “Did she say anything to encourage you to reconsider my suit?”

“I suppose not, but she didn’t really need to. And she was wrong anyway—Lord Gregory is more than suitable, and he’ll make someone a fine husband. Just not me. He is not the manof my dreams, and someone I respect and admire once told me I shouldn’t settle for less than that.”

“You’ve decided what the man of your dreams should be?”

“He’s the man who’s made all my dreams come true. Dreams I didn’t even know I had. I thought I wanted freedom—and I did. I didn’t want to feel trapped and alone like my mother did. Cassandra once said to me that a marriage with love was the best freedom a woman could hope for. I think she might be right.”

He drew her into his arms, pulling her deeper into the shadows. “If you aren’t talking about me, say so now.” His lips hovered over hers.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Of course, it’s you. It’s only ever been you.”

Their lips met, tongues and teeth clashing as they kissed with a new and desperate abandon. Nothing stood between them now, just clothing and a rather inconvenient location.

She pulled her mouth from his. “This is where I kissed you the first time.”

He glanced around briefly and grinned. “So it is. I may have a plaque placed on this very spot.”

Giggling as he kissed her jaw and neck, she asked, “What would it say?”

“Don’t get caught.”

He devoured her laugh with another kiss, turning her body until he pushed her up against the door in the wall. Yes, exactly the spot. She thrust her hands into his hair as he kissed down her neck and licked along the rise of her breast above her neckline.

“Should we go back inside?” she asked between rasping breaths.

“Where inside?” His voice was low, dusky, and made her want to beg him to kneel down between her legs and repeat what he’d done to her last night.

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