Page 56 of Heiress Gone Wild

“Guardian... ward... can’t we get past all that? Redefine our roles?”

“But I am your guardian. You are my ward. Those are facts.”

“Yes, but in such cases, the ward is usually a child. I’m not, as you just said.”

With that kiss still so vivid in his mind, he was beginning to find having his own words tossed back at him in this fashion rather aggravating. “I think we’ve already established that I don’t think of you as a child,” he said, and though he strove to keep his expression and his voice neutral, he couldn’t resist adding, “I demonstrated that point quite strongly aboard theNeptune, as I recall.”

The color in her face deepened at the reminder. “Yes,” she whispered, “but hauling off and kissing me isn’t really a feasible way to resolve our disputes, is it?”

There were worse ways, but he didn’t point that out.

“If we don’t find a new way forward,” she continued in the wake of his silence, “one that puts us on a more equal footing, I fear we will just continue to... to...” She paused, licking her lips, drawing his gaze to her mouth, but he jerked it back up again at once.

“Rub each other the wrong way?” he supplied, straight-faced.

“Yes. Can’t we start over, try to see each other in a different light?”

“Or you could just accept the situation as it is and cede to my authority. But,” he added with a sigh, “if you did that, the earth would stop turning and tides would stop ebbing, and I’d die of shock. Just what are you suggesting?”

“What if we just try to... to be friends?”

“Friends?” He froze, staring at her in dismay, fearing that being friends with Marjorie would prove an even greater hell than the one he was already in.

Something of what he felt must have shown on his face. “Goodness,” she said with a laugh that sounded forced. “Is my idea so difficult to imagine?”

It was more than difficult. It was impossible. And yet, trapped between obligation and desire, what other choice did he have?

“Not at all,” he lied. “It’s just that it isn’t the usual thing, is it? Men and women being friends.”

“But do you think we might try?”

He pasted on a smile. “Of course. It’s an excellent idea. Perfect. The best thing to do.”

“I’m so relieved you said that,” she breathed, pressing a hand to her chest, laughing again. “I thought you’d object.”

He didn’t even blink. “Nonsense.”

“Is it?” she asked ruefully, making a face at him. “You’re a bit closed-minded when it comes to my ideas, Jonathan.”

“That’s not true,” he began, but then he stopped, appreciating as she grinned that he’d just made her point. “Touché,” he conceded instead. “As to the rest...” He paused and took a deep breath. “Friends it is.”

He was rewarded with a radiant smile that reminded him of just what torture being her friend was going to be, and he knew he had to get off this topic.

“Now that we’ve settled that,” he said and gestured to the documents on the table, “I’m still your guardian, and there are some things I need to discuss with you. If we’re to be friends,” he added as she groaned, “we shall both have to make compromises.”

“Oh, very well. But,” she added, giving him a frown of mock severity, “any compromises I make better not involve wearing black crape or hiding in my room.”

“No fear. Irene’s already come down on your side there, remember? And she’s a far better judge of such things than I am. No, what I want to discuss involves your finances.”

He opened his dispatch case and pulled out a rosewood box and a thick sheaf of papers tied with string. “This,” he said, shoving the documents across the table to her, “is a copy of your father’s will, an inventory of all your property, and the most recent financial reports of all your investments. I know you’ve already read some of this, but I feel it’s important that you read the rest.”

“Oh, so now I’m allowed to read these?” she teased. “They’re not just your private papers anymore?”

“Don’t be cheeky. Some of my private papers were on that desk, and I think you know that.”

“Perhaps. But I didn’t read them,” she added at once. “I wouldn’t. Friends don’t do things like that.”

“I’m glad to hear it. You can go through these at your leisure, but reading legal documents is sometimes like wading through hip-deep mud, so if there is anything you don’t understand, you can ask me, or your solicitor.”

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