Page 46 of A Sight to Behold
“You mean, you are an heiress of the family that even the Regent borrows from? A third of England belongs to them.”
“It doesn’t. It would belong to my father, who forfeited his inheritance by remarrying. My great-grandfather, Peter Stewart Cumberland, decreed that none of the family’s holdings shall pass to the husband of a female heir if no male heir was born upon her death and the husband remarries.”
Nick raised a brow, afraid to ask what that meant.
“I’m next in line. Father lost access to the estate. It’s all mine.”
He gulped.
“Except that I’m a woman, so I can only look after the holding, but I cannot invest or expand without a husband. I’m the clumsy goose with a big dowry, and nobody wants me.”
That’s not true. I want you.
Nick pursed his lips and bit his cheek. This was too good to be true. She was a lady and an heiress, wealthier than even the princesses of most European nations. She was stunningly gorgeous. And she’d essentially abducted him as her plaything in her castle. In time for his birthday.
He wasn’t prepared for this.
“I-I’m honored that you brought me here, Pippa. But I don’t think I should be… are we alone?”
She furrowed her forehead and looked at the grandfather clock. “We might be for the night. I only keep a staff of two here these days. Mr. and Mrs. George. They look after everything while I’m gone, but they live in the village. I didn’t tell them exactly when I’d be here, so I see they lit the fires, but I’m afraid there’s not much else they can do for us.” She shrugged. “No servants tonight.”
“I should call the hack back and take you home, Pippa.” He turned to the window and pulled the curtains aside. The carriage had long disappeared over the hills.
“Why?”
“You ask me why?” Nick rubbed his eyes with the base of his palms. Where to begin? Because you’re the most beautiful, sweetest, most fascinating, and smartest woman I’ve ever met. Because you’re a lady, an heiress, and I’m a pauper. Because you’re an innocent. Because you could be ostracized from the Ton and my practice could be destroyed.”Because I’m not to be trusted alone with you in this gorgeous castle without anyone to disturb us.“Because I must not fall in love with you,” he said without thinking about his words. It was the truth, and he didn’t know what else to say. It hurt too much to be so close yet feel insufficient to grab the opportunity.
Pippa put her hands on her hips. “You don’t want to, do you? So, you’d rather leave?” Hurt colored her voice. “Even with a fortune, nobody wants to love me.”
“What are you talking about, Pippa? Do you not see what I see?”
Her eyes reddened, and Nick noticed the tears welling up. “Pippa, you’re a duke’s daughter, and I’m nothing. I had to train very hard for a long time to finally establish my little practice. It’s my livelihood, and I’m also responsible for my sister. If I touch you the wrong way, Pippa, if your father lets out his scorn among the Ton, it’s not just my practice but all of us, Felix, Alfie, Wendy, and Andre. Our practice would be finished.”
“I understand. I’m inconvenient.” She sniffled and escaped his gaze. “I’m never good enough.”
“Nev… what?”
“I’m the clumsy and ugly goose. I couldn’t catch myself a husband for all the love in my heart and all the money to my name. I’m just not lovable.” Tears stained her cheeks, and Nick wanted nothing more than to kiss them away. To hold her in his arms and soothe her. To confess his feelings and share his heart because it was too much to feel all this alone. He didn’t know how to bear it by himself.
“Pippa, you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. Don’t tell my sister, but you’re the smartest, too.”
Pippa laughed at that and then sniffled again.
“Look at how sweet you are.” Nick touched her cheek gently. “You’re the only person I’ve ever seen who can laugh and cry simultaneously. You have such a big heart. You nurtured a crippled bunny to health. Even when you didn’t see well, you grew a bounty of the most beautiful plants with your sense of touch alone. How can you not see what I do?”
“My vision… I don’t see.”
“Pippa, look not with your eyes but with your heart if you think I can just allow myself to feel what I do.”
“Feel what?”
“Love? Perhaps more? I’ve never been in love, so I am unsure, but the symptoms are clear.”
“Symptoms?”
“Yes, I lack appetite except for the pineapple from your hand. I can’t sleep because my body is burning for you at night. I can’t think straight because every thought circles back to you. I can’t even imagine the future I had so carefully planned without you, and you’ve only just come into my life a few days ago.”
“And these symptoms make you sick?”
