David took her hand and patted it, making Gideon grind his teeth. “Which is why you’re going to get it. So you see, Gideon, this benefits everyone.”
Not everyone deserved to benefit, but David probably didn’t want to hear that. “You said you wanted my advice. It sounds like you just want my approval, but you don’t really need that, either. You can do whatever you think is right, David.”
“Of course I value your counsel,” David said. “I just . . . Well, your mother might be upset. I wouldn’t want to lose her good opinion.”
Gideon was sure of that, and now he thought he understood David’s concern. “There’s no reason she even needs to know about this, then. I certainly won’t mention it to her.”
“I would appreciate that.”
David was still holding Elizabeth’s hand, and Gideon didn’t think he could stand seeing that very much longer. “If that’s all,” he said, starting to rise.
“One more thing,” David said, stopping him.
Gideon sat back down and somehow didn’t sigh. “Yes?”
“Could you join us when I get the general and Thornton together?”
Elizabeth’s chin snapped up, and she turned her razor gaze on David. “Why would you impose on Gideon when you know how he feels about Mr. Thornton?”
A very good question.
“Now, Elizabeth, you don’t need to concern yourself with this. It’s business, and Gideon understands we put our personal feelings aside.” David turned to him. “I’d like to have your help on this, to make sure everything is legal and aboveboard. You’ll be paid for your time, of course.”
Of course he would. Devoss and Van Aken would insist upon it. “Do you have any reason to believe something wouldn’t be legal?”
“Not at all, but this is so new, everything to do with the war, and I don’t want to leave anything to chance. I’d like to have someone I trust involved in drawing up the papers.”
Gideon couldn’t argue with his logic. He only wished David was more considerate of his feelings. But of course David didn’t know the extent of Gideon’s feelings as they pertained to Elizabeth. And maybe Gideon could at least influence this general not to overpay for the rifles. No sense in making Thornton any richer than necessary. And if his mother found out, well, he’d have that to tell her, at least. “All right. Just let me know when you’re meeting.”
“Thank you, Gideon,” David said with obvious relief. He rose and offered his hand. Gideon rose, too, and shook it. Only then did he notice Elizabeth’s frowning disapproval. Should he be touched that she’d wanted to keep him out of it? Somehow he didn’t think so. “I’m sorry, but I have to go,” David said. “I have a previous engagement this evening that I made before I actually became engaged, and Elizabeth has graciously agreed to forgo my company this evening. I will leave her to your tender care.”
David took his leave, and when the front door had closed behind him, Gideon hazarded a glance in Elizabeth’s direction.
“Why did you agree to that?” she asked.
“Because David is my friend and he asked me.”
“You don’t have to do it. Just tell him you’re busy when he has the meeting set up.”
“I don’t lie, especially to my friends.”
“Don’t be silly. Everyone lies.”
“I don’t.” Why was she so angry? And so adamant that he not help David? “Do you want this deal to fail?”
“Of course not. Didn’t you hear what David said? He’s taking me on a European tour.”
“I also heard what you said, that you don’t care about the tour.”
“Of course I do, but I don’t want him to think I’m a gold digger.”
“I think we’ve already established that if you were a gold digger, you’d be digging in a richer vein.”
She reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, as if he were giving her a headache. She was certainly giving him one. Then he noticed something else. “What on earth is that on your hand?”
Did she actually wince? “My engagement ring.” She certainly sounded defensive.
He leaned in for a closer look, and she quickly covered it with her other hand.
“It was his grandmother’s.”
“I’m sure it was.” Could David really have given her such a hideous ring?
Before he could decide, Elizabeth looked up at him and tried to smile, although the effort was strained. “Let’s not quarrel, Gideon. I’m trying to save you from compromising your principles by helping this man Thornton, whom you obviously despise. Anna and I are grateful for his role in getting us released from the workhouse, and David feels a need to repay him somehow, but you are under no obligation. If you don’t want to lie, simply tell David the truth and beg off. No one will think less of you.”
“Why do you care?”
“What?”
“Why do you care about my moral dilemmas?”
“I don’t, but I know you wouldn’t hurt your mother for the world, and if she found out you’d participated in this, she’d be devastated.”
She was right, of course, but she was also lying. Or at least not telling him the whole truth. Her reasons sounded logical, but he didn’t know why she should even need reasons. Why should she be concerned about him at all? She seemed to want the deal to succeed, but she didn’t want Gideon involved, even though he could probably ensure it. Did she not know that?
“Maybe you don’t understand that David needs me there to make sure he doesn’t foul things up.”
“Are you serious?”
“Perfectly serious.”
“You can’t mean . . .”
“I can’t mean what? That David isn’t very bright? Surely you’ve noticed that by now.”
The color bloomed prettily in her cheeks and anger made her eyes flash. She’d never looked more beautiful. “Are you still trying to convince me not to marry him?”
“Of course I am.”
He thought the emotion that flickered across her face was dismay, but he couldn’t be certain. “But why? You said yourself that David is your friend. Don’t you want him to be happy?”
“Of course I do, but he won’t be happy with you, and you won’t be happy with him, either.”
“You sound very sure of that.”
“I am. There’s a fire in you, Elizabeth. You need a man who won’t be consumed by it.”
“A man like you?” she scoffed.
He would have reached for her then, but the doorbell jangled, startling them both.
“That’s Anna,” she said with what sounded like relief, and before he could react, she had darted around him and out into the hall to greet her friend.
Gideon rubbed a hand over his face and took an unsteady breath. He had almost taken Elizabeth into his arms. He didn’t want to admit what he would have done then, but all of it would have been a betrayal of his oldest friend. What was he thinking?
He hadn’t been thinking at all, of course. Elizabeth had that effect on him.
“Hello, Gideon.”
He looked up to see Anna smiling at him from the parlor doorway. “Hello. Are you dining with us tonight?”
“Oh no. Elizabeth and I are going out to a . . . a meeting.” She came into the room. “I passed David outside just now. He said you’re going to help him deal with Mr. Thornton.”
He glanced past her, but Elizabeth was nowhere in sight. “Yes, I am.”