Free Martha Schroeder by Guarding an Angel Page A

real danger.” Gideon could see from the stubborn set of her mouth that she was not convinced. The very fact that she despised the man made her underestimate him.
    “I will not argue with you,” he said calmly. “I will simply ask Jane to watch over you.”
    “Of course,” Jane replied. “I have never trusted that little weasel, Amelia, and I am very sure that he will make trouble for you if he can.” Jane believed she had a plain woman’s ability to judge men accurately. They did not try to charm her, and so she saw them as they were, without any illusions.
    Amelia nodded in acquiescence. “Very well. I can see that you two will do whatever you choose regardless of anything I say. So I might as well save my breath to cool my porridge.”
    “Good girl.” Gideon’s tone was the same one he had used when at twelve Amelia had followed instructions in some elaborate game they’d been playing.
    Amelia felt a spurt of anger along her veins. After what she had seen in his eyes and felt in his arms, she was unwilling to be treated like a younger playmate. “Good lad,” she responded in exactly the tone he had used, and rose to her feet. “Thank you, Gideon. I believe that I am due in the schoolroom to help the younger children with their sums. Good day.” As cool and gracious as any of Almack’s patronesses, she smiled and inclined her head in dismissal. “Jane, I will see you at luncheon.” And she was gone.
    To Gideon, the sunlight abruptly went out of the day with Amy’s departure. He turned despairing eyes after her, but it was clear that she already had her mind on pedagogy. He had misread her. Those few moments when he had held her in his arms clearly had left her completely unimpressed. Uninterested. He squared his shoulders. Hussars did not admit defeat.
    But with Amy he was not sure what exactly what victory was.
     

Chapter Six
     
    What had he done? Gideon asked himself that evening as he looked around yet another room filled with overdressed people at some ton function. He couldn’t remember just what it was or who was hosting it.
    All he could think of was Amy. He had risked a lifetime of friendship for a moment of passion and protectiveness, holding her in his arms. How could he have been that stupid!
    In disgust with himself, he looked around the room, hoping for a glimpse of Amy or Jane. If he could talk to her, surely he could convince Amy that it was possible to return to the easy camaraderie they had enjoyed all those years, before he stupidly allowed them both a glimpse of how he really felt.
    Since this morning, he had been forced to admit to himself that what he felt for her wasn’t friendship or the pure love of a knight for a royal lady who stood far above him yet gave him her favor to carry in the tournament. What he had called chivalry had been instead the same kind of hot, possessive passion that any man felt for the woman he wanted for his own.
    Though he had never realized consciously how he felt, the idea did not shock Gideon. At some level he had always known. But if he was not surprised, he nevertheless knew how hopeless his love was. His position in Amy’s life was and had to remain one of friend and protector. If he had ever aspired to be more and win her love, her father had made it clear that he would jeopardize Lady Amelia Bradshaw’s high standing in the ton. The duke had trusted the boy he had befriended not to attempt to do so. Gideon could not betray that trust. Besides, he knew the duke had been right.
    What he had read in Amelia’s eyes that morning told him she had feelings for him that were more than friendship. Knowing Amelia, he was sure she would not stifle those feelings and be content to remain only his friend just to protect her reputation. Amelia did not care the snap of her fingers for reputation. If she did, she would not be sponsoring Jane Forrester at every event Jane could be persuaded to attend.
    It was, therefore, up to Gideon to protect her from