Page 15 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke

Robin’s expression remained dark, but Gabriel knew his assumption was right. So the young Sutton had been the mastermind behind Thalia’s infiltration; an interesting connection, indeed. “I consider it in rather poor taste, when a man sends someone else to do their dirty work. Their sister especially,” he added icily.

Robin’s expression remained dark. “That wasn’tmyidea. You don’t know Thalia. You can’t stop her once her mind’s made up.”

“Excuses.”

His fist slammed against the chair, nearly toppling it over as Robin jumped to his feet. “I don’t need the approval of a duke, sir.”

Pain. There was clear pain in the man’s voice, and Gabriel could detect guilt just from the way the young man’s lip curled. Naive certainly wasn’t the word he’d use for Robin, but the young man was foolish to wear his heart so obviously on his sleeve.

“But your sister does, Mr. Sutton. High society has shaped her past and will determine her future; you should take that far more seriously than you have.”

Robin’s expression burned. He looked ready to make a grievous mistake, hands curled and trembling at his side. Briefly, Gabriel’s mind went back to that terrible, terrible night. To the little boy who held his sister close in bed, burning with as much anger as this young man showed.

He was a liability but Gabriel found himself unable to deny him the vengeance he so obviously craved. He knew a thing or two about such ambitions.

“What do you really want with my sister?” Robin finally asked. “No duke simply decides to help a disgraced daughter of society and her bastard half-brother. Not unless there’s something in it for them.”

Ordinarily, such accusations would’ve earned this man a quick trip into unconsciousness. But Gabriel was genuinely impressed with the young man’s insight. He leaned forward in his chair, his hands folding on his desk. “What do you know of the Ton’s Orions and Devils, Mr. Sutton?”

Robin’s expression visibly churned as he ran throughout his mind. “Gentlemen’s clubs. Wildly exclusive places, wildly hell-bent on taking the other out.” He paused, then hesitantly added, “through any means necessary, if you believe in rumors.”

“And do you believe in rumors, Mr. Sutton?”

Robin gave him a long, hard stare. “I believe what’s been said about you. And I believe you care quite a bit for the social standing of your club; enough that underhanded tactics would be something you’d store away within your repertoire.”

Gabriel nodded slowly, pleased he’d been correct in his assumption. Robin was entirely too knowledgeable about the truths of the world; there might be a use for him, yet.

“The real question,” Robin continued cautiously. “Is if my sister or I risk that reputation you’ve so carefully crafted for yourself, or the Orions. And if we do,” he added, “how you plan to handle this… problem.”

Gabriel offered a cold smirk. “Now, why do you think yourself a problem, Mr. Sutton?”

“Because you haven’t properly answered my initial question, and men who stall are men who quietly plan the demise of others.”

That got a dark chuckle out of Gabriel. Robin was good, and he would internally offer such deserved praise. The boy was incredibly perceptive for his age.

“So?” Robin asked. “What do you really want from my sister, Your Grace?” The last part was practically spat out across the floor; Gabriel was beginning to enjoy the Sutton family in its entirety.

“As your sister mentioned previously, I have a personal stake in the clubs’... rivalry, shall we say.” Gabriel shifted in his chair, producing a few papers from a drawer beside him. “So, anything I can do to cause the Devils trouble is a net positive.”

He brandished the paperwork for Robin to see, gesturing toward what appeared to be a list of names. “I like to keep track of who takes an interest in our rivals, and it seems your cousin has been trying awfully hard to catch their leader’s attention.”

Cautiously, Robin approached the desk. His hand reached for the list, but Gabriel quickly pulled away; there certainly wasn’t enough trust between them to share every secret just yet. And Robin seemed to respect that, enough to let it go and take a seat.

“If rumor is to be believed,” Gabriel continued, “the marquess has, perhaps, been a touch reckless in his pursuits. A new wardrobe, expensive gifts for Devil’s members, paying for multiple years on his membership card… Your cousin seems determined to drain the lake before the rains can replenish it.”

A slight smirk crossed Robin’s face. “And, do your sources give an exact number to his accruing debt?”

Good; the young man was hooked. Gabriel set the papers across his desk, hands folding once more. “Unfortunately, my club needs to stay above the law when it comes to the gathering of information. I can’t simply wander into Oslay Hall and check for myself. But if one was to, say, accidentally come across the marquess’ spending ledgers, and that person were to accidentally share those numbers with a more influential party…?”

Robin’s brow rose slightly. “An interesting hypothetical, certainly. Though it won’t distract me from your lack of disclosed intentions with my sister.”

Gabriel’s lip curled slightly upward, and he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. Oh, yes, this was a young man he could easily see himself adding to his vast array of resources. “For the next five days, she is under the protection of the Harding family. My title may mean little to you, but I’m certain you appreciate the promise of one brother to another.”

He could. Robin visibly relaxed in his chair, appearing far less guarded than when they first entered the study. He exhaled sharply, the last bits of his personal reserves blowing away, and he faced Gabriel as a new man. “Alright—where exactly do I fit in your grand plan… Your Grace?”

CHAPTER8

The roses really were quite lovely. They came in a wide variety of colors, and Thalia suspected it had been the supplier for Orion’s Hunt. But it was difficult to truly enjoy the sights, as she was far more fixated on Louise.

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