Page 41 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke

“I’m not going to ask, you know.”

Thalia’s head shot upright, completely taken aback.

Robin had entered the library fully now, having reached the writer’s desk where the frog-faced bust laid beneath. He’d propped himself against the edge, arms crossed loosely against his chest, and breathed a heavy sigh. For himself? For Thalia? Perhaps for the both of them, as life had only continued to throw trials and tribulations their way.

“R-Robin.”

“I’m not going to ask, because it’s none of my business.” Robin’s expression softened from his once-dark scowl, and he seemed genuine now as he spoke. “God knows you’ve put too much of yourself aside. For our father, for Giles, for m–” His voice caught in his throat, and he hastily shook his head. “If… whatever just happened in here brought you happiness, I shouldn’t be the one to shame you for it.”

Thalia blinked, touched by the sincerity of her brother’s words. But she was still on edge, waiting for the inevitable “but” he wanted to add.

“But–”

Her shoulders sank, her stomach souring at the word.

“But I want you to promise me you’ll be careful around him,” Robin finished. “The duke—he’s not all he presents to us. He has secrets—dark ones—and I don’t want you getting hurt because of that.”

Now it was Thalia’s turn to breathe deeply. For herself…for Robin… the both of them, she supposed. “You seem well-versed in his darker machinations.”

Robin’s lip thinned, his arms tightening against his chest.

“I won’t ask, either.” Thalia crossed the room, gingerly wrapping her arms around her brother for an embrace. “But I would ask for the same caution you’ve instilled unto me. Be careful, Robin; you’re my entire world.”

Robin remained stiff for a moment, hesitant in his next action. Eventually, his arms loosened, and he freed them from under Thalia, wrapping them around her back to fully hug his sister.

“Three more days,” Thalia offered softly. “Three more days, and the duke will have kept his end of the bargain. I don’t know how he’ll do it,” she added. “But I’ve learned quite quickly that the Duke of Stonewell is a man of his word.”

Robin nodded, resting his head between the crook of her neck. “Three more days.”

“Three more days,” Thalia repeated, hugging him tighter than she ever had before. Three days, and she would be lucky enough to even pass the duke on the streets of London.

CHAPTER19

“That was stupid. That was so incredibly stupid.” The scene played on an endless loop in Gabriel’s mind, and it was all he could do to sit at his desk and not simply charge back into the library. To… do what, exactly, he couldn’t fully say.

His intent wavered between committing violence against Robin, or testing Thalia’s boundaries further than he’d had the chance to. Images of her sprawled out in his bed, her wrists bound lightly in silk, a flicker of fear mixed with a deep desire to be completely overtaken…

Gabriel stood abruptly, moving towards a large, antique globe set beside a small bookshelf and reading chair. He easily pushed a hinge upright, opening the top of the globe to reveal a bottle of whiskey he immediately snagged and took a quick shot from.

The hot rush of burning alcohol set his hair on end, chasing away the flush he’d been growing over thoughts of… Miss Sutton. “Miss Sutton,” he repeated aloud, taking another swig before setting the bottle back in its place. “It is Miss Sutton, not…” Not Thalia. It couldn’t be Thalia. And she certainly shouldn’t be his little rabbit.

Someone rapped forcefully against his door, and Gabriel moved back to his chair, slicking back his hair and squaring his shoulders. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, then occupied his hands with estate papers and a pen. “Enter.”

The door swung inward, Robin entering as his hand remained gripped against the knob. Based on his expression—which he was trying desperately to keep neutral—he’d received at least some information from Tha—Miss Sutton. How much, Gabriel couldn’t rightly say. And it would remain forever a mystery; the less he brought attention to it, the better.

“Did I arrive on time, Your Grace?” Robin asked, a note of sarcasm coating the honorary title.

Gabriel blinked, realizing he couldn’t answer properly. Never once, had he glanced at the clock in his office, though now it was loudly ticking in his ear. The weight of his pocket watch suddenly became more noticeable; he hadn’t even bothered to take it out upon entering his study.

“I’ll give you a pass, considering the late night you had,” he replied evenly.

Robin fought to keep his brow even.

“Take a seat,” Gabriel instructed. “Start at the beginning. Leave out unnecessary detail.” He felt more at ease, sinking comfortably into his chair. The memories of the library began to fade in the background, and he sharpened his mind for the task at hand. Anger certainly was a useful tool, especially in regards to chasing away notable distractions.

Robin wasted no time getting comfortable himself, slouching against the side of his chair with one leg propped against the cushion. Gabriel couldn’t help but scowl at the sight, but dirt could easily be cleaned. He would put up with the child’s antics, if only to ensure he got what he needed.

“You were right about Giles. He’s really been cozying up to the Devils.”

---