Page 75 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke

Thalia could only offer a tired sigh, pacing about the guest room as the information finally settled into her mind. “Robin, you know that was horribly reckless of you.”

“Yeah, I know,”

“No, Robin, I’m serious!” Thalia quickly crossed the room, practically falling to her knees as she grabbed his hands firmly. “I’ve kept quiet about your business, but this has to be the last time! No more toshing, no more heists, or thieving, or—or whatever else Whitechapel forced you to do in order to survive.”

Robin looked ready to argue, but his mouth simply hung open. Maybe it was the fatigue that stopped him—maybe being safely indoors, dressed and bathed, far away from the dangers of the sewer sweeping him away—made him reconsider. Whatever the reason, her brother simply nodded, giving her hands a squeeze back.

“Good.” Thalia stood abruptly, exhaling sharply as her hands settled against her hips. “I’m… I’m glad you’re not going to fight me on this.”

“I assume you have a plan for me, given how serious you sound,” Robin said.

She had. Faintly, at least. But now wasn’t the time to consider it; she still had to properly thank Gabriel. For everything.

“You gonna go find him, then?”

Thalia paused, glancing back at her brother with a confused stare.

“You’re pretty easy to read, sis.” A large yawn escaped Robin as he stood, arms stretching out toward the ceiling. “And I already gave Gabriel the business for you.”

Thalia’s gaze narrowed slightly. “Did you, now?”

“Someone has to make sure you’re given away to the right guy,” Robin replied nonchalantly. “Father can’t do it, so, it falls to me to ensure that happens.” Something tender briefly slipped into his voice, and Robin quickly wiped his nose on the hem of his sleeve, suddenly interested in the bedframe.

Thalia smiled warmly, embracing her brother in a tight hug. “I’m not going to leave you, Robin. Not this time.”

A sniffle passed between them, and Robin managed a gentle pat on her back. “Y-Yeah, well… I’ll hold you to that.”

* * *

She found him outside, standing amidst the sprawling lawn neatly manicured while its garden looked practically molded into place. Thalia allowed her hand to brush across a row of azure hydrangeas, taken in at how uniformed it all appeared.

“A perfect reflection of Christian’s personality,” Gabriel chuckled, not even turning to greet her. “Entirely too orderly.”

“Perhaps a touch on the unnerving,” Thalia grimaced slightly. “I think I prefer the gardens at Stonewell.”

A peal of deep laughter rang from Gabriel’s chest, filling Thalia’s chest with warmth. He turned to greet her properly, hand gesturing towards a blooming, floral archway. Stretched out across the property was a magnificent pond, adrift with lily pads and quite literally buzzing with activity.

The throaty singsong of frogs ripped across the water, and Thalia found herself guided to sit at a beautiful, wood-carved bench, its leg curling with ivy. Gabriel soon joined at her side, the pair still holding hands as they stared out across the pond. “He’s alright, then?”

“Robin? Oh, yes; I gave him a stern talking to, had him really evaluate his future.” Thalia sighed, taking in the damp scent of the pond. “Something we can discuss later.”

“Of course.”

It really was a glorious morning; not yet too warm or humid, as the rising sun remained beneath a rosy curtain of clouds. The temptation to lean against Gabriel’s shoulder grew with each passing second, but Thalia remained strong. Agreeing to courtship was one thing, but being overly affectionate may very well scare the man away. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought; the Duke of Stonewell, terrified over a showcasing of affection. Her gaze drifted down to their hands, still entwined, and a slight guilt tightened in her stomach.

“Gabriel?”

His head tilted her way.

“I know… you agreed to become my actual suitor,” Thalia began. “But, I want that to involve activities you enjoy as well.”

Gabriel cocked an eyebrow, looking her up and down. “I haven’t exactly been subtle in voicing my desires, and you’ve been more than receptive to them.”

Thalia blinked, face flushing slightly. “No, that wasn’t what I—you’ve been entirely too considerate with my own feelings and boundaries, and I just want to make sure that… that I’m…” her sentence drifted off, watching as Gabriel’s eyes followed hers to their hands.

A slight smirk crossed his face, and he replied with a slight cheek to his tone. “Should my word of safety be ‘ramps’ as well?”

Thalia scowled, shoving his shoulder with her free hand. “I am quite serious, Gabriel! If you are making yourself show affection that you’re uncomfortable with, I wish to know of it.”

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