Page 67 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke

Gabriel gently pulled her arm, forcing Thalia to face him. Her heart nearly burst from her chest at the determination on his face, the genuine sincerity in his voice.

“On the contrary, I would say our deal has only sweetened significantly on my end. And an Orion never goes back on his word; I would lose all face as co-founder if I did so.”

Warmth now bloomed from Thalia’s core, and she wanted nothing more than to kiss him as furiously as she had in the hay. Charlotte’s gaze, however, was far too heavy to ignore, and thus, Thalia settled on a quick peck on the cheek; it still warranted a delighted squeal from the younger Harding.

“If you’re going to do that every time,” Gabriel groaned. “I’ll ensure we only show our affections privately.”

Charlotte shook her head furiously, covering her mouth with her hand as she sat up in her seat like a proper lady should. Still, a cheeky smirk worked its way across her face when she dropped both her hands on her lap, and she couldn’t help but wiggle excitedly in her seat. Her energy was positively infectious, and if Thalia were being honest… she felt just as ecstatic over the situation.

* * *

Everything had been leading up to this evening.

Gabriel bid both his sister and Thalia one last goodbye as they stood outside Egerton Hall. Louise stood at the bottom step to accompany her new guests inside, briefly pausing to catch a kiss that Christian had blown before vanishing into the carriage.

Briefly, Gabriel wondered if that was something he was supposed to do for Thalia’s sake, and based on his sister’s sneer, she was all but goading him to do it. But Thalia waved her off and offered him a gentle wave and a smile as the manor’s doors closed behind them.

“What do you suppose they’ll get up to while we’re gone?” Christian asked.

Gabriel settled in his seat as the carriage lurched forward, driving down the way and out the property’s inner gates. “If I had to hazard a guess, they’ll be up all night asking Thalia to tell and retell the scene at the art gallery today.”

“Yes… I heard word through the grapevine about that.” Christian leaned forward, offering his friend a reassuring hand against his shoulder.

“Are you going to be alright tonight? If it would put you at ease to be with Thalia…”

“I trust Louise will keep her safe,” Gabriel said. “Besides, my sister would throw an absolute fit if I did intrude on their ladies’ night.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair before fully committing to his next sentence. “I’m sure she’s been dying to get Thalia alone ever since we arrived home. Interrogate her for information, as it were.”

“About the art gallery? Why? She was there as well, and Thalia doesn’t have the same history with your mother as you two.” Christian paused, his expression growing blank. He leaned back into his chair, visibly processing, and Gabriel found his foot tapping impatiently. “Did you…?”

Gabriel remained quiet.

“Wait, did you actually–?”

Gabriel offered a raised brow in reply.

“My God, you like to be obtuse about things, don’t you?”

“You’re the one who can’t finish his question,” Gabriel pointed out. “But, yes. I had an… honest discussion with Thalia. About us.”

Christian reacted nearly as childishly as Charlotte had. At the very least, he had the sense to cover his mouth before his smirking grin could be fully exposed. “And… how did it go?”

Gabriel glanced out the carriage window, eyeing the rolling landscape as it shifted away from the perfectly manicured lawn of Egerton to the collection of brickwork buildings of the Ton.

“Let’s just say… tonight’s tournament is no longer simply about embarrassing the little marquess.” His expression darkened, attention turning back onto his friend. “By the by, has a Mister Robin Sutton visited your estate at all in the last day or so?”

“You mean Thalia’s brother?” Christian shook his head, brow knitting with worry. “He hasn’t come back from his little trip, then?”

Gabriel shrugged, repressing whatever anxiety dared to try and spin itself together. “I couldn’t say. I’m hoping he’s simply being wise and lying low.” Though, if Oslay Hall had indeed been robbed, Giles would have certainly made quite the scene over it. The fact that he had remained wholly absent from gossip…

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it,” Christian reassured. “If anything, Giles would be the type to keep up appearances. To admit your home was pilfered from would be quite the stain on one’s reputation as the new marquess.”

It was uncanny how his friend seemed to read his mind at times. Gabriel nodded, attention drifting back through the carriage window. Regardless of the details, he couldn’t afford any distractions. There was entirely far too much on the line.

CHAPTER30

Lord Isaac Cecil was another high-ranking member of the Ton’s Devils, having close ties with Tristan and owning a fierce record on the battlefield.

Though he had long since been retired, there wasn’t a man in London who would dare step out of line under Isaac’s single-eyed gaze; Gabriel even included himself among that number.

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