Page 61 of Her Tempting Traitor
“And accept any consequences?” His expression turned almost pitying as he crossed the room to her. “Gabs, if Cassian is a traitor?—”
“Then I will be sorry for my part in his downfall,” she admitted. “But I will not regret doing what is right. This feels right.”
Hunter’s hands closed around her upper arms. “But will ye regret getting yer heart involved?” he asked softly.
She frowned, having to tip her head back to meet his eyes.
Their entire life she’d been the leader and Hunter had been happy to follow. He’d known she was smarter, more ambitious. She’d protected him from the harsh realities of the schoolroom when they were children, until Aunt Sophia had become their governess and realized what Hunter needed to thrive. Now Gabby wasn’t the only one protecting Hunter…but her brother had never needed to protect her.
Gabby was used to being the smart one.
When did Hunter learn to understand so well?
But will ye regret getting yer heart involved?
“Yes,” she sighed, then pressed forward to hug her brother. “I likely will. But I cannot regret this right now.”
Thankfully he didn’t ask for details, merely hugged her back. “Then I just have to hope ye ken what ye’re doing, little sister.”
“I am ten minutes older than you,” she mumbled against his chest.
“Aye,” he drawled, “but ten inches shorter.”
Perhaps not quite that much, but she snorted, the response he wanted, then pushed away.
“I promise I will find a way to help you,” she vowed. “Soon. We will work out what is wrong with poor Elizabeth.”
“It might no’ matter,” her brother said solemnly, walking backwards toward the door. “If Sir Dickie decides I’m trulyuseless and makes us leave, ye will lose yer chance with Cassian—I mean, to discover his secrets. Have ye written Bull with what ye suspect?”
This time, Gabby managed to hide her wince. Shehadwritten—well,triedto write. This afternoon after the ride with Cassian and Gus, after her guess and that kiss and all the laughter, she’dtriedto write down all her suspicions and thoughts to send to Bull.
It hadn’t worked.
It was as though, now that her heart was involved, her mind couldn’t sort through the jumble of clues Cassian had given her. She couldn’t give Bull a coherent hypothesis, which wasgalling. All she knew, deep down, was that the man she was falling in love with was innocent.
Wait.
Falling in love with?
She closed her eyes in defeat.Oh dear.
Shewasin love with Cassian Grey, wasn’t she?
Damn.
Hunter’s hand had found the door knob behind him, and now he offered her a little shrug and a rueful grin. “Good luck, Gabs,” he murmured, and turned as he opened the door.
Only to be nearly punched in the nose by Cassian, whose fist was raised to knock.
It was almost humorous, Cassian standing there flushing guiltily, to be caught at her door by her twin brother. “Hunter!” he blurted out. “I was looking for—ah…for ye. There ye are!”
Hunter, bless him, had decided to allow his sister the same freedom she gave him, and remove himself from her business. With a little smirk, he sidled past the man who was about to bed his sister. “For me? In Gabby’s room?” he snorted. “What a strange place to lookfor me,” he called over his shoulder as he sauntered down the hall.
Cassian turned—utter disbelief on his face—as he watched her brother shove his hands in his pockets and whistle as he turned the corner.
Gabby, for her part, was grinning broadly when her lover turned back to her, the incredulity still obvious. Perhaps it was her recent revelation—how foolhardy it was to ignore logic and follow her heart—or perhaps it was because she felt as if the pair of them were standing on a precipice, poised for something truly remarkable.
Whatever it was, she was smiling as she reached for him.
