Page 86 of Her Tempting Traitor
Gone was the composed, at-ease woman from moments ago. This woman was every inch a princess, a marchioness, and a soon-to-be duchess; she was used to commanding attention and working through problems until she forced a solution. Cassian watched her pace, her head lowered in thought, muttering under her breath.
“Your Highness?” Gabby asked quietly, slowly standing. “You do believe him, do you not?”
Cassian winced, not sure if he was grateful or not that she’d been brave enough to ask the question.
Ye need to ken. So does she.
Bull had stepped away from the mantel and now stood at Gabby’s side. Cassian could tell he was lending her support. Strangely, that made him feel better.
He knew, in that moment, that Gabbydidlove him. Not only did he believe it with all his heart and soul, but so did her family—family she would need, if he were not to be believed and was soon dragged down to London as a traitor. If Bull could see that she needed his support, because she loved Cassian, then shemustlove him.
If the Princess didn’t believe his story, and the worst happened, Cassian would go to the hangman knowing he would be remembered. Gus would have a place at Inverlochy, a home for him and bairns of his own, and he would have the love and support of Gabby and her family. The lad would grow up strong andgood, thanks to all the people who loved him.
Who loved Cassian.
His smile was a little sad, but full of love, when he met Gabby’s gaze.
Her lovely midnight eyes were shining with tears, but she smiled bravely.
I love ye. He wanted to yell it. To tell her how fookingproudhe was to be even considered good enough for her.
But the Princess spoke first. “Christie—Prince Christian has never been involved inanyscandal. What makes you think this man was he?”
Cassian forced himself to focus, although his heart threatened to pound out of his chest. “I recognized him, Yer Highness. So did Avers, and—as I said—a few of the Fenians. They believed that by taking him, they could gain their independence sooner. As a war hero, we often received notifications of his deeds, accompanied by newspaper clippings.”
The Princess studied him for a few moments longer than necessary, then her shoulders slumped and she glanced away. “This is not widely known, you understand, but he was in Belfast at the time of your mission. Mother—the Queen thought him a good choice for a morale tour of the Victoria Barracks, and it gave him the opportunity to visit family.”
And at least one brothel.
“You must understand, Mr. Grey…my nephewistouted as a war hero.”
And the Royal Family very much needed heroes. “Aye, YerHighness,” said Cassian stiffly. “But so were my men. They do no’ deserve to be maligned nor suspected as traitors.”
“If everything you have told me is true?—”
“It is, Yer Highness.” When exactly had he grown the ballocks to interrupt a Princess? “I can understand why the Prince might not want to admit to his involvement, especially now I have countered his orders…but it is all true.”
“Trust me,myorders counter anything he might have said,” the older woman muttered, turning away to pace once more. “Prince Christian is back in South Africa now, serving his country. I will contact him…” She shot Cassian a knowing look. “And hewilltell me the truth.”
Cassian nodded firmly. “If he tells the truth, Yer Highness, his story will agree with mine.”
She snorted softly, continuing to pace. “His orders to you were accurate. If such a war hero’s involvement in a scandal like that—a visit to a brothel, a fight with the Fenians, an attempted kidnapping, that many deaths… If all that had been made public, our—the Royal Family’s reputation would severely decline in public opinion.”
Cassian exchanged a glance with Gabby. He could see that she liked this answer no more than he did, but neither were bold enough to offer their opinion.
Not to the Princess, the bastard’s aunt, who was now shaking her head as she paced. “Still, his orders put you in a difficult position, Mr. Grey, I can acknowledge that. By being forbidden—by a prince of the blood!—to explain the entire situation to your superiors, it was no wonder you came under suspicion. Things certainly would have been neater if you had perished with your men.”
Gabby’s gasp was audible.
Before Cassian could say anything, the woman he loved had wrenched her arm away from Bull’s hold—had he been holding her back?—and marched to stand at Cassian’s side.
She laced her fingers through his and glared defiantly at Princess Louise. “Cassian is a good man, Your Highness, and does not deserveanyof this. He is a wonderful father, and young Gus does not deserve to become an orphan! His men did not deserve to leave their own children orphans! Cassian Grey is a fine example of a loyal subject—he followed the Prince’s orders even when they put himself at risk and?—”
The Princess had been eyeing this outburst with what looked like amusement, so Cassian exhaled and tugged Gabby against him. “Hush, love,” he commanded, untangling their fingers so he could wrap his arm around her shoulders. “Ye’re better than a trial lawyer.”
“You are not on trial!” she snapped, still glaring at the Princess…who began to chuckle.
“You are lucky indeed, Mr. Grey, to have such a strong defense. Miss Lindsay is the one who discovered the truth from you, I take it?”
