Page 90 of Her Tempting Traitor
The young woman at his side embraced Gabby, even as her younger brother—hemustbe her younger brother, because he had Demon’s dark coloring—stepped in to shake Cassian’s hand.
“You are so beautiful, Gabs,” the girl sighed. “I cannot wait formywedding.”
“No’ for many decades,” her father growled.
The lass winked at Gabby. “Speaking of which, have you seen Bull? I swore I saw him…” she said as she pulled away and began to crane her neck to peer at the crowd.
“Rosie!” barked her father, yanking away from the niceties to follow his daughter. “Rose Marie Hayle, Iwarnedye to stay away from that philandering well-dressed cock-wobbler! Rosie, come back here, ye malignant?—”
“Language, dear,” sighed the Duchess as she dipped her head in Gabby’s direction, slid her arm through her son’s, and followed after her husband.
At Cassian’s side, Gabby began to giggle. To his surprise, the man who stepped up to shake his hand next was also laughing.
“Thorne Cumming, Duke of Stroken, this is Kit. She’s American, dinnae let her manners fool ye.Well done, both of ye. I havenae seen Demon pop his temper off in such a satisfying way inmonths.”
His wife, whose handshake was just as firm as Thorne’s, was also smiling as if they were sharing a naughty joke. “Perhaps you shouldn’t talk about popping off a man, love.”
“No’ in public, at least,” her husband murmured with a wink, which had Kit—was that an American name?—smirking.
“Are the boys here?” Gabby asked eagerly. “I wanted them to meet Gus.”
“Aye, but yer Uncle Fawkes gave them a chemistry set yesterday when he arrived,” Thorne explained, “and I’m guessing they’re outside right now trying to set the famous Exingham hedges on fire.”
“Ah, science,” sighed Kit, linking her arm through his. “Congratulations, you two. Welcome to the chaos, Cassian. We need more outlaws.”
Outlaws? Surely they didn’t consider him—the Princess promised a full exoneration…
Confused, Cassian raised his brows. “Excuse me, Yer Grace?”
“Just Kit, please.” She pointed to Thorne, then Gabby. “Inlaws.” Then she pointed to herself and Cassian. “We married into this nonsense. We’re the outlaws.” When she grinned, her puckish chin turned positively charming. “Welcome to the family.”
Thorne was chuckling as he led her away, and Cassian watched them go in bemusement. “They’re a…fun couple?”
“Remind me to tell you how they met,” Gabby murmured, turning him to the next couple. “Hunter! And, oh, Lady Mistree, thank you so much for attending!”
Cassian, who’d heard the story of the magical lace’s origins several times thanks to his son, bowed over the Countess’s glove.
“My dears, I would not miss it for the world,” the old woman purred, her smile bright as she reached for Gabby’s hand while twisting her frail fingers around Cassian’s. She pulled them closer together while beaming up at them. “I was thrilled when young Hunter told me how my lace talisman helped bring you happiness.”
A flatulent elephant had brought them together?
Well, Cassian supposed that was, in some way, true.
The other man grumbled, “YoungHunter? I’mten minutesyounger than Gabs.”
“Yes,” his sister said with a bright smile, “which means I am ten minutes wiser and more mature.”
Hunter, proving how wise and mature he was, stuck out his tongue.
Lady Mistree burst into chuckles. “Oh, Hunter dear, I cannotwaitto gift youyourinheritance.”
“Is it a magic rock?” Gabby teased, clearly referencing something Cassian didn’t know. “Hunter deserves a magic rock.Pleasetell me it is a magic rock!”
The old woman finally released their hands to hum and tap her chin thoughtfully, smirking at Gabby’s twin. “I think I may have just the magic rock for you, Hunter.”
“Swell,” he muttered. “Just what I’ve always wanted.”
Cassian, feeling as if something was expected of him, wrapped his arm around his bride’s waist and pulled her closer. “If yer magic rock is as important as Gabby’s lace?—”
