Page 87 of Her Tempting Traitor
Cassian nodded stiffly. “If I hadnae revealed what I could to her, she would no’ have been able to put it all together and discover how to exonerate me.”
Still smiling, the older woman inclined her head to Gabby. “I merely said, Miss Lindsay, that it would have been neater had your love perished. I am sure a medical woman like yourself can see the logic of that, even if you do notlike it. I certainly would never wish such a thing. Since he did not, we are left with somewhat of a conundrum.”
“Ballocks,” Bull scoffed, swaggering toward the Princess, a ridiculously charming grin tugging one side of his lips. “Louise, darling, just tell the lads at the Secret Service that Cass is innocent, and the whole thing is a matter of secrecy, cannae be revealed except to the upper echelons of the organization,et cetera, et cetera.” He scooped up the Princess’s hand and placed a kiss above the skin. “Ye ken ye have that royal power.”
Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, studied him for a long moment, and Bull’s expression matched hers the whole time…until he winked. When he winked, she began to laugh, then pulled her hand from his and smacked his shoulder.
“You scamp. Yes, yes, you are right, of course.” With a sigh and a smile, she turned to Cassian. “Thank you for your service to the Crown. I will communicate with my nephew, then with your superiors in the Service. They will learn of your heroism?—”
“And my men, Yer Highness?” he asked eagerly, feeling Gabby vibrating with excitement.
“All heroes as well,” the Princess agreed with a grateful smile. “Their families will learn of their bravery and service to the Crown, even if the details remain hidden, and they will be awarded posthumously—and provided for. As for you?—”
“I need nothing,” Cassian was quick to assure her, afraid his grin would knock the top of his head off.
He’d done it. He was exonerated. He was free to have a future.
The Princess’s gaze darted between him and Gabby, and her smile grew. “Very well. You will receive your back pay and an honorable discharge from the Service, Cassian Grey. Nothing more. Nothing less. Bull, let us go look at that very important view from that window for a moment.”
“Why?” The other man glanced at Gabby and his eyes rounded in understanding. “Oooh. Aye, Yer Highness, look at that tree.”
“Oh, what a lovely tree.”
Bull’s voice revealed his laughter as he led the Princess away. “Did I ever tell ye the story of how wee Gabby’s cat got stuck in the tree? Of course, he was nothing but a barn cat, but she was inconsolable, and Rourke had to climb up there…”
He might have said more but Cassian forgot to listen. At that moment, Gabby swung toward him, wrapped her arms around his middle, and buried her face in his chest.
“I have never been so scared in my life,” she confessed in a mumble. “Not even when I had half my arm down the mouth of a tiger with a toothache.”
And he had to smile. “Ye, my love? The brave woman who defended me so fiercely?”
“I thought I was going to piss myself.”
Her words were muffled, but he understood them and didn’t bother holding back his chuckle as he hugged her.
He wasfree.
Free not just from the suspicion of treason, but free to live his life. He could return to Inverlochy and build a future with his son…and with Gabby.
Now he had the chance.
“I love ye,” he rasped, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. “I love ye because ye see the best in me, and because ye make me a better man. I love ye because ye have a kind heart, and love Gus, and are brave enough to make the world a better place.”
She’d slowly loosened her grip on him, and now peeked up from his chest, her cheeks red.
Smiling, he kissed her brow. “I love ye, Gabrielle Lindsay, and I am beyond grateful for the chance to have met ye.”
“Even if it meant losing your foot?” she whispered.
He huffed. “What’s a foot, compared to ye? I would lose both feet.Threefeet, even.”
“An entire yard?” She pretended to consider it. “I am notthat?—”
He stopped her teasing with a kiss. “I love ye,” he whispered against her lips.
“Good, because I love you.” Another kiss, as she pushed herself up on her toes. “And I have been thinking…”
Cassian hummed, wrapping his arms tighter around her. “Is it about what yer uncle, the Duke, said earlier?”
