“That’s not what I do,” Gabe denied.
“That is precisely what you do, at least from her perspective, and from those around you. You constantly berate her for being an actress. Not once have you congratulated her on a job well done, not once have you encouraged her or—”
“See here!” Gabe said, incensed. “Mary is far too good for this life! She deserves a life of pampering, of warmth and love and passels of children! Not working herself to the bone and satisfying traitorous men’s needs on a nightly basis, damn it!”
The man’s golden eyes glistened in understanding. “Have you tried telling her that? Have you ever told herwhyyou treat her and speak to her as you do?”
There his guilt went again. “No.”
Stevens shook his head, his eyes narrowed in derision. “Dunce.”
Gabe grappled with the onus weighing heavy on his shoulders, not to mention his remorse. Had he truly treated Mary so ill? Why had he never told her all his reasons behind his treatment of her? Why had he never apologized for abandoning her and their friendship?
And last night?Christ, last night had been a disaster. Mary hadgivenherself to him. Tohim! Why had he rejected her? What kind of an idiot man rejects such a gift from a woman like her? FromMary, for God’s sake!HisMary!
He shook his head. “What is wrong with me?”
Stevens slapped a hand on Gabe’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’re in love.”
Gabe’s eyes widened, and he determinately ignored the sharp pang in his chest. “No, I am not!”
The man gently shook his shoulder. “… and in denial.”
“A man like mecan’tfall in love, Stevens.” Gabe knocked the man’s hand away and stepped back.
“You mean a Scotsman?”
Gabe cursed soundly. “No, I mean a…” he looked around the empty stables, then lowered his voice, “a spy.”
A nearby horse neighed and stomped its foot.
“Hydra is a spy andheis married. Happily, I might add, to a wonderful woman.”
“And what happened to Hydra in the past year? What happened to his family?”
Stevens conceded the point with a nod. “He did have some difficulty with a few nasty fellows knowing his identity, but—”
“Aha!” Gabe pointed his finger at him. “That is exactly my point! What if someone discovers who we are? WhoIam? What will happen to Mary, then? A cozy little life could be snatched away likethat!” He snapped his fingers to emphasize his point.
“A cozy life!” Stevens scoffed. “What in God’s name makes you think that a life with Mary will be anything different than it is now? Mary’s life is the same as yours; the life of a spy.”
Gabe grit his teeth. He hadn’t considered that fact before. “That might be true, but the danger increases when we are together.”
Stevens shook his head once more. “Will you live the rest of your life denying yourself the pleasures of love, Gabe?”
* * *
“Just a moment, Mary,” Sheffield called after her as he hurried after her down the garden path.
Drat.
She turned and faced him with a smile. “Yes, Lord Sheffield?”
The portly man wheezed as he caught up to her, heaving great rasping breaths. He withdrew a handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and dabbed at his glistening forehead. “Mary…my dear…” he said between gasps. “I do not…know your…direction.” He paused to catch his breath and Mary waited. “I and myhorridwife are having a ball at Sheffield Court. It is our house in town, you see.”
He took another moment to breathe and dab at his forehead and chins.
Lord Boxton and Lord Reddington caught up to them, walking down the path like lions stalking their prey. Heavens, they had positively voracious airs about them. She could not possibly participate in whatever lewd acts they had planned for her this evening. Gabe must be successful in his task this afternoon; she would ensure it.
