Gabriel chuckled before stepping closer to her. His hands rested on her waist, light yet possessive, and he planted a kiss on her forehead.
“I will get dressed and meet you down there shortly, then,” he said. “You may stay in your nightgown if you wish, though.”
His eyes trailed up and down her nightgown, and she blushed.
“I will dress properly,” she told him, her face burning.
Gabriel gave her another kiss, this one on the lips, before pulling away.
“I also checked on Rosie,” he added on his way out of her chambers. “She is sound asleep.”
With that, he gave her anod and stepped into the connecting passage. However, he left the adjoining door open.
Before Sibyl beganto dress, she caught sight of him tugging off his robe. Muscles rippled across his shoulder blades and abdomen, tensing with movement. Her mouth went dry as her eyes trailed downthe expanse of his back, aching to see what his breeches concealed.
As if he could sense her gaze on him, he smirked at her over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “Yes, Duchess?”
“Nothing,” she replied quickly, spinning away to face her mirror.
Moments later, the adjoining door was closed with a low laugh.
It took until Sibylstepped onto the ballroom terrace for her cheeks to cool from thoughts of running her hands across her husband’s back.
Those thoughts felt dangerous, butnot unsafe.
Now, Gabriel was watching her from across the table he had ordered to be set up, his expressionunreadable as he sipped his morning coffee.
“What are you thinking about?” Sibyl asked,nibbling onher buttered toast.
“Honestly, I am wondering if I have made a mistakeinagreeing to our plans tonight.”
“I wasnot aware we had any.”
“I was going to surprise you.” His mouth twitched,not quite asmile. “But you read me too well. You seemedrather takenbyNicholasat our wedding, and you are both… close to me. Well, heis important to me.”
Sibylheld her breath, waiting to hear that she was also important to him, but then she pushed that hope aside. They hadnot grownthatclose,not yet. But Gabriel also hesitated, as if debating saying something more.
He cleared his throat, glancing away. “Anyway, he has extended aninvitationfor us to dine with him tonight at his country estate. We will leave here by mid-afternoon, and I thought perhaps wecould ride around the village. Onthe way, we will also pass the place where…”
“Yes?” Sibyl prompted, realizing that no matter how slowly or hesitantly, he was opening a door for her. Even ifjust a crack. But like that adjoining door, he was giving her a brief glimpse.
After spending a while agonizing over her husband’s secrets, Sibyl found herself hungry for more knowledge and more glimpses—especially ofhis body, just like through that door.
“I told you I box,” he said. “So while I wouldnever dare take you where I box, Iwill point it out to you.”
It truly was another glimpse of him.
Sibyl found herself smiling as she sipped her tea. “I would like that very much.”
“I understand you might hesitate to leave Rosiehere,but I assure you that hernursemaid will be here and that she will be under constant watch. Plus, we won’t be stayingtoolong.”He made a softnoise that might have beena laugh. “After all, there is only so much ofNicholasI canstand.”
“I am certainthat is not entirely true,” Sibyl teased. “You donot tolerate people much, yet you are close to him.”
Gabriel hummed, as ifnot wanting to admit she was right. “Nevertheless, are the plans agreeable?”
You are asking me?
But Sibyl didn’tsay that, so used to being toldtodo this, do that, go here, you will be there.Instead, she just smiled andnodded.
