“I donot know what you mean,” Gabriel muttered, taking a sip of his wine. “This is excellent wine,Nicholas. Where did you buy it?—”
“I am right,” Nicholas sighed. “As always. Duchess, am I correct? Something has changed between the two of you. Because at your wedding, things were very tense, but they also were at the Livingston ball. And then, there was Gabriel’s refusal to acknowledgehis feelings for you. Duchess—do you mind if I call you by your Christian name?”
“I do,” Gabriel said quickly.
“I do not,” Sibyl cut in. “After all, I have a nice name.”
“A beautiful name,” Nicholas purred, “to match yourself.”
“Nicholas,” Gabriel groaned.“Please stop trying to charm my wife.”
“I would not have to if you did a better job at it,” Nicholassnorted. “Butsee, she is unfazed. She only has eyes for you.”
“I would like to speak about other names,” Sibyl hurriedly said, not wanting her feelings for Gabriel to be displayed so openly.
Gabriel gave her a soft look, while she blushed, but his expression quickly shifted when he realized why she had not stopped asking about his nickname.
“Oh no,” he muttered under his breath as the footmen began to serve the first course.
Sibyl’s eyes widened in appreciation.
StonehelmHall hosted fine banquets, even just for the two of them, but this was a feast indeed, and she always appreciated good food.
“It seems my wife has outsmarted me,” Gabriel scoffed. “She has kept her usual questions to herself until this very moment,likely knowingyou will have a fine time tormenting me with explaining why I am known as The Helm.”
“I will have amostfinetime,” Nicholas agreed, picking up his spoon and dipping it into his soup bowl.
Sibyl did the same, ready to listen.
“See, Gabriel is a boxer,” Nicholas began. “And?—”
“I have already told Sibyl about that,” Gabriel sighed. “Go on.”
Nicholas’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “The first time he entered the ring, he grabbed his opponent and swung him aroundevery which wayin amaneuverthat, still to this day, baffles me. He had him stretched out, face down, angled towards the floor as if hewereguiding the helm of a ship. That, paired with his title,anointedhimThe Helm,for he promptly dropped his opponent right on his head.”
“Alsoassuming the reference to a helmet,” Sibyl pointed out. “Or lack thereof.”
Gabriel sniggered under his breath. “Indeed. It was not my fault that the poor soul had nocoordination; I could easily pick him up like a sack of flour.”
“I am certain your wife aches to be picked up like that, minus the slamming and dropping part. Or perhaps she wants to be dropped on?—”
“That is more than enough,” Gabriel said loudly.
Sibyl thought that if her cheeks grew any hotter, she could light a fire in the grate. She coughed, poking at her soup.
“This is very tasty,” she commented, eagertochange the subject, while Nicholas sniggered to himself.
“I apologize if I ever overstep, though,” he offered. “I have not been able to tease Gabriel about a lady, so it’s rather exciting for me to see him open up and acknowledge his feelings.”
“I have acknowledged nothing,” Gabriel muttered.
Sibyl found herself boldly leaning into the teasing.“Hehas acknowledged plenty enough.”
Gabriel shot her a playful scowl before rolling his eyes. “I knew I would regret letting you two in the same room.I do believe it is time to cut this evening short.”
“Oh, come now.” Nicholas waved him off. “You would be lost without my mischief.”
“I would be more at peace,” Gabriel grumbled under his breath.
