He tugged down his bright purple jacket over a thick stomach, and smiled without a bit of remorse. “Then I shall count the hours, my lady.” He held out his arm and offered with farce gallantry, “Shall I escort you in to dinner?”
With her nails digging into her palms, Triana yearned to claw his eyes out instead, but as her mother breezed in with a brilliant smile, she had no choice but to allow him to lead her into the dining room. Amelia seemed perfectly oblivious to the gleaming glances he kept shooting at Triana throughout the meal, while she only picked at her food. When the earl finally took his leave, she pleaded a headache and retreated to her room for the rest of the evening.
***
Triana nervously twisted Gabriel’s handkerchief in her hands as the clock read eleven-thirty. She had been praying for a miracle all evening, but as the knots in her stomach would attest, it was apparent she was on her own. She’d hoped that Travell might intercede, but he was gone. And even though she’d knocked on the study door several times, as well as informing the servants to send word when he appeared, as of yet, there was still no sign of him. Since she didn’t know he’d been intending to depart, she had no way of sending a message to him.
Or to Gabriel.
Naturally, she was going out of her mind with worry over what exactly they might be doing so long into the night. What if they had been captured, or even worse — injured?
But no, she couldn’t allow herself to think that or she would surely go mad.
Instead, she walked over to her wardrobe and dug around in the back until she found what she was looking for. She withdrew the scandalous, red dress she’d worn the night she’d aided in Travell’s rescue from theEvening Swan, and pulled the silky material over her head. With tears stinging the backs of her eyelids, she pushed aside the memory of Vauxhall with Gabriel, and focused instead on the point she was intending to make to Eastbury. If the earl meant to treat her as a harlot, she might as well dress the part.
She twisted her long braid up into a simple knot and pinned the dark tresses, before she threw a cloak about her shoulders, lifting the hood to conceal her face. It was bad enough she was going to have to submit to the man she detested above all others. She didn’t need to get accosted on the streets of London as well.
She crept down the servant’s stairs with a soft, measured tread, wincing at the sound of the lock in the kitchens that seemed to resonate throughout the house, before she slipped out into the night. She pulled the cloak around her, and started off down the street, hoping that it wouldn’t take long to hail a hackney. While, at this hour, most of the hired conveyances were patrolling the gaming hells and brothels waiting for a drunken lord to take advantage of, she was relieved to hear the sound of horses’ hooves behind her.
She glanced back, intent on hailing down the carriage. As it slowed, the driver tipped his hat to her. After murmuring the earl’s address, she climbed inside. Because her thoughts were preoccupied with the sentence she would soon have to carry out, Triana didn’t notice the shadowy figure sitting opposite her until it was too late.
He moved with lightning fast speed, cuffing her on the side of the head before she could even scream.
After that, everything went dark.
***
It had been an eventful evening, to say the least.
Gabriel thought they had enough information from Madame Corressa’s testimony to act, so he, along with Travell and Logan, had raided theEvening Swanwith the help of a few Bow Street Runners and His Majesty’s soldiers. There, they found enough incriminating evidence on board — letters and checkpoints — to make sure it never sailed on open waters again. Ridge had also sent word about where to set up the raid on theClaraBelle, having deciphered the set of codes.
After many long months, it looked like it was finally coming to an end.
The nightmare would soon be over.
And not a moment too soon, Gabriel thought.
His cock stirred just remembering that afternoon when he had been plunged into Triana’s warm body. He had trouble keeping his focus as he imagined the moment when he could be with Triana again and the joy he would feel in knowing she was truly his — forever.
“There he goes again.” Logan murmured with a shake of his head, where he had just finished tying up the last of the crew.
Gabriel ignored the murderous look of contempt the captain shot him as he shoved a gag in his mouth and glanced at his fellow agent with a tolerant smile. “You’re just jealous.”
“Probably,” the agent returned bluntly. “You’ve picked one in a million. I just can’t help but wonder how you did it.”
Gabriel gave a chuckle. “I have no idea. I only know I don’t deserve her. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be a selfish bastard and marry her anyway.”
Travell, having returned from a brief discussion with their cohorts, snorted upon hearing the duke’s last statement. “Aren’t you supposed to ask the head of the family for permission first?” His tone was serious, although his blue eyes twinkled merrily. “Besides, I’m not quite sure I approve of you as a suitor.”
Gabriel grinned. “Well, that’s too damn bad Curdiff, because like it or not, you’re going to be my brother-in-law.”
“Contemptuous bastard.” Travell shook his head before clapping Gabriel on the back. “I guess it’s you I should be worried about, taking on a challenge like my sister.”
“My money’s on her,” Logan muttered.
The camaraderie subsided as they concentrated on the matter at hand. Now that Captain Hildegard and his men had been carefully bound and gagged, they were escorted to the ship’s holding cells. Tomorrow night, when theEvening Swansailed out of the harbor, it would have a new crew. But until then, a few of His Majesty’s soldiers would be on prisoner watch, while Travell, Logan, and Gabriel departed to catch up on a few hours of much needed rest.
***
