Triana refused to let her mother believe Gabriel was the rogue she thought him to be. “He knew I was betrothed to Eastbury, so how could he propose to me when he knew I was intended for another?”
“If he truly wanted you, do you honestly think that would have stopped him?”
When Triana had no reply, Travell spoke up. “Have you forgotten your petition to the Regent? Who would dare go against the Crown’s wishes?”
Amelia merely shrugged. “I have found that if a man truly wants something, very seldom is he deterred from getting it. Look at your father — do you think he cared about anything but his own selfish desires when he left us?”
Triana refused to see Gabriel as being cut from the same cloth as her errant father. “But the duke isn’t like that, Mother! If you would just give him a chance…”
Already, Lady Trenton was shaking her head. “I have seen enough of the Duke of Chiltern to recognize a man out for a single purpose, whereas Eastbury has offered his hand and his protection for a lifetime. Now, I am through with this discussion. The wedding will take place as planned and that is the end of it.”
***
“Ah, there you are, my lovely bride-to-be.” Eastbury greeted Triana in the parlor the next morning, the vicar at his side. The earl’s face was wreathed in smiles, his pudgy countenance puffed out with pride.
How she wanted to wipe that smirk off of his face, knowing what he’d expected of her at their last meeting, but she managed to keep her composure.
“It’s nearly time for the ceremony to begin,” the earl persisted in his silky voice.
He hadn’t needed to remind her, for she had paced her chamber most of the night, dreading the dawn of this day. But at precisely eight o’clock, Genevieve had arrived to help her into a lovely, pink satin dress, the color accenting her pale skin. Her dark hair had been styled into a lovely chignon. Diamond earrings that had been in the Trenton family for generations graced her ears. For all appearances, she looked like a blushing bride, but inside, her heart was breaking.
Travell walked in and addressed the earl. “If I might have a moment in my study?” he asked brusquely.
“Of course,” Eastbury said. He turned to Triana with a grin. “I’ll only be a moment, my dear. No doubt we need to finalize the marriage contract.”
“You might be more comfortable waiting in the drawing room,” Travell said to the vicar, who moved forward.
While Triana was grateful for the brief reprieve, she thought she saw Travell wink at her as he led the earl away.Strange…
She shook her head, intending not to think any more of it as she sank down into a chair near the fireplace.
“Triana.”
She gasped as she glanced up, wondering if her eyes weren’t deceiving her. She had to clutch the arm of the chair for support as she encountered a pair of familiar, silver orbs. “Gabriel…” Her whisper had barely left her lips as he rushed to her side and pulled her to her feet, hauling her against that warm, solid chest.
Her eyes instantly welled with tears, for nothing had ever felt so wonderful.
She closed her eyes as he held her close and whispered into her hair, “Please tell me I got here in time. Tell me I’m not too late to save you from Eastbury.”
Triana’s joy nearly brought her to her knees. She wondered if she was dreaming, for surely Gabriel couldn’t truly be here with her! But as he lowered his head and kissed her thoroughly, she knew that it was all too real.
She grasped his jacket lapels, fearing that at any moment he might dissipate and all her hopes would be crushed once more. “How did you—?”
He cupped her face in his hands as if she was the most precious possession he’d ever beheld. “Didn’t I tell you that you were mine?” he said hoarsely. “Nothing can keep you from me, and I meant it.” He searched her gaze, and she felt her heart swell at the blatant adoration she read there. “I love you, Lady Triana Abernathy, spinster extraordinaire that you are. Tell me that I haven’t lost you in spite of all of my foolishness, and that you will be my wife before this day is out.”
Triana’s heart leaped. “You love me?”
“How could you not have known, you stubborn, frustrating woman? I thought I’d made it rather obvious. But perhaps I’ve been remiss in my attentions.” He gathered her in his arms, and swung her around in a circle, eliciting a breathless laugh from her.
Her pulse suddenly skittered to a halt as he set her down and reached into his jacket, where he produced a small scrap of white linen. Her eyes widened as she recognized his handkerchief; the initials emblazoned in black on the delicate fabric, and the very item she had carried so close to her heart for so long.
“You left this with me. Why?”
She swallowed. “I nearly didn’t, but I suppose it was because I knew I had to let you go.”
He gave a brief nod, and then, without any warning, he walked over and promptly tossed it into the fireplace.
Triana’s mouth fell open in horror. “Why did you do that?” she cried.
