“I couldn’t knowingly leave them in that place, so I returned for them yesterday evening.”
Tears pooled against her lashes. “Thank you.” Her voice was small, and he realized then how distressed she looked. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
“He won’t let me do it,” she said, almost gasping for breath. “I’ve met with Fielding and he refuses to break our engagement.” Her eyes darted about the room as though hoping to find a hidden solution to her troubles in one of the corners of the parlor. “He’s always prided himself on winning, and now—he’s quite determined for the two of us to marry.”
Raphe stiffened, his mind already plotting and planning. He addressed his sisters, whose welcoming smiles had faded in response to Gabriella’s unsettled tone. “I believe your studies await you in the library,” he told them pointedly.
They didn’t linger, both offering Gabriella a brief acknowledgement as they hastily took their leave. The door clicked shut behind them. “Let me help,” Raphe said while repressing the vehement anger he felt toward Fielding.
“How?” The pain with which she spoke made his heart shudder. He hated that she felt so helpless. Hated Fielding and her parents and all of Society for being the cause of it.
Considering his options, he met her gaze. “I think he and I need to talk.”
“What?”
“Fielding’s a greedy bastard who needs to be put in his place.”
Gabriella’s eyes went wide. “How? I mean, what exactly do you—”
“I’m the Duke of Huntley, Gabriella, and I will be damned if I’m going to let him get the better of me when I have the power to crush him like the gnat he is.”
“Oh!” She bit her lip, eyes sliding over him until he felt the blazing heat of her gaze as though it were the sun itself. It burned him to the core.
“Gabriella?”
“Hmm?”
“Come here.” His tone was authoritative—ducal—commanding.
She slid into his arms a second later, melting against his hardness for a smoldering kiss that completely undid him with its honesty. It stripped him of every shield he held until he was left with no choice but to whisper the truth that had pounded through his veins since she’d bared herself to him yesterday. “I love you too, Gabriella. With all my heart. I love you.”
She went completely still, leaning back so she could get a proper look at him. Her eyes trembling with emotion, her lips parting until a question drifted toward him. “Really?”
Lifting his hand, he stroked it over her hair, brushing aside a stray lock before continuing down across her jaw. With a nod, he told her simply, “You’ve conquered my heart.” He dipped his head and kissed her gently—a soft pressing of lips as he whispered against her, “I am yours.”
His arms went around her, holding her close in a silent exchange of emotion. For a brief moment their troubles vanished and it was just the two of them—him holding her, the woman he loved.
But it couldn’t last forever. Not if they were to have what they wanted. So he eased away from her and said, “You should spend the afternoon with your sister. I’ll take care of Fielding.”
“But—”
“Don’t fight me on this, Gabriella.”
She hesitated a moment and then nodded. “Just promise me that you won’t hurt him.”
Raphe felt his jaw tighten and his fists clench. “I’ll promise not to engage him in any way. Unless he asks me to.”
“What does that mean?”
She followed him out into the hallway “Pierson,” he said, locating the butler, “can you please tell Lady Victoria that her sister is here to see her?”
The butler hurried away, leaving him alone with Gabriella once more.
“Raphe?” She asked with urgency in her voice. “What are you planning to do?”
“Nothing that the earl doesn’t want. I’m going to let him decide how to end this.”
Reaching out, she placed her hand against his arm. “Please be careful.”
