Page 37 of Gabriela and His Grace

Only Sirius would understand the gravity of such a claim. As Sebastian’s oldest friend, he had met the late duke a handful of times, most notably when Sebastian had almost been sent down from Eton after the secret gaming hell he’d organized, complete with dealers and courtesans from London, had been discovered. It had been after his mother’s death when Sebastian was grieving, angry, and desperate for a distraction. His father had arrived at the school and met with the headmaster, and while Sebastian was unsure of exactly what the old duke had said, Sebastian had been allowed to stay. But it was his father’s ear-blistering scold afterward that had been humiliating, especially because the duke had berated Sebastian in front of Sirius. His friend had never said anything directly about the cruel things the late duke had said that day, but whenever Sirius mentioned Sebastian’s father, it was with a hint of disdain.

Which was why comparing the old duke of Whitfield to Mr. Luna felt so appropriate. Sirius appeared to agree, for he lifted his glass in toast to Sebastian.

“There have to be good fathers in the world, right?”

“Fox is a good father,” Sebastian shared. “He dotes on his daughter…and his wife.”

“And are you surprised by that?” Sirius chuckled. “Fox had a good father himself, from what he has said.”

“And of course the man died young. All the good ones do, apparently,” Sebastian said with a sigh.

“Let us not talk of fathers anymore. Perhaps one day you and I will be blessed to have our own children, and we will work to give them everything we were denied.” Sirius glanced back at the house, no doubt envisioning where his wife was now working.

“That day may never come for me.”

His friend frowned. “Why do you say that?”

Sebastian lifted a shoulder. “Who’s to say I want to carry on my father’s cursed name? Heaven knows he’s wreaked havoc on numerous lives all over England.” He thought of James and David, and a knot of anger lodged in his throat. “Perhaps his legacy should die with me.”

A silence unfurled between them, and Sebastian cursed himself. Regardless of what Sirius knew of his childhood or his father’s many sins, Sebastian didn’t need to unload his bitterness onto his friend. He despised melodramatics, and he refused to behave in such a way when he could help it.

“But then your mother’s legacy would die, too.” Sirius uncurled a finger from around his glass to point at him. “And it seems to me that her good name deserves to be honored more than your father’s.”

That was not what he had expected. Sebastian looked out into the quickly darkening garden. Crickets chirped from between the spines of agave plants, and the breeze rustled the boughs of the piñon tree overhead. Tilting his head back, Sebastian spied a star or two shining in the twilight sky, and when he found the Ursa Major constellation, he felt the stress lift from his bones. The constellation was a bit higher in the sky in England than it was here, but the familiar sight was there nonetheless, and the connection to his home made his chest swell with wistfulness. Sebastian was thankful to have had the opportunity to travel to Mexico, to visit his friend and explore additional ventures that could aid the dukedom. He was also finally able to see the world in all the ways his father had denied him.

Yet Sebastian missed Whitfield Manor. Every brick, every window, every door, every rose blooming in the garden and blade of grass on the rolling lawn spoke of his mother. Of the late Duchess of Whitfield’s great love for the estate and every person who worked there.

He missed James and David, who were just coming to consider the manor home. Sebastian was determined to make it as warm and welcoming as his mother had made it for him.

Yes, he thought, blinking rapidly. Let his life be a testament to her. His father could rot in hell.

Eventually, Sebastian cleared his throat and said, “So we visit the mine tomorrow. What should I know to be prepared?”

The men spoke of the operations at the Camino Rojo mine, the miners’ compensation and accommodations, the connections to the surrounding community, and which other board members would be in attendance for the meeting and tour. Sirius’s knowledge of the day-to-day operations was surprisingly vast, and he admitted that the geology and engineering involved in the venture had fascinated him. Plus, the mine had shown Mr. and Mrs. Luna that Sirius was not afraid of hard work.

“The fact that I invested in the mine from its infancy and benefited from its success has shown Mr. Luna I am a man who makes prudent and clever decisions.” Sirius’s mouth suddenly stretched wide. “Or at least that’s what I overheard him tell several gentlemen at a dinner party.”

“The highest of compliments from a man such as Mr. Luna.” Sebastian raised his glass to his friend. “Bravo.”

Sirius barked a laugh. “My involvement in the mine is not something I did to earn his approval, but if it makes our interactions less fraught for my wife, then I welcome it. Plus, it has allowed me to share its success with friends,” he added, gesturing to Sebastian with a dip of his head.

“And I am thankful you thought to offer me the opportunity.” Sebastian cringed. “I had long since resigned myself to the idea that I would have to barter off a duchess coronet to the highest bidder.”

“Now you can be an independent duke, without need of a wealthy bride to save you.” Sirius’s chuckle echoed about them. “Now if you take a wife, it will be because you equally annoy each other, and not that you will endure the annoyance to save the dukedom.”

Sebastian shook his head. “At least my staff won’t have to worry about me bringing an American dollar princess to Whitfield Manor to be its duchess.”

“Are they worried you’ll bring home a Mexican heiress?” Sirius’s expression morphed from one of amusement to acute interest.

A pair of hazel eyes flashed in his thoughts, and Sebastian ruthlessly pushed the visual away.

Instead, he made a show of requesting a glass of brandy from the manservant. “I’m certain that by this point, they’d be delighted if any heiress took pity on the fool that I am and deigned to make an honest man out of me.”

Sirius lifted a palm. “You would only be so lucky.”

Now it was Sebastian’s turn to be serious. “Indeed, I would be.”

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