Page 55 of Gabriela and His Grace

Sebastian blinked back to the moment and found Gabriela considering him with a pucker between her brows. Lud, had he been staring at her this entire time?

“I beg your pardon, Miss Luna.” He coughed into his fist.

Sirius snorted, but Sebastian ignored him.

Gabriela nodded and dropped her head. Sebastian waited, trying hard not to stare again but unable to look away from her downturned face.

“Your Grace,” she repeated, her voice softer than he’d ever heard it. “I was wondering if you would be willing to accompany me for a turn about the garden?”

Oh. Surprise tangled his tongue, and Sebastian pressed his lips together as the warring emotions of confusion and pleasure clashed in his chest. Had she ever asked for a private moment of his time? Of course not, for she’d made it clear he had destroyed any goodwill between them on the night they met.

But she wanted to speak with him now, and he would not tell her no.

Sebastian’s gaze moved to the small garden that sat beyond the tiled patio. It was not a large space, but they would be afforded a degree of privacy, even with Sirius and Isabel looking on.

“Of course,” he finally responded, rising to his feet and tossing his napkin on the table. Pushing his spectacles up his nose, Sebastian followed her silently along the gravel path that meandered through the agaves and shrubs.

When they reached the end of the walking path at the adobe wall that surrounded the house, Gabriela paused, her back to him and her gaze straight ahead. Sebastian held his silence, mindful not to rush her. The Gabriela Luna he knew would not take kindly to being pressured into sharing anything she was not ready to. Instead, Sebastian paced to a nearby tree and leaned back against its supportive trunk.

“I’m sure you were hoping you would not have to see me before you returned to London,” she murmured, still not looking at him.

“Why would you believe that?”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Come now, Whitfield, I thought we had become friendly. And friends don’t tell lies to each other.”

“It seems to me that friends wouldn’t accuse the other of lying, either,” he shot back, raising his brows.

Gabriela rolled her eyes, but finally pivoted to face him. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Obviously Isabel and Sirius told you why I returned.”

Sebastian nodded. “I’m sorry you find yourself in such a predicament, and placed there by the two people you should expect to make you safe.”

Her throat bobbed on a swallow. “Yes, well, I’m not exactly surprised. My father has only ever acted in his own self-interest. I just expected more from my mother. I had hoped she would be an ally, but…”

But she wasn’t. María Elena Luna had proven herself to be her husband’s ally first and foremost, and from Gabriela’s expression, it had been a bitter revelation.

“You are not without allies, though.” Sebastian pushed off from the tree and took a step toward her. “Despite the aspersions you cast on my honesty, I was not lying when I told you I would be willing to assist you should you ever need my help.”

Her hazel eyes snared his, a trace of vulnerability in her gaze. After their years of antagonism, Sebastian was not surprised to see it. He guessed she felt she may be taking a risk asking for help, and Sebastian had no way to truly express his sincerity except to show her.

“I’d like to return to England.”

The words were ragged and soft, but Sebastian heard them just the same. An odd sort of sadness filled his chest.

“But I thought you wanted to return to Mexico.” His forehead crinkled. “You’ve always made it clear that your time in London had an expiration.”

Her chest rapidly rose and fell, and Gabriela’s gaze darted about the small garden. “I envisioned my reception very differently. I may have come back too soon.”

Sebastian didn’t know what to say. He’d seen firsthand the cheap and snide manner in which Elías Luna treated his youngest daughter, and how his cutting remarks had chipped away at Gabriela’s confidence. Gone was the poised young woman who had bewitched the ton, and in her place was often a colorless impostor. He was angry for her, so Sebastian could only imagine how frustrated and helpless she felt.

“I depart for Altamira tomorrow. Will you be ready to depart?” he asked. “Or is that too soon?”

“No. I’ll be ready,” she said firmly.

“Very well.” Sebastian pulled his timepiece from his pocket to note the hour. “I believe Brodie has already packed the majority of my belongings, so I will ask him to depart for Altamira ahead of us and purchase a ticket and lodgings for you.”

She closed her eyes, her shoulders dropping. “Thank you. I can’t tell you—”

“And you don’t have to,” Sebastian interjected. “I know that the only reason you would subject yourself to my company is because the alternative is much worse.”