Page 73 of Gabriela and His Grace

In unison, Sebastian and Gabriela swung their heads about to see that the docks were now so close they could see sailors bustling about, preparing for their arrival. Sebastian reluctantly turned to her.

“May I escort you to the gangway?”

She nodded mutely. They walked to the stairway in silence. Soon they were joined by other passengers, many of whom greeted him politely while casting furtive glances at her. None of the guests spoke to them, and Sebastian was thankful for it. As it was, he was fighting the desire to tuck Gabriela against his side or clasp her hand. He knew their parting was quickly approaching and he was desperate to delay it for just a few moments longer.

The bright rays of sunlight assaulted his eyes the moment he stepped onto the gangplank, and Sebastian pulled on the brim of his hat to block out the glare. Of course London would choose this day to be sunny and merry when his mood was anything but.

Sebastian glanced ahead toward the street to see it lined with carriages and hackneys. He immediately spied his carriage and then several spots up the road Fox’s nondescript black conveyance. It would only be a matter of moments before he and Gabriela were spotted, and Sebastian had yet to tell her goodbye.

Gripping her hand, Sebastian pulled her from the stream of disembarking passengers off to the side, herding her behind a stack of trunks and crates that would be unloaded from the ship. Gabriela glanced back at the crowd and then looked up at him, her hazel eyes luminous. Christ, what could he say? What words could possibly express how much he had relished his time with her? How she’d gone from being an infuriating shrew to the most enchanting woman he’d ever known.

So instead of words, Sebastian tossed his cane aside and stepped forward to drag his palms along her jaw to tangle his fingers in the silky strands of her hair. Staring deep into her wide eyes, noting with satisfaction how her pulse fluttered at the base of her throat, Sebastian slowly pressed his lips to hers.

Would he ever tire of this simple pleasure? Of the chaste yet erotic slide of her lips against his own? Perhaps Gabriela shared his whimsical thoughts, because to his delight and infinite sadness, she twined her arms around his neck and rose up on her toes to deepen the kiss. A small moan escaped her, and Sebastian dared to hold her a little tighter. Their affair had come to a close, but Sebastian’s desire for her would be unending.

Sebastian slid his hand down her back to hitch her closer, unable to get enough of her.

A sharp gasp somehow broke through the roaring in Sebastian’s ears—or perhaps it was Gabriela stiffening in his arms—but he jerked his head up. Over her shoulder, his gaze landed upon two older, well-dressed women staring at him with mouths agape, uncaring for the crowd of passengers stumbling to a halt behind them. The older of the two women looked familiar, and Sebastian frowned as his memory searched for a name.

“It’s Lady Ambrose,” Gabriela hissed, breaking from his embrace and darting around the stack of crates to hide. “Did you know she was a passenger?”

“Of course not,” he bit out. He was infuriated with his own lack of circumspection. How had he not known they were passengers on the ship? How had Brodie missed them?

“They must have boarded in Nassau,” she murmured.

“Maybe,” he allowed. Sebastian pushed those thoughts from his mind when he saw Gabriela covering her face with her hands. His heart instantly moved from his chest to his throat.

“Ella, don’t worry—”

“I am going to worry,” she snapped. Dropping her arms, Gabby stared at him. “Do you honestly think Lady Ambrose is going to hold her silence? All of London will know by the end of the day.”

Sebastian opened his mouth to argue, but instead shut it with a snap. She was right. The older woman, and whoever her friend was, would spread word of their kiss far and wide. It would be a scandal of dreadful proportions.

“I’m sorry, darling,” he murmured, reaching to grab her hands, but she jerked back from him.

“I know,” she sighed, her brownish-green eyes roving his face before she clenched them closed. “But let’s not make things worse for ourselves.”

“Right. Of course.” Sebastian flexed his hands, and then turned to peer around the crates. “Your sister and Fox are waiting not far away. I’ll escort you to them.”

Her eyes flew open. “You can’t escort me! We can’t be seen together.”

Sebastian snorted. “We’ve already been seen together, so we may as well raise our chins and disembark as if we’re not embarrassed. I’m certainly not.”

“You’re not?” she whispered, her brows stitched together.

He shook his head. “I wish we weren’t spotted, and scandal is no doubt brewing, but I’m not embarrassed. And I refuse to skulk off this ship as if I’m not a goddamn bloody duke.” Sebastian arched a brow. “And I was under the impression you were Gabriela Luna, who’s never been intimidated by the ton.”

“You’re right,” Gabriela murmured, glancing toward the docks. “This wasn’t the homecoming I was hoping for, but I refuse to return to British shores and slink about as if I’m a pariah. If they want me to wear a scarlet letter, they’re going to have to pin it on my sleeve themselves.”

“I do enjoy a good literary reference,” he quipped. Sebastian cupped her cheek. “Now lift that chin and walk down that gangplank like you’re a duchess.”

Because you will be soon enough…

To his relief, Gabriela exhaled deeply and then squared her shoulders. Looping her arm around his, she flashed him a jaunty look. “Let’s go put on a show.”

Her fierceness of spirit would be needed in the days to come, and Sebastian patted her hand. Whatever happened, they would brave it together.

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