Page 75 of Gabriela and His Grace

Overcome by his thoughtfulness, Gabby dropped her gaze. She’d never had an older brother to look after her, and she suddenly realized that she now had two in Gideon and Sirius. The thought wedged a knot tight in her throat.

Gideon rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m relieved my faith in him was warranted.”

“Your faith in him was more than warranted, because he did care for me. He did see to my safety.” A fond smile curved her lips. “The duke showed me, many times over, that I had misjudged him.”

“Not completely.” Gideon chuckled when Gabby narrowed her eyes. “We humans are not black-and-white, but I agree there is more to Whitfield than the jaded, droll facade he projects to the world.”

As she had come to understand. “That’s why you’re friends with him, isn’t it?”

Gideon nodded. “Please know that I care deeply about your well-being, and despite what happens in the days to come, your sister and I will abide by whatever choices you make.”

She knotted her hands in her lap and looked away. Gabby knew she had difficult decisions to make, but her feelings were too raw, her frustration and anger too potent, to allow her mind to continue to linger on the changes that were soon to be thrust upon her because of her own lack of circumspection.

Yet knowing Ana María and Gideon would support her, no matter what, was a comfort.

“Thank you,” she murmured simply.

Her brother-in-law inclined his head and then picked up his cup of coffee. Gideon had said his piece, and his words had brought her a sense of relief and more than a little dose of confidence.

21

Sebastian had still not come.

It was the thought racing through Gabby’s mind as she sat in her sister’s drawing room, attempting to drum up a smile at the scores of visitors who had come to welcome her back to London. Visitors only too happy to ask after the duke and the rumors they’d heard regarding her relationship with him. It took every bit of self-control Gabby possessed to respond politely.

“I was under the impression you had intended to stay in Mexico indefinitely, Miss Luna,” Lady Natalie Kingsley said, her blue eyes wide. “What made you change your mind?”

“No doubt a certain duke…” Miss Walters murmured quietly at her side, pressing her lips together to contain a giggle when Lady Natalie flashed her a censorious look.

Gabby breathed deeply through her nose. “It seems you were mistaken, Lady Natalie. I had only planned to visit my sister Isabel, who I’m sure you know married Captain Dawson. He’s enamored of her, and it was wonderful to see how happy they are.”

If her voice was a bit syrupy, Gabby did not care. Many people in the room had been unkind to Isabel, and she wanted them all to know not only that her older sister had secured the hand of one of London’s most eligible bachelors, but that Sirius loved her. She noted with relish when several women shifted about on their seats at her words.

“You were able to visit with your parents as well?” Mrs. Anderson, a friend of Lady Yardley’s, leaned forward in her seat. “After so many years away, I’m sure you were very happy to see them.”

“I was.” Tension swelled painfully in Gabby’s chest. Just thinking of her parents, of her hasty departure from San Luis Potosí without so much as a goodbye, made her want to escape to her bedchamber and bury her head under her pillows. “It did me good to see them healthy and well. The war has been a frightening experience, but there is hope that an end is in sight.”

“I’m happy to hear it, dear,” Mrs. Anderson said, and Gabby believed her. The older woman was genuinely kind, and Gabby had heaved a relieved sigh when she’d seen her within the crowd of visitors. There were very few in attendance she was happy to see.

“While I’m certain your trip was pleasant, I think most of us here are curious about your association with the duke,” the Countess of Tolleston said into a lull in the chatter. She raised her brows as she glanced about the room, as if ensuring she held the crowd’s attention. “Lady Ambrose said she saw the two of you in each other’s company. Is that right?”

And there it was. The guests crammed into Ana María and Gideon’s drawing room were staring at her with bated breath. This was why they were here.

But Sebastian was not. Dios mío, where was he?

Still, she remembered his words. Lifting her chin, Gabby met the countess’s gaze directly. “The duke was kind enough to escort me back to London. He is close friends with both of my brothers-in-law, after all.”

A murmur ran through the assembled visitors, who no doubt recognized their connection. Yet Gabby noted the frowns and snide glances. She steeled her spine, for Gabby knew the inquest had just begun.

“I understand he’s friends with Mr. Fox and Captain Dawson, but from what Lady Ambrose said, the duke was not acting very brotherly toward you.” There was a predatory glint in Lady Tolleston’s eyes.

Gabby smirked. “Forgive me, your ladyship, for saying it, but do you think it wise to craft a narrative around the supposed account of a person known to have difficulties with her eyesight?”

The countess stiffened. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“What I mean,” Gabby said, drawing out the word as her gaze scanned the room, “was that Lady Ambrose was not wearing her spectacles when I saw her on the docks yesterday, and it is common knowledge she requires them to see past her hand. So I’d argue that we can’t be entirely sure of what she saw.”

Gabby lifted her teacup to her lips, doing her best to project an air of indifference when really her heart thudded so painfully she was surprised the whole room could not hear it.