Page 77 of Gabriela and His Grace

Sebastian cleared his throat. “Whether Miss Luna and I were embracing is no one’s business, my lady. What an affianced couple does is not for public consumption.”

Gabby wasn’t sure how she contained her gasp. All she knew was that the roaring in her ears drowned out the exclamations of surprise and the enthusiastic congratulations. It felt to Gabby as if she were separated from the excited activity occurring around her by a veil…that is until Sebastian gently set his hand on top of hers. The warmth of his palm jerked her to awareness, and she looked up to meet his earnest gaze.

Thankfully Sebastian answered the flurry of inquiries about their courtship and engagement. Gabby could only sit with a half smile on her face, pretending for all in attendance that she was the glowing future Duchess of Whitfield.

But Gabby wasn’t glowing inside. Instead, a muddled mess of anger, impotence, and triumph coalesced like a ball of fire in her chest. Sebastian had announced to all in attendance that they would marry, but he hadn’t once asked her if she wanted to marry him.

She almost choked on a laugh when Gabby realized no one had bothered to ask whom her chaperone had been for the voyage back to London, and shouldn’t that relieve her? Yet she was irked, for apparently it did not matter; marrying a duke erased all her supposed sins.

At that moment, she met Ana María’s gaze, worry lines fanning from the corners of her eldest sister’s eyes. But ever a proper hostess, Ana María held her silence and turned to accept the congratulations of another well-meaning guest.

“When will the wedding be?” Mrs. Anderson asked, her bright smile encompassing Gabby and Sebastian.

“We have not discussed the details yet, but the banns will be printed soon enough,” Sebastian replied, his fingers squeezing Gabby’s.

“I’m excited to begin planning,” Lady Yardley interjected, clapping her hands together. “It’s going to be a beautiful affair, and Gabby will be a beautiful bride.”

A startled giggle slipped past her lips. Her, a bride?

Sebastian’s grip tightened.

“And not only will you be a bride, you’ll be a duchess.” Lady Natalie’s mouth curved into an approximation of a smile. “Congratulations.”

Gabby thought she murmured her thanks, but she couldn’t be certain.

The next twenty or so minutes passed in a blur, but somehow her sister and Lady Yardley were successful in ushering their visitors out the door, and Gabby found herself facing the women, who wore matching expressions of worry. Vaguely she realized that Gideon had left his study and now stood just inside the threshold of the drawing room, his arms crossed over his chest and his mouth a slash of displeasure as he faced Sebastian.

“So the ton believes you’ll marry.” Ana María wrung her hands together. “But what do you want, querida?”

“What does she want? Darling, Gabby doesn’t have much of a choice.” Lady Yardley scoffed. “She was seen kissing the duke. If she doesn’t marry him, she’ll be ruined.”

“Whitfield, I asked you to keep an eye on Gabby,” Gideon proclaimed, his inflection just short of a growl, “not put your hands on her.”

Gabby wasn’t sure she’d ever seen Gideon so angry, and her affection for her new brother grew. Still, she couldn’t allow Sebastian to take the brunt of the blame for their current predicament, when she was just as much at fault. Exhaling a deep breath, Gabby stepped forward.

“I kissed the duke just as much as he kissed me. So please do not—” She paused, turning to meet Sebastian’s gaze. “Do not paint him as some sort of villain when I was a willing participant.”

Ana María closed her eyes and sighed, while the viscountess signaled a footman for a drink. Sebastian grasped her hand, his thumb sweeping back and forth over her knuckles.

“So what do we do?” Ana María finally asked, looking to Gideon, then Lady Yardley, before landing on Gabby and Sebastian.

“I think,” Sebastian spoke into the building silence, “that it would be kind of you all to give Miss Luna and me a moment to speak privately.”

“I daresay you’ve already had plenty of private moments,” Gideon grumbled, his eyes narrowed on the duke.

A bark of laughter burst from Gabby’s lips, and she crossed to her brother-in-law, wrapping her arms around his waist. After a surprised pause, Gideon returned her embrace.

“I can’t express how much I appreciate your defense of me, but I promise I’m fine.” Gabby dropped her voice to a whisper. “Le tengo cariño.”

The fight fled Gideon in a long exhale, and a small smile lit his face. “Bueno.”

Stepping back, Gabby pivoted to her sister and the viscountess. “The duke and I need to speak, and then we can discuss what our next steps should be.”

Her sister reluctantly nodded as she looped her arm through Gideon’s. “Estella should be up from her nap anyway, so we’ll return shortly. Come along, my lady.”

Lady Yardley’s scowl encompassed Ana María, Gideon, and the duke, but the older woman saved the full weight of it for Gabby. After a moment, she waved a dismissive hand. “Very well. The baby is better company than you lot anyway.”

Gabby watched them depart, nibbling on the inside of her cheek. Tensing her shoulders, she slowly swiveled about. Sebastian stood several paces away, his arms linked behind his back, and his brows pulled low over his eyes.