Page 95 of Gabriela and His Grace

“Christ, Ella, I’m sorry.” He deflated before her. “My intention was not for you to be excluded. I was just…afraid.”

Gabby moved around the armchair. “Afraid?”

He nodded. “Yes. That you would realize that life with me, at Whitfield Manor, was not what you wanted. That scandal had forced you to settle. I was afraid you would come to believe I locked you away, just as my mother had been.” Sebastian roughly yanked a hand through his hair. “Every morning I’ve had a knot in my throat wondering if that would be the day you finally left, because I knew you leaving wouldn’t just break my heart, it would break James’s and David’s hearts, as well.”

Closing her eyes, Gabby swallowed back a sob. Ay Dios, did he think she was so uncaring? But you did flee the second you suspected something was amiss. Despite how Sebastian had proven himself to be kind and gentle, Gabby had left for London without a word to him, confirming his worst fears. Regret twisted and churned in her gut.

“Every person in their young lives has abandoned them, and despite the big, loving heart you have, I was terrified that if I wasn’t enough, you would do the same.” Sebastian exhaled noisily. “Still, I should have told you about the boys the afternoon I asked you to marry me. You should have been introduced to them the moment we arrived at Whitfield Manor, but the secret was already so big, that I knew you would feel betrayed. I’m sorry. If I could go back and change things, I would. Your regard seemed like such a fragile thing, and I wanted to protect it. In reality, I shattered it into a million pieces.”

Gabby believed him. Despite her own fears and the heartache she’d experienced that day, the love that burned and glowed in her chest had not been extinguished.

“Not a million pieces. Just one or two. But together”—she reached for her bravery and went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist—“maybe we can glue it back together.”

“Together,” Sebastian breathed.

She let loose a sigh when he enfolded her in his embrace…but to her great horror, the sigh turned into a sob. A violent sob that tore from her chest and rattled her frame. “I’m sorry I made you think your love”—she hiccuped—“and this life we’re building together, wasn’t enough. But it will never last if you don’t trust me.”

Sebastian held her tighter, his cheek pillowed against the crown of her head. In between her shuddering cries, Gabby heard him whisper, “Never again, my love. Never again.”

Eventually, her sobs quieted, but Gabby was not ready to leave Sebastian’s arms. The day they had spent apart had felt like a lifetime, and Gabby was ready to return to the manor. “I’d like to meet the boys,” she murmured softly.

He paused. “You would?”

“Of course I would.” Gabby looked up to meet his gaze. “Sebastian, you have brothers. After your solitary childhood, you have a family to fill the manor house with love and laughter. I’m happy for you.”

His smile was crooked. “You’re the most important part of my family, Ella. The boys have brought a sense of purpose to my life. But you”—Sebastian’s hold on her tightened—“my darling wife, have brought it joy, and a love so bright it blinds me.”

That emotion she once refused to name, but now knew was love, threatened to burst free from her chest. Gabby rose up on her toes and kissed her husband, allowing that love to flow into him instead.

“You really want to meet the boys?” Sebastian asked several minutes later.

Gabby panted against his lips. “I would. Very much.”

“I’m glad, because they’re here.”

“They are?” Gabby jumped back, peering around him to look toward the door. “Where? Have they been waiting for us this whole time?”

“Relax, my love. I’m certain your sister and Lady Yardley learned they were in attendance as soon as they left the room, and have been entertaining them.” Sebastian grinned down at her. “Shall we go find them?”

“Sí, por favor.” Gripping Sebastian’s hand, she led him to the door, but halted. Biting her lips, she dared to ask, “Do you think they’ll like me?”

Sebastian grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. His knuckles caressed along her cheek as he tucked a curl behind her ear. “They’re going to love you. Just like I do.”

Gabby exhaled, confident he was telling the truth.

It was not hard to find the boys, because Sebastian and Gabby followed the sound of their laughter. Opening the door to the drawing room on the first floor, they discovered James and David standing in the center of the room, their faces animated as they gestured wildly. Lady Yardley and Ana María were seated side by side on the sofa as the boys apparently recounted a harrowing experience with a ram. Gabby glanced up at Sebastian in question.

“I’ll tell you later,” her husband murmured from the corner of his mouth.

For her part, Ana María played the part of a captivated audience perfectly, her dark eyes appropriately large as she said, “You were both very brave.”

“I’m sure if you had heeded the steward’s warning and not gone into the sheep pasture, you wouldn’t have had to worry about the ram.” The viscountess cocked her head. “Right?”

The taller of the boys ducked his chin, but the younger one planted his hand on his hip and replied, “Sure, but what fun is there in that?”

A bark of laughter exploded from Gabby’s mouth, and all the heads in the room turned in her direction before she could contain it. Ana María’s gaze bounced between her and Sebastian, a pleased smile lighting her face when she saw their hands linked.

“I should have known you’d find such behavior humorous. You probably would have been in that pasture, staring down the ram, with them,” Lady Yardley drawled, although there was no ire in her voice. She glanced at Sebastian. “Perhaps you could make proper introductions, Your Grace.”