Page 33 of Gabriela and His Grace (The Luna Sisters #3)

The house was silent when Sebastian stepped from his room the next morning. In the weeks that he’d stayed with the Dawsons, the house had always been full of laughter and carefree chatter. Which made sense, really; Sirius and Isabel were happy, so their home was happy.

It had been disconcerting at first, as Sebastian was used to silence.

Aside from the servants, he’d long been the sole occupant at Whitfield Manor, at least after his mother’s death.

James and David’s arrival had revived the old manor house, but the boys occupied the nursery on the top floor, so Sebastian rarely heard them.

He’d only adjusted to the lively atmosphere at Casa Inglesa once Gabriela had departed to stay with her parents.

Before that, Sebastian had been on edge, constantly aware of her presence. Her laughter. Her cutting witticisms.

It had been a lonely two weeks with her gone.

Brodie exited the chamber door a moment after him, the Scotsman pulling up short when he spotted Sebastian standing in the dark hall.

“Is something the matter, Yer Grace?” he asked.

Sebastian’s brows knit together. “It’s abnormally quiet, don’t you think?”

“Hmm,” Brodie murmured, his weathered face scrunched in thought. “Perhaps it’s because Miss Luna returned last night. I reckon the servants are being quiet to allow her to sleep.”

Ignoring how his pulse jumped into a sprint, Sebastian aimed for curious when he said, “I wonder why she returned. And at night.”

The Scotsman shrugged. “I don’t rightly know. What I do know is that I spied her crying with Mrs.Dawson in the sitting room. If you ask me, it’s a crime against nature for a woman that pretty to cry.”

Sebastian didn’t dare voice his agreement. Instead, he set off, calling out over his shoulder, “I better search out Dawson and inquire if I can be of assistance.”

Finding Sirius was not hard, for he sat with Isabel on the patio, a pot of champurrado and an arrangement of panes dulces between them on the table.

When Sebastian’s shoes clicked on the Saltillo tile, they both glanced up, and he knew immediately that something was wrong.

Sirius’s hair was mussed, as if he had been dragging his hand through it, and Isabel’s eyes were red.

Never one to prevaricate, Sebastian asked, “Has something happened?”

Sirius rubbed his temple and then gestured to the chair next to him. “Have a seat.”

Soon Sebastian had a steaming cup of coffee and a bigote on a plate before him. He toyed with the pastry, although he’d lost his appetite. “I understand Miss Luna returned last night.”

“She did.” Isabel slowly stirred her chocolate with a spoon, but made no move to actually drink it. “We had thought she would stay with our parents for the rest of the week, if not longer, so her return is a surprise…and yet not.”

Sebastian inclined his head but held his silence.

Isabel stared at her champurrado for a few seconds longer before she sighed, her shoulders sinking in defeat. “I do not know how much longer my sister will be here.”

Sebastian frowned. “Here at your home?”

“Here in Mexico.”

Whipping his gaze to Sirius, Sebastian raised his brows questioningly.

For his part, Sirius stared at his wife for a long moment, before he turned to Sebastian. “Mr.Luna is determined to find a husband for Gabby.”

It felt as if he had been kicked in the stomach, and it took Sebastian several seconds to regain his breath. “I suppose that’s what you meant by not being surprised.”

“Indeed.” Isabel’s chuckle was devoid of amusement. “My sister knew that if she returned home, our father would eventually want to see her wed. He may have largely ignored her for the majority of her childhood, but my father is keenly aware that Gabby’s beauty is an asset to be exploited.”

Sadly, Sebastian could understand that. The Mexican society he’d spent weeks socializing with was acutely aware of one another’s antecedents.

Whoever could claim close ties to Spain was held in high esteem.

Gabriela Luna was not only the daughter of an important Juárez government official, she was the granddaughter of a powerful Spanish family, with the light skin and light eyes to complement that association.

Sebastian had seen the way gazes followed Gabriela at social events, as if assessing her worth.

The sight had set his teeth on edge…but now it made him want to put his fist through something.

Sebastian did his best to suppress his mounting anger, mindful there was more to the story than what Isabel and Sirius had yet told him. Taking a sip of coffee, he allowed the hot liquid to ground him.

“It happened much sooner than Gabby or you expected, though.” Sirius glanced at his wife, who nodded. “It caught Gabby off guard as she had yet to decide her plans going forward.”

And Sebastian had never asked her plans.

As a young unmarried lady, he assumed Gabriela would return to her parents’ home and resume her life here much as she had in London.

Sebastian should have known better. There are those in Mexico who will delight in stripping her confidence away.

Fox had warned him…he just hadn’t expected the perpetrators to be Gabriela’s own family.

Clearing his throat, Sebastian chose his words carefully. “I can imagine Miss Luna is feeling frustrated to be in this position considering the reasons she returned to Mexico in the first place.”

“Indeed, I am.”

Glancing over his shoulder, his gaze collided with Gabriela’s as she stepped onto the patio. While he rose to his feet, Sebastian noted her pallid complexion but also the hint of fire in her eyes. Fire was good, and its presence encouraged him.

After she exchanged morning greetings with her sister and Sirius, Gabriela slid onto the seat next to him, where she brought her freshly served cup of champurrado to her lips.

Sebastian tried not to stare at her, but after not seeing her for almost a fortnight, his gaze was greedy to take her in.

Aside from her pale, brittle appearance, Gabriela seemed well.

“How did you sleep, querida?” Isabel asked, reaching out to pat her sister on the back of her hand.

Gabriela shrugged. “Fitfully.”

“I’d imagine so,” Sirius added. “Your sister and I are happy you’ve returned, though.”

Isabel nodded readily, and Gabriela flashed them a small smile.

When she slid her gaze to him for a passing second, he held his breath, hopeful she would address him in some way.

Instead, she returned her attention to her sister, and Sebastian listened while they chatted about the weather and their plans for the day.

Once again, Gabriela avoided meeting his gaze, and Sebastian tried not to take offense.

If their dance the night of the Ortiz dinner had rattled her even a fraction of the amount it had rattled him, he could understand her discomfort.

Pair that discomfort with the stress of her current situation, and Sebastian knew she was out of sorts.

And strangely enough, Sebastian wanted nothing more than to pull Gabriela into his arms and hold her tight.

Remind her that she was driven and smart and worthy of love and respect, two things Elías Luna seemed intent on withholding.

Sebastian watched her covertly as she fiddled with her napkin, her anxiety bleeding into the innocuous movements of her hands.

Was her behavior apparent to the others at the table?

He had no doubt Isabel noticed, for she knew her sister better than anyone.

But how Sebastian should note such a detail about Gabriela, he did not know.

Or rather he did, but refused to consider the deeper implications. Implications he had told himself over and over he did not have the time or interest in unraveling…even while his heart urged him to consider the knot that was Gabriela Luna.

His bloody heart was an idiot.

“Your 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?”