Page 45 of Gabriela and His Grace (The Luna Sisters #3)
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.
The Countess of Tolleston tittered, reaching for her own cup of tea. “Well, if Lady Ambrose was mistaken, you would think Whitfield would want to rectify the misunderstanding. And yet he’s not here. He’s left you all alone to satisfy everyone’s curiosity. I wonder why that is?”
The ladies who flanked her tutted their agreement, and the other visitors shifted in their seats at Lady Tolleston’s unspoken assertion.
An assertion that had Gabby clenching her teeth so hard her jaw ached.
She shouldn’t be surprised the countess had designated herself Gabby’s inquisitor.
Lady Tolleston had once been the catty Lady Emily Hargrove, and Gabby had verbally sparred with the woman numerous times, sometimes in defense of her sisters, but oftentimes because Gabby simply did not like her.
But now there was blood in the water, and the sharks were circling.
Lady Tolleston winged up a brow. “Or perhaps the duke heard the rumors about you and Lord Carlisle—”
Before Gabby could be outraged by the countess’s innuendo, the drawing room door swung open. Gabby could hear excited whispers in the hall from other visitors waiting to pay their respects.
The butler stepped into the room and glanced at Ana María first before sliding his gaze to Gabby. “The Duke of Whitfield.”
The guests collectively gasped as Sebastian filled the doorway, but a quiet sigh fled Gabby’s lungs.
Dressed in a midnight-blue morning coat with a matching waistcoat that set off the glacial blue of his eyes, and his dark chocolate hair styled just so, Sebastian appeared every bit an imposing duke.
His gaze lazily moved about the congested room before landing on her.
He looked sinfully handsome, and Gabby’s breath stuttered as he focused his attention on her.
If she had managed to convince the crowd that they were merely friends, the intensity of Sebastian’s stare completely eradicated that notion.
“Miss Luna, if I had known you would have a swarm of visitors, I would have come sooner.” There was a hint of a smile on his lips, but Gabby noted his eyes had turned hard. “Have you all come to welcome Miss Luna back to London?”
Sebastian knew the ton only too well.
Gabby suppressed a smile when he fixed a steely gaze over his spectacles on Mr.Norris, who was seated on the love seat next to her.
The man flinched, but without a word, he rose to his feet and moved away.
Sebastian settled into the vacated spot, sending a whiff of his woodsy scent to her nose.
She clenched her hands tightly in her skirts when he stretched an arm across the back of the love seat behind her, at ease before their audience in ways she could only aspire to.
How Gabby longed to lean into his side and bury her face in his neck, where she knew he smelled divine.
How she wished he would wrap his arms about her and shield her from the curt innuendos she had only just begun to endure.
When had Sebastian turned into a source of comfort for her?
“I’m sorry I didn’t arrive sooner,” he said quietly, in Spanish. His blue gaze roved over her face. “Has it been ghastly?”
She choked on a laugh, so thankful for this intimate moment with him.
Gabby was acutely aware that every set of eyes in the room were fixed on them, yet Sebastian ignored them, conversing in her native language as if it were natural to do so.
Gratitude surged through her, and had there not been spectators, Gabby would have kissed him.
“It’s been awful,” she murmured, “but now you’re here to endure it with me.”
“Indeed.” Sebastian smoothed a hand down his thigh. “You won’t have to face them alone again.”
Before Gabby could wonder at his declaration, Lady Yardley cleared her throat. “I had no notion you spoke Spanish, Your Grace.”
Sebastian dipped his head. “I’m flattered you noticed, your ladyship. I’ve been taking lessons over the last year. Spending time in Mexico helped to strengthen my skills.”
“I’m sure dear Gabby appreciates your fluency.” Lady Yardley smiled affectionately at her. “She’s mentioned that she misses speaking Spanish, and unfortunately I do not possess your talent for acquiring languages.”
“You’ve done very well learning it, my lady,” Gabby argued. Regardless of the ways in which they vexed each other, Lady Yardley had always been good to her, and Gabby appreciated that the older woman was there to be an ally.
Before the viscountess could respond, Lady Tolleston cleared her throat. Loudly.
“Your Grace, we were just talking about you,” the countess said, her smile encompassing Sebastian and Sebastian alone. “It’s so good that you’ve returned from your trip to Mexico, and with a bit of a tan, I see. It would seem as if you enjoyed your visit.”
“Indeed, I did.” Sebastian nodded. “It was productive professionally, and I was gratified to spend time with my old friend, Captain Dawson, and his wife, the former Miss Luna.”
Sebastian shared observations about his time in Mexico, and answered questions about the mine and the town they stayed in, but Gabby sensed most visitors were just biding their time. Waiting until they could turn the conversation toward what they were truly ravenous to know.
Unsurprisingly, Lady Tolleston was the one to redirect the discussion.
“So, Your Grace,” she began, leaning forward in a manner that showcased her décolletage. “Rumors have been circulating about you. And Miss Luna.” The last was added almost begrudgingly.
“I’m sure they have,” Sebastian drawled. He said nothing more, merely cocking his head.
Never one to pass up a chance to be dramatic, Gabby raised her brows.
The countess swallowed and glanced about. Tilting her chin, she finally said, “The rumors are that you and Miss Luna were caught in an embrace.”