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“ L addie, why no’ run ahead and have the stable master ready our horses, eh?” Cassian offered his son a smile as they reached the stairs the following day. “I can tell ye’re frustrated by how slow I am.”

Gus immediately halted, his expression contrite. “I’m sorry, Da. I didn’t mean to leave you behind.”

Da .

Cassian doubted he’d ever get used to hearing that name, and now he allowed his fondness to show on his face as he carefully gripped the banister and made his way toward the foyer. “I’m no’ hurt, honestly. Ye’re just much faster than I am.”

And besides, last night had proven that although he may not run again anytime soon, Cassian still had plenty of strength. Carrying Gabby from her room to his own had proved that .

But after…

Christ Almighty, what had he done to deserve someone like her? Brilliant, caring, and arousing as hell?

She was remarkable, and last night proved it.

Not just the way she’d come apart in his arms, screaming his name in the bath.

But after, when she’d listened to his story, really listened …

and said what he’d needed to hear. He hadn’t allowed himself the chance to mourn for his friends, and last night…

she’d made that happen. She’d forced him to acknowledge their loss—not as agents, not as pawns, but as men whom he’d cared for and cared about.

Men he was only now realizing—thanks to her—that he hadn’t failed.

The Prince had.

Last night, he’d told her he loved her. Aye, he’d blurted it out at an inopportune moment, and she’d replied with the fact that she was a liar, and he hadn’t repeated it. She’d confessed the truth, and then so had he.

It had been what he needed: a catharsis, to move forward.

The question was…could he?

Would he be allowed to?

“Look, Da! There’s Gabby! Can I invite her?” From the sly look on the lad’s face, he was well aware what finding the pair of them in bed together the other morning had meant.

And truthfully, Cassian didn’t mind. He didn’t mind that Dickie and Zilphia knew he was fooking Gabby either. In fact, considering how Hunter had acted yesterday, perhaps the whole damned castle knew it .

But what he wanted them to know was that he’d lost his heart to the remarkable woman.

The woman who had broken him…and put him back together again.

“Aye, laddie. Let’s see if she’s available to join us.”

Gabby was speaking to the footman in the foyer. “—and remember, I need a response. You do not have to wait, because someone is going to deliver the message to my uncle Bull’s offices. But as soon as the response comes through, I want someone to deliver it here posthaste, and I will pay.”

“Oh, it’s nae problem, miss,” the footman said, taking the telegram from her and patting his pocket. “And I’ll make certain the letter gets mailed at the same time. With how fast our trains are running these days, yer uncle might get the letter before the telegram!”

“As long as he gets it,” she said with a firm nod. “And I know his plans.”

Her uncle’s name was Bull, and Cassian had to shake his head at that. It seemed her family had a penchant for strange names. Bull… Was he a Lindsay as well? Bull Lindsay…

Cassian frowned, his grip on the banister tighter as he reached the bottom.

Last night she’d shared something that had tickled his memory in the same way as her uncle’s name had just now.

He’d spent fifteen years as an agent learning not to ignore those tickles…

so why couldn’t he now remember what was important?

Because his woman had looked up and was smiling at him, a smile that wrapped around his heart—and his cock—and squeezed .

A smile he wanted to see for the rest of his life.

“Miss Gabby!” Gus called, running from the stairs toward her as Cassian followed at a more sedate pace. “My tutor let me out early because the sun is shining. Da and I are going riding. Do you want to come with us?”

Surprise flickered across her face for a moment before she smiled widely at the boy. “I would like that very much. Would you—” She glanced up at Cassian. “Might I have a few moments to change?”

Seeing her again this close was too much for Cassian. He reached her and snagged her hand, pulling her closer as the footman rushed out the front door, presumably to post her letter and send her telegram.

Cassian pulled her against his side and wrapped an arm around her. Fook propriety. Fook what was expected. “As long as ye dinnae change too much,” he murmured, bending closer. “I like the way ye are.”

Gus smothered his giggle, and Gabby’s eyes grew wide before she chuckled and smacked his chest. “I meant change into a riding habit.”

Thinking of this morning, and how he’d woken her, Cassian waggled his brows. “Can I help?”

“ Da ,” his son huffed, rolling his eyes. “Yuck! I’m going out to the stables if you’re going to get all mushy.”

“We cannot get mushy,” Gabby announced primly, although she was smiling up at Cassian when she said it, so he was somewhat mollified. “Not if we want to reach Fort William in time to see the oyster boats come in. ”

“Yes!” Gus pumped his fist. “I want to see the oyster boats, Da! Can we ride south instead?”

Still grinning down at Gabby, Cassian shrugged. “Whatever ye want, laddie.”

It was an easy enough concession, since he had no exact plans for the day, but it made his son whoop in joy and that had been the point.

In the months since coming to Inverlochy, Cassian had struggled to connect with Gus…

perhaps because Cassian himself wasn’t certain he would be allowed to have a future with the lad.

And while there still was no actual certainty, he now felt…hopeful. Hopeful, for the first time since he’d woken in that hospital in Belfast.

All because of the woman now smiling up at him.

Gabby had been the one to show him what Gus really needed. She’d been the one to open his eyes to the lad’s talents and interests, so he could embrace them in turn. She’d been the one to help him when no one else could.

“Thank ye,” he whispered, and hoped she’d know what he was thanking her for.

With a soft smile, she pressed herself up on her toes to whisper, “I think my uncle will be able to help you—us.”

Us. Before Cassian could ask what she meant, she brushed a kiss across his lips, completely distracting him. Over too soon, it made him want to growl and bend over her, showing her exactly what a tongue was for. He loved that she wasn’t afraid to show affection like this, and in public.

Dare he hope that meant she cared for him the same way he cared for her ?

But then Gabby was squirming from his hold. She gathered up her skirts and turned for the stairs, but then stopped suddenly and whirled back to them. “Oh, Gus!”

The lad perked up, clearly excited she was singling him out. When she held out her hand, he hurried to take it. She drew him closer to Cassian, while glancing about to ensure they were alone.

Very mysterious, and Cassian couldn’t help but smirk at his son’s eagerness.

Gabby bent her head, drawing them into her confidence, and Gus nearly vibrated with excitement as she whispered, “I need your help.”

“Mine?” squeaked Gus.

“Yes, both of you.” Her midnight eyes sparkled as she met Cassian’s gaze, and he loved how she was including his son. “I need to find a way to sneak into the elephant barn tonight. I need to examine Elizabeth and her baby.”

“Uncle Dickie won’t like it,” Cassian warned in an undertone. “He said only trained professionals are to see her.”

“That’s why Gabby has to examine Elizabeth!” Gus blurted, which made no sense.

But before he could correct the lad, she nodded to Cassian. “I know what he said, but I cannot help her if I do not examine her. Will you help me?”

Cassian lifted her hand to his. “Always,” he murmured, brushing a kiss across her knuckles.

The woman could have asked anything of him, and the answer would be the same .

Gabby lifted a brow in Gus’s direction, and the lad bounced twice on the balls of his feet. “Absolutely! I already have some ideas!”

“Excellent.” She grinned and squeezed Cassian’s hand before sliding hers from his grip. “You can tell me on the ride. Do not wait for me,” she called as she hurried for the stairs. “I will meet you at the stable.”

Because she, at least, acknowledged Cassian moved more slowly these days—though last night he’d proved he was still strong enough for her, and that memory meant he was grinning proudly as he turned back to his son, who was waiting by the front door.

“Come on , Da! I’ll walk with you now, but stop dallying, the day’s wasting.”

Laughing outright now, Cassian followed his son out to the drive.

“ I cannae believe I let Gus talk me into this,” Cassian growled in the darkness as he gripped her hand tightly and peered around the corner of the elephant barn. “Aye, there’s a guard stationed at the front entrance, just as he said.”

Gabby, who was having a surprisingly grand time, tried to swallow down her chuckle. “I told you, your son is both inventive and adventurous. Another thing he got from you.”

Cassian’s gaze swung back to her, and she could read the surprise there, even under the overcast half-moon. “What else did he get from me? ”

She stretched up to kiss his jaw. “His soppy heart. His caring nature.”

“I’m no’ caring,” he snorted dismissively, turning back to keep an eye on their quarry. “Gus gets that from his mother.”

Who has been gone for years, same as you . But Gabby merely squeezed his hand. “You have a good heart, Cassian Grey, whether or not you allow yourself to see it.”

Was it her imagination, or did he stand taller? “Hush. Ye’re supposed to be learning how to be a spy, no’ blathering about irrelevancies.”

This time Gabby only managed to stifle her chuckle by pressing her mouth against his shoulder. “Good luck,” she mumbled.

“Good luck in teaching ye?” His voice was the merest whisper now. “Aye, I’ll need it. Did ye bring yer good luck charm?”