Page 34

Gabby released a surreptitious breath, relieved he’d finally accepted the truth, and made her tone sympathetic.

“I am sorry, sir. It is possible the man you purchased her from was none the wiser, too. She is a fine animal, in the prime of her life. If you would like a baby elephant in the future, I am certain the stud services of one of the males in the London Zoo could be obtained.”

“I think, if you do not mind,” Lady Zilphia announced suddenly, placing her fork primly beside her plate and lifting her serviette to pat genteelly at her lips, knowing she had all of their attention, “that we have had quite enough pregnant elephants for the time being.”

Her husband’s shoulders slumped. “But my angel?—”

“Allow the poor dear to enjoy her un-upset tummy, sweet pea,” his wife commanded. “Focus on knocking up Suzanne.”

It was such a strange thing to say that Gabby glanced at her brother, who stammered, “Th-The llama?”

“Indeed.” Lady Zilphia patted her lips twice more. “We need a few baby llamas cavorting about, Dickie dearest. They are just so fluffy . I would like a half dozen, please.”

“But Jerry—” began Hunter.

Their host thrust himself to his feet. “I’ll order a whole herd of llamas! We need more females!”

“And a few males who arenae Jerry,” muttered Hunter with a smirk as he focused on his breakfast once more .

“And a few males who aren’t Jerry!” bellowed Sir Dickie as he jogged from the room. “My wife wants a half-dozen baby llamas!”

In the sudden silence, Gabby wondered if she ought to have mentioned the telegram in her pocket, the one the maid had delivered that morning after she’d snuck from Cassian’s bed to dress herself.

Oh well, she could always tell her hostess instead. “Milady, you ought to know?—”

“Oh, I am well aware a half-dozen baby llamas will take some time, my dear,” the older woman said with a sly grin. “But my sweet pea needed a new project. I hope poor Elizabeth will have time to recover.”

“I think…” Gabby began slowly, glancing over Lady Zilphia’s shoulder to where the elephant was being walked across the lawn by one of her handlers, “that her life is about to become far better.”

“All thanks to you, my dear,” Lady Zilphia smirked. “I knew you were so much more than a mere secretary to that idiot brother. Excuse me, Hunter.”

Hunter shoved a bite of potato into his mouth so he didn’t have to answer.

Gabby opened her mouth to correct Lady Zilphia’s guess, and explain about their upcoming trip, but a commotion from the hall stopped her words before they could even be uttered.

“Gabrielle Lindsay!” came Cassian’s roar as he strode into the breakfast room, his hair still wet and his cane gripped tightly, allowing him to walk so quickly. “ Lindsay! ”

Both Gabby and Hunter shoved themselves away from the table and turned in alarm as Cassian stamped over to her with a fierce glare. “Yer uncle is Bull Lindsay! The Bull Lindsay, darling of Society, dashing debonair, and owner of The Lindsay Group Detective Agency!”

Hunter folded his arms across his chest. “Bull is the darling of everyone . It’s why he’s so good at his job.”

Cassian ignored him to lean over Gabby. “Bull Lindsay, younger brother of Rourke Lindsay, the fooking Duke of fooking Exingham …excuse me, Aunt Zilphia.”

“Oh, eggs and ham sound delightful,” the older woman announced primly. “I believe I would like some, without the fooking, please.”

Gabby, though, was watching Cassian in concern. “I—I had not realized it was supposed to be a secret?”

“Your uncle is the brother of a duke , Gabby,” he growled. “That means ye are the niece of a duke!”

“Aye,” drawled Hunter with a glare. “That is generally how these things work.”

Gabby glanced between her brother’s anger and Cassian’s…despair? What was this emotion eating him up? It looked like fear. And she had never been a person who could ignore a being’s pain and fear.

With a slight growl of her own, she took Cassian’s hand and tugged him over to the side, away from the table and away from her brother. She tipped her head back to study the man she loved.

“Uncle Rourke and Aunt Sophia were the ones who raised us, Cassian. They met when he hired her to be our governess, remember?” She’d told him this, had she not? Hmmm, perhaps she hadn’t used their names. “But we are not their children.”

“Ye didnae tell me who ye were ,” he all but moaned.

“Yes, I did. I told you my name.” When he’d declared his love for her, she’d insisted on hearing her real name from his lips, and told him the truth then. And there were precious few people in the world who knew about Gather.

“Ye told me yer name, but no’ who ye really are .”

She frowned in confusion, and he must’ve been able to read it, because he scooped up her other hand.

“Gabby, ye’re the niece of a duke!”

“So? My other uncle is an illegitimate, irreverent scamp only five years my senior who started a detective agency.”

Cassian muttered a curse under his breath and looked away. “I cannae believe I’ve been dallying with a duke’s niece. I’m no’ worthy of being in yer?—”

“ Cassian, ” she gasped, “is that what this is about?”

His bright blue eyes were full of pain when he met her gaze once more. “I’m a…a bastard,” he whispered harshly.

She huffed in exasperation. “So am I!”

“Aye, but I was raised as a bastard! Shunned!”

“ So was I, ” Gabby stressed, wondering if it would be bad manners to roll her eyes. Was he overtired from their elephant excursion last night? What was wrong with the man ?

From the other side of the room, Hunter proved he was eavesdropping by announcing in a somber voice, “Our mother was an actress , Cass, and no’ even a verra good one at that.

She sent us to our father so she could ‘focus on her career,’ only to die of the pox later.

And he was a complete wastrel who died in a pool of his own vomit outside his club. No’ exactly the finest pedigree.”

Gabby squeezed Cassian’s hands to draw his worried gaze back to her. “And this has never been a secret, my love. We were kicked out of every boarding school Uncle Rourke sent us to?—“

“On purpose,” called Hunter.

She ignored him. “—which is why Uncle Rourke needed to hire Aunt Sophia. Do you not see?” She used her hold on Cassian to pull herself closer, tipping her head back to hold his gaze. “I am still me. You are still you. Who our parents are, who they were, it means nothing.”

“But your uncle—” he began.

“Will love you,” she finished firmly. “And do you know why?”

She saw him swallow, saw the hope in his gaze, and allowed herself to smile softly.

“Because I love you, Cassian Grey. You are a good man, and I am honored to be the recipient of your love. I do not care who your parents are, and you should not care who my parents are, because they do not change who we are.”

Was it her imagination, or had he stopped breathing?

“Ye mean it, Gabby?” he whispered almost desperately.

“Of course.” She nodded firmly. “Our parentage?— ”

“The loving me part!” he burst out.

And she had to laugh. “Oh, Cassian, yes !” She pressed herself up on her toes to kiss him. The man gave a growl she felt in his chest and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her enthusiastically in return.

Vaguely she heard a disgusted groan from across the room, and smiled against Cassian’s lips.

It was a few moments before they pulled away, and Gabby was pleased in some ways for their audience, because her brother and their hostess’s presence had just about kept her from making a fool of herself.

“I love ye, Gabrielle Lindsay,” Cassian whispered harshly, his forehead pressed to hers. “I cannae believe how lucky I am to have found ye.”

Grinning, Gabby made her own vow. “I love you , Cassian Grey. How could I not love a man as tempting, as honorable, as good as you?”

“Of course,” called out Hunter, “there’s that whole traitor thing.”

Ah, yes.

Clearing her throat, Gabby extricated herself from Cassian’s hold, reaching for the pocket of her skirt. To think that previous generations of ladies had to live without pockets. “I believe I have some news on that. Lady Zilphia, we will have to?—”

“ Aunt Zilphia, my dear,” the older woman corrected, beaming happily. “I assume you will officially be becoming part of the family soon? ”

“If I have anything to say about it,” growled Cassian, as he gave Gabby a squeeze.

Gabby’s smile felt a little wobbly as she pulled out the telegram. “I have heard from Bull.” She twisted to meet Cassian’s serious gaze. “He thinks he will be able to clear up this mess…” She winced. “But I do not think you will like hearing where we have to go.”