Page 29 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke (Duke Wars #2)
CHAPTER 29
T he storm hadn’t let up since their time spent in the stable, and as such, the gallery was ended prematurely to ensure any water-sensitive artwork was brought back inside. Not that Thalia minded; she was quite exhausted after her extensive “exploration” of Gabriel’s physique. Her head was still reeling from it all.
“You two nearly gave me a heart attack!” Charlotte’s scolding persisted well after the trio had reached the carriage, her back rigid and finger pointed accusatory toward her brother. “Gabriel Harding, I was convinced you left Thalia in the wilds! She did a wonderful thing, and you went and made her out to be the villain!”
Thalia grimaced; she really should interrupt Charlotte, explain that the situation as a whole wasn’t deserving of her anger. But Gabriel remained quiet and accepting of his sister’s beratement, seemingly determined to let her expel whatever foul mood she’d been holding onto since last night.
And, quite honestly, she was less worried about his dignity and more intrigued that he was still holding her hand. There was no one to pretend in front of, no one who needed to see him play the part of the smitten suitor. But, Gabriel kept the connection going, even setting her hand against his leg and squeezing it every so often.
“–and furthermore, Gabriel, you shouldn’t have made Thalia your—your little distraction for me! I find it honestly quite offensive that you think I can’t tell the difference between your acting and genuine infatuation!” Charlotte let out a loud harrumph, slouching in her seat as she crossed her arms tightly.
“I’m sorry for the ruse, Charlotte,” Gabriel said simply.
“Oh, don’t start with your excuses! I’ve had it up to here with how you’ve been treating–” Charlotte stopped mid-sentence, blinking furiously as the apology fully processed in her head. She silently stared at her brother, then flipped to Thalia, before finally noticing their entwined hands. “Wait… wait! What on earth did I miss?! Thalia, is he—Gabriel are you actually?—?!”
“You are so very, very loud,” Gabriel winced. “I will be deaf well before reaching old age.” He only cringed harder as a high-pitched squeal erupted from his sister next.
“No—no! That’s completely unfair—I was mad at you! I—you can’t just go and actually be a couple!” Charlotte’s outcry pulled a giggling smile from Thalia; she couldn’t help but react to the young woman’s overreaction. “I’m still mad at you—I want to be mad at you, Gabriel!”
“I’m so sorry, Charlotte,” Thalia chuckled, trying to shape her grin to something more sympathetic. “I hadn’t meant to ruin everything.”
“What?! No! This is fantastic!” Charlotte squealed, upright and clapping her hands excitedly. “I mean, I’m still cross with you, Gabriel, but how could I be mad at you, Thalia? You finally broke through my brother’s icy, rigid, stone-carved–”
“–Yes, I’m an emotionless void, Charlotte,” Gabriel scowled darkly. “Very well put.”
“Oh, you know what I mean, sourpuss,” Charlotte waved a hand frantically, practically bouncing in her seat. “So, what happens now? Do you announce your official courtship? When are you getting married? Oh! If you have a little girl, are you going to name her after me?”
“Slow down, Charlotte!” Thalia laughed. “There are quite a few details to work out between us. I still need a place of proper residency–”
“You certainly do not; you’ll come and live with us at Stonewell!” Charlotte insisted. “It would be entirely inappropriate now if you didn’t!”
Gabriel shook his head curtly, cutting his sister off before she grew too excitable once more. “The opposite of that, dear sister. An unwed woman could not possibly live alone with her suitor; it’s completely out of the question.”
“I’m there, though,” Charlotte pointed out.
“All day, every day, at every waking moment?”
Charlotte’s energy dampened, sliding back into her seat with a furrowed brow. Thalia couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, and though she thoroughly agreed that living at Stonewell was preferable, it would do no one’s reputation any good.
Regardless of her rather outrageous claims in the stable, Thalia knew she needed to try and repair her social image as best she could. Especially now, when she was no longer individually impacted by it.
“Well… she’s not going back to Whitechapel, is she?” Charlotte asked.
Thalia winced as Gabriel’s hand squeezed hers a touch too tight. He reacted immediately, expression softening as he lifted her hand to kiss the knuckles gently.
“I would never allow that to happen.” He set her hand gently back against his leg, a warm flush rolling up her arm and across her face. He’d done it so easily, with a moment’s hesitation. He truly had meant what he said about properly courting her.
“Bold proclamation, dear brother,” Charlotte mused. “But words are not sufficient material for housing.”
Gabriel chuckled, clearly amused. “You act as if I haven’t been carefully planning the retrieval of estate deeds this entire week.”
Thalia blinked, somewhat taken aback. “W-Wait—you’re still going to get them from Giles?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Again, Thalia blinked. “B-but… our deal has changed. I’m not actually—I mean, you’re actually courting me, Gabriel. You’re truly getting nothing from this, now; I couldn’t possibly–!”
Gabriel gently pulled her arm, forcing Thalia to face him. Her heart nearly burst from her chest at the determination on his face, the genuine sincerity in his voice.
“On the contrary, I would say our deal has only sweetened significantly on my end. And an Orion never goes back on his word; I would lose all face as co-founder if I did so.”
Warmth now bloomed from Thalia’s core, and she wanted nothing more than to kiss him as furiously as she had in the hay. Charlotte’s gaze, however, was far too heavy to ignore, and thus, Thalia settled on a quick peck on the cheek; it still warranted a delighted squeal from the younger Harding.
“If you’re going to do that every time,” Gabriel groaned. “I’ll ensure we only show our affections privately.”
Charlotte shook her head furiously, covering her mouth with her hand as she sat up in her seat like a proper lady should. Still, a cheeky smirk worked its way across her face when she dropped both her hands on her lap, and she couldn’t help but wiggle excitedly in her seat. Her energy was positively infectious, and if Thalia were being honest… she felt just as ecstatic over the situation.
* * *
Everything had been leading up to this evening.
Gabriel bid both his sister and Thalia one last goodbye as they stood outside Egerton Hall. Louise stood at the bottom step to accompany her new guests inside, briefly pausing to catch a kiss that Christian had blown before vanishing into the carriage.
Briefly, Gabriel wondered if that was something he was supposed to do for Thalia’s sake, and based on his sister’s sneer, she was all but goading him to do it. But Thalia waved her off and offered him a gentle wave and a smile as the manor’s doors closed behind them.
“What do you suppose they’ll get up to while we’re gone?” Christian asked.
Gabriel settled in his seat as the carriage lurched forward, driving down the way and out the property’s inner gates. “If I had to hazard a guess, they’ll be up all night asking Thalia to tell and retell the scene at the art gallery today.”
“Yes… I heard word through the grapevine about that.” Christian leaned forward, offering his friend a reassuring hand against his shoulder.
“Are you going to be alright tonight? If it would put you at ease to be with Thalia…”
“I trust Louise will keep her safe,” Gabriel said. “Besides, my sister would throw an absolute fit if I did intrude on their ladies’ night.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair before fully committing to his next sentence. “I’m sure she’s been dying to get Thalia alone ever since we arrived home. Interrogate her for information, as it were.”
“About the art gallery? Why? She was there as well, and Thalia doesn’t have the same history with your mother as you two.” Christian paused, his expression growing blank. He leaned back into his chair, visibly processing, and Gabriel found his foot tapping impatiently. “Did you…?”
Gabriel remained quiet.
“Wait, did you actually–?”
Gabriel offered a raised brow in reply.
“My God, you like to be obtuse about things, don’t you?”
“You’re the one who can’t finish his question,” Gabriel pointed out. “But, yes. I had an… honest discussion with Thalia. About us.”
Christian reacted nearly as childishly as Charlotte had. At the very least, he had the sense to cover his mouth before his smirking grin could be fully exposed. “And… how did it go?”
Gabriel glanced out the carriage window, eyeing the rolling landscape as it shifted away from the perfectly manicured lawn of Egerton to the collection of brickwork buildings of the Ton.
“Let’s just say… tonight’s tournament is no longer simply about embarrassing the little marquess.” His expression darkened, attention turning back onto his friend. “By the by, has a Mister Robin Sutton visited your estate at all in the last day or so?”
“You mean Thalia’s brother?” Christian shook his head, brow knitting with worry. “He hasn’t come back from his little trip, then?”
Gabriel shrugged, repressing whatever anxiety dared to try and spin itself together. “I couldn’t say. I’m hoping he’s simply being wise and lying low.” Though, if Oslay Hall had indeed been robbed, Giles would have certainly made quite the scene over it. The fact that he had remained wholly absent from gossip…
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it,” Christian reassured. “If anything, Giles would be the type to keep up appearances. To admit your home was pilfered from would be quite the stain on one’s reputation as the new marquess.”
It was uncanny how his friend seemed to read his mind at times. Gabriel nodded, attention drifting back through the carriage window. Regardless of the details, he couldn’t afford any distractions. There was entirely far too much on the line.