Page 32 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke (Duke Wars #2)
CHAPTER 32
E veryone clamored around Christian for the story, regardless how much he insisted it would make for better telling after a few hours of sleep. In all the commotion, Thalia allowed herself to be led away by Gabriel’s hand, the pair trailing to the kitchen as laughter filled the halls behind them. “They’re not going to let him rest, are they?” She asked.
“He does it to himself,” Gabriel replied.
“I cannot believe you’re abandoning him to that ravenous pack,” Thalia teased.
Gabriel raised his brow slightly, pausing at the kitchen doors. “Hardly. I’m simply making a pot of tea for everyone.”
“And you need me because…?”
A coy smile crossed Gabriel’s lips as he held the door open. “The tray can be quite heavy.”
“Oh, of course!” Thalia gave a delicate curtsy before sweeping inside, squealing in surprise as her waist was suddenly snagged. “Gabriel–!”
“You were waiting for me,” Gabriel crooned.
Thalia’s face flushed terribly, hands working to free herself from his arms. “I–I was not!”
“You were,” Gabriel insisted. “You were going to stay up all night, weren’t you?”
“No!”
“Rabbits aren’t nocturnal, you know,” he continued, leading the pair toward the cupboards.
“W-Wolves aren’t either,” Thalia argued, trying to reach a hand to grasp at the closest tea pot on the shelf. More laughter spilled out as he hoisted her up onto the counter, gathering both teapot and cups before shooting a playful glare her way. “I thought I was here to help carry the tray?”
“The tray isn’t ready, yet,” Gabriel replied coolly.
“Ah, yes.” Thalia sighed, hands settling against her lap as she watched Gabriel busy himself with preparations. It wasn’t long before an urn was set over the fireplace, water bubbling within as it came to a boil. “You have an answer for every little thing, don’t you?”
“I certainly like to,” Gabriel replied.
Thalia glanced at her hands, doing her best not to pick at her fingernail. There was no reason to be nervous, after all; old habits simply were hard to break. “Was… there another reason you separated me?”
Gabriel was quiet for a moment, checking the urn before drifting to Thalia’s side. He propped himself against the counter top, ensuring his full attention was on her, and her alone.
“I assume it’s in regards to the estate deeds.” Thalia sighed lightly, bracing herself for the worst. “Please know that I truly appreciate everything you’ve done up until this point.”
“I’m… glad to hear that.” Gabriel’s brow rose slightly, giving Thalia a bemused look. “Though I admit, I had hoped to place the deeds directly into your hand. Legalities, and all that; while the estates are technically under my name, it won’t take too terribly long to transfer ownership back to you.”
Thalia blinked, staring at Gabriel blankly.
“You look as if I’ve grown a third eye,” Gabriel chuckled.
“N-No! I just—” Thalia shook her head furiously, face heating up horrifically from embarrassment. “Forgive me; I had no doubt you would keep your word, but I wasn’t certain how exactly…?
“It’s not a perfect solution, I admit.” Gabriel frowned slightly, and it was the first time Thalia noticed that he, too, fiddled with his fingers. He seemed to notice, quickly producing a small pocket watch from his vest and rubbing its surface instead. “While the deeds to your estates have been burned, that fool left himself a massive paper trail leading back to the crime. My lawyers will have no problem adding the estates under the Stonewell name, and afterwards, I’ll simply sign them back under your name.”
“And… Giles is…?”
“He has nothing left, Thalia. No money, no reputation to fall back on.” A hand gently grasped her chin, and she allowed Gabriel to tilt her gaze to meet his. “He has ruined himself completely, and will no longer cause you anguish.”
Thalia swallowed past a growing lump in her throat. “I just… can’t believe it. To think, he’d truly go as far as he had…?” Her sentence faded into the back of her throat. Unfortunately, that seemed entirely like something her cousin would do. “How on earth did you find that paper trail at all?”
Gabriel sighed, suddenly looking far more tired than before. “That was your brother’s doing, actually. He entered Oslay Hall while the little marquess was out and about and discovered it.”
“H-He did?” Thalia wasn’t sure why she sounded so surprised; it absolutely sounded like something Robin would do. “Then, is that where he’s been?”
* * *
This was it. The moment Gabriel had been dreading. He had to tell her, of course; that he had lost touch with Robin, that their last agreed-upon deed had fallen through, and he was entirely uncertain where the younger Sutton was. He opened his mouth to speak, to fully explain himself and hope that, somehow, Thalia would forgive him.
“You didn’t tell her where I was this entire time?!”
Gabriel didn’t often find himself at a loss for words, but this happened to be one of those instances. His head swiveled towards the kitchen doors, where a rather furious-looking Robin stood, hunched and jabbing accusatory fingers like some horrific creature who had risen from the sewer’s depths. He certainly played the part well, appearing disheveled and trash-laden, oozing a puddle of some unfortunate-smelling liquid beneath his feet.
“Robin Alexander Sutton–!” Thalia immediately slid off the countertop, running toward her brother before stopping a good five feet away. She gagged, hand covering her mouth before nearly falling over; Gabriel managed enough sense to rush up behind and catch her. “What on earth have you been doing?!”
“Oh no; I’m not going to be played off as the bad guy!” Robin pointed a finger Gabriel’s way, and the duke couldn’t help but curl his nose at the putrid stench. “You were supposed to tell her what happened!”
“Tell her what? Your explicit instructions were to keep your dealings secret!” Gabriel wrestled to keep his tone from a snarl, helping Thalia to her feet before pointing his own accusatory finger Robin’s way. “And on that note, where have you been?”
“Breaking into Oslay!” Robin snapped angrily. “What else would I be doing?!” He shook his arm free of filth, scattering flecks of grime across the kitchen floor as Gabriel resisted the urge to gag.
“Why?!” Thalia cried out, having since found dinner napkins and handed one to Gabriel for use.
“To help you!” Robin exclaimed. “Or, what, did you think this useless excuse of a man would have managed as much as he had without–”
“What is all the yelling for?!”
Gabriel wasn’t sure how he’d missed the thundering of footsteps, but it was impossible not to hear the outcry of his friend. Christian and the others stood huddled around the door, expressions of shock and anger all twisting to abject horror as the smell overtook everyone at once.
“G-gracious—what is that?!” Charlotte gagged, grasping the nearby wall for support. “Louise, get out of here—that smell can’t be good for the baby.”
“What is causing that vile odor?” Christian cried out, having undone his vest in an attempt to cover his mouth with his shirt.
“I’m not a ‘what’,” Robin snapped. “And how did no one get my message? I specifically told Mr. Cooke to find someone from Stonewall, or from the Orions!”
Gabriel could feel a pounding headache begin to form in the back of his head. “Enough! Charlotte, help Louise to her room.”
Charlotte needed no further prompting, taking Louise’s arm and leading the rather green-faced woman away from the scene.
“Christian, go wake some servants and help them draw a bath for Mr. Sutton.”
“Mr. Sutton—is that walking blob of fetid muck Robin?!” Christian gasped.
“Christian–!”
“Right, of course!” As Christian vanished around the door, Gabriel did his best to inhale as little stench as possible. “As for you–” He jabbed a finger Robin’s way, holding fast to Thalia as he felt her legs threaten to give out. “Start talking. Now.”
* * *
It was well past five in the morning when things finally settled at Egerton Hall. Layers of filth had finally revealed themselves as Thalia’s brother, and he somehow managed to talk during the entire process. About his meet-up with his Whitechapel friends, about the increased security at Oslay and how they had planned to break in through the sewers, given their familiarity with the routes. How they’d run into problems and, as far as Robin knew, Mr. Cooke was still working within Oslay. That whatever maid or servant he’d spoken to would have passed the information his way.
“Figures Giles would’ve fired him,” Robin grumbled, face still bright pink from all the scrubbing he went through. He scowled darkly, arms crossed and fully sunk into one of the reading chairs within their guest room. “I’m sorry, Thalia—if we didn’t get stuck behind that wave of garbage, I would’ve come back myself and told you.”
Thalia could only offer a tired sigh, pacing about the guest room as the information finally settled into her mind. “Robin, you know that was horribly reckless of you.”
“Yeah, I know,”
“No, Robin, I’m serious!” Thalia quickly crossed the room, practically falling to her knees as she grabbed his hands firmly. “I’ve kept quiet about your business, but this has to be the last time! No more toshing, no more heists, or thieving, or—or whatever else Whitechapel forced you to do in order to survive.”
Robin looked ready to argue, but his mouth simply hung open. Maybe it was the fatigue that stopped him—maybe being safely indoors, dressed and bathed, far away from the dangers of the sewer sweeping him away—made him reconsider. Whatever the reason, her brother simply nodded, giving her hands a squeeze back.
“Good.” Thalia stood abruptly, exhaling sharply as her hands settled against her hips. “I’m… I’m glad you’re not going to fight me on this.”
“I assume you have a plan for me, given how serious you sound,” Robin said.
She had. Faintly, at least. But now wasn’t the time to consider it; she still had to properly thank Gabriel. For everything.
“You gonna go find him, then?”
Thalia paused, glancing back at her brother with a confused stare.
“You’re pretty easy to read, sis.” A large yawn escaped Robin as he stood, arms stretching out toward the ceiling. “And I already gave Gabriel the business for you.”
Thalia’s gaze narrowed slightly. “Did you, now?”
“Someone has to make sure you’re given away to the right guy,” Robin replied nonchalantly. “Father can’t do it, so, it falls to me to ensure that happens.” Something tender briefly slipped into his voice, and Robin quickly wiped his nose on the hem of his sleeve, suddenly interested in the bedframe.
Thalia smiled warmly, embracing her brother in a tight hug. “I’m not going to leave you, Robin. Not this time.”
A sniffle passed between them, and Robin managed a gentle pat on her back. “Y-Yeah, well… I’ll hold you to that.”
* * *
She found him outside, standing amidst the sprawling lawn neatly manicured while its garden looked practically molded into place. Thalia allowed her hand to brush across a row of azure hydrangeas, taken in at how uniformed it all appeared.
“A perfect reflection of Christian’s personality,” Gabriel chuckled, not even turning to greet her. “Entirely too orderly.”
“Perhaps a touch on the unnerving,” Thalia grimaced slightly. “I think I prefer the gardens at Stonewell.”
A peal of deep laughter rang from Gabriel’s chest, filling Thalia’s chest with warmth. He turned to greet her properly, hand gesturing towards a blooming, floral archway. Stretched out across the property was a magnificent pond, adrift with lily pads and quite literally buzzing with activity.
The throaty singsong of frogs ripped across the water, and Thalia found herself guided to sit at a beautiful, wood-carved bench, its leg curling with ivy. Gabriel soon joined at her side, the pair still holding hands as they stared out across the pond. “He’s alright, then?”
“Robin? Oh, yes; I gave him a stern talking to, had him really evaluate his future.” Thalia sighed, taking in the damp scent of the pond. “Something we can discuss later.”
“Of course.”
It really was a glorious morning; not yet too warm or humid, as the rising sun remained beneath a rosy curtain of clouds. The temptation to lean against Gabriel’s shoulder grew with each passing second, but Thalia remained strong. Agreeing to courtship was one thing, but being overly affectionate may very well scare the man away. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought; the Duke of Stonewell, terrified over a showcasing of affection. Her gaze drifted down to their hands, still entwined, and a slight guilt tightened in her stomach.
“Gabriel?”
His head tilted her way.
“I know… you agreed to become my actual suitor,” Thalia began. “But, I want that to involve activities you enjoy as well.”
Gabriel cocked an eyebrow, looking her up and down. “I haven’t exactly been subtle in voicing my desires, and you’ve been more than receptive to them.”
Thalia blinked, face flushing slightly. “No, that wasn’t what I—you’ve been entirely too considerate with my own feelings and boundaries, and I just want to make sure that… that I’m…” her sentence drifted off, watching as Gabriel’s eyes followed hers to their hands.
A slight smirk crossed his face, and he replied with a slight cheek to his tone. “Should my word of safety be ‘ramps’ as well?”
Thalia scowled, shoving his shoulder with her free hand. “I am quite serious, Gabriel! If you are making yourself show affection that you’re uncomfortable with, I wish to know of it.”
Gabriel’s smile persisted for another moment or two, then faltered into something far more reserved. “You are serious.”
Thalia nodded curtly. A small part of her wondered if she’d been too presumptuous, wounded his ego in a manner he found rather distasteful. There was a time that such considerations would never cross her mind.
But more time had passed between them, and Gabriel Harding was no longer that terrifying wolf stalking in the woods. He had a tamer side, though to call him a trained dog was an insult in itself. He was… a beast with compassion, a hunting hound with a wild streak still alight inside him.
And right now, his smile was not one of a predator cornering his prey… but a man allowed to briefly let his guard down.
“On the rare chance there is, in fact, something I cannot do… I will let you know.”
“Will you?”
He nodded slowly.
Thalia let out a sigh of relief, leaning against the back of the bench as a brief flicker of sunlight poked through the clouds. “Thank you, Gabriel. That’s… reassuring.”
Gabriel waited patiently. If Thalia wanted, she was certain he’d wait a hundred years for her to speak.
“Would you–” Thalia’s face flushed terribly, feeling as if steam itself were rising from her cheeks. “I mean, we don’t have to, if it doesn’t sound pleasing.”
She paused, waiting. Gabriel simply waited for her to continue.
“Perhaps, if we’re all not too exhausted,” Thalia continued. “Would you like to… accompany Charlotte and me to a Seasonal event? To Madeline’s I mean—it shouldn’t be too chaotic, and the invitation mentions it's for the evening, so we could spend the morning resting… if you’d like.”
Gabriel visibly rolled her proposal about in his head, and Thalia couldn’t help but giggle nervously. He really wanted to stretch this out. “Do I get to choose your attire?”
Thalia rose her brow slightly. “That depends; will you permit me to wear anything at all?”
Gabriel’s laughter filled her with a sort of warmth the rising sun could have never provided. “Alright, yes. But afterwards…” his voice trailed off, leaning close to catch Thalia in a sudden, deep kiss. She pressed into him, arms loosely coiling around his shoulders as his hands settled perfectly against her hip.
Afterwards. Yes; they could always consider everything that came next afterwards.