He clenched his jaw with determination and shoved the linen into his jacket pocket and quickly made his way downstairs.
A middle-aged man was working at a desk in some sort of study when Gabriel passed by. He stood and rushed out into the hallway, immediately offering a respectful bow. “Your Grace,” he called out. “I didn’t expect to see you up and about so soon. I’m Dr. Bryant. Would you care for—?”
“How long have I been here?” Gabriel cut in. He wasn’t normally so brusque, but the urgency to see Triana again overrode everything else.
The doctor visibly swallowed, apparently intimidated by his patient’s unyielding stance, not understanding the cause for his haste. “Nearly a day, Your Grace, but I would suggest—”
Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, relief flooding his body. He still had time, but that didn’t mean he could linger. “I thank you for your care and your kind consideration, but I have to return to London immediately. If you can spare it, I will need a few provisions, along with your fastest horse. I can assure you that you will be handsomely compensated for your cooperation.”
The doctor was at a loss for words, but he finally gave a nod. “Of course, Your Grace. But won’t you at least eat something to regain some of your strength before you go?”
“I’ll take it with me,” Gabriel returned, feeling that he’d been here far too long already.
A short time later, Gabriel mounted the chestnut gelding that was saddled and waiting for him. “Thank you again, Dr. Bryant,” he said sincerely. “My solicitor will be in touch.”
Then, without another glance back, he urged the mount into a canter — the dust flying out behind them as he headed for the city. He just prayed he could gain an audience with the Regent, so that he could plead his case.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Triana stood and stared out of the parlor window of the Abernathy townhouse in subdued silence. In the morning, after taking her vows, she would be expected to partake of a brief wedding breakfast, and then depart with her new husband for a honeymoon to Brighton, which would also be brief.
Triana recounted the past few days with a bleak sort of acceptance. Her eyes were grainy and red rimmed from a lack of sleep, interspersed with countless episodes of crying. She felt as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest the day before when she’d said goodbye to Gabriel, but she’d had no choice but to leave him behind and return to London with Travell.
When they arrived, her brother had tried to appeal to the Regent to release her from the engagement, but even though he had served his country well, Prinny hadn’t seen the advantage of declining Eastbury’s suit other than the fact she didn’t want it.
And so she had to face her fate.
How unfair life could be at times.
If anything positive could be said about it all, at least Amelia had not demanded to know the details regarding her daughter’s latest absence. It hadn’t seemed to matter as she was there now.
And even though she knew it was impossible, Triana had kept praying that somehow, Gabriel would appear on his white steed and sweep her across the border to Gretna Green. Foolish dreams. He was certainly in no shape to travel, let alone perform some heroic rescue.
At least she could hold on to a time when she’d been blissfully happy as she passed the rest of her life in a desolate blur.
“How are you holding up, Tri?” Travell’s concerned voice broke into her reverie, but before she could even make some noncommittal reply, Amelia strode in to the room behind him.
“She’s fine. She is about to do her duty and become a countess and make her mother very proud.” With a nod of satisfaction, Lady Trenton added, “I’m only sorry that Lady Greenville can’t be here for the nuptials. She was always such a spiteful woman who dared to impugn our worthiness in society, but this wedding shall quell any doubts about our family being less than satisfactory.”
Triana noticed that her brother was trying very hard to be civil as he clenched his jaw. “I can’t believe that you are allowing this farce simply to earn the respect of that gossiping annoyance of a woman.”
Amelia’s mouth pursed into a hard line. “That woman has been a favorite at Almack’s for years and has, no doubt, been more than happy to cast shadow upon us, which is why we never were able to obtain vouchers. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who had encouraged those articles in the paper!”
“Dear God, Mother!” Travell countered hotly, “She is only one person—”
“With quite a bit of persuasion among the ton!” Amelia cut him off in frustration, as if his inability to see the obvious was beyond her understanding. “But seeing as how you and I will never see eye to eye on this subject, I refuse to try and explain myself any further, as it truly matters little at this point. Once Triana is Eastbury’s wife, our respectability shall be complete and any door we wish shall be opened to us.”
Travell gave a scoff. “Is that all that matters to you? The acceptance of the ton, rather than the happiness of your own daughter?”
Her mother visibly bristled. “Are you truly so blind?” she snapped. With her blue eyes flashing with an unknown emotion, she continued, “Have you forgotten so readily the way we were ostracized after your father left us? For years your sister has suffered from John’s misdeeds, and yet, you would dare to lecture me for trying to repair what has been broken in the aftermath?”
She shook her head, her jaw set. “No, the blame for all of this is to be laid at his feet, not mine. I am merely struggling to put his prior mistakes to right and this marriage will ensure our valued position — and Triana’s, as a respected, settled woman.” With a huff, her mouth drooping slightly, she added, “So, if you wish to detest me for the rest of your days, that’s fine. It will not change my stance about this marriage. Perhaps if John hadn’t run off with that… woman, then Triana would have been free to marry a man of her choosing, and perhaps even for love. But in reality, many unions have been built on much less, and instead of continuously remarking on the earl’s negative points, perhaps you should recall the positive aspects to his nature, such as his wealth and his revered status. For that alone he is an agreeable match.”
After Lady Trenton’s outburst, the room fell into a tension-filled silence. For the first time Triana really looked at her mother and noticed the lines of strain around her eyes — a sign of an inner turmoil that Triana had failed to see before now, caught up in her own misery. She had been so angry at her mother for interfering in her life and forcing her to wed Eastbury that she had never stopped to think how her father’s departure had affected Amelia. Until now, Triana had never looked past her mother’s outward, and somewhat brusque, nature. But what if it was all a way to cover up her inner insecurities? She was a woman who was afraid of failing, terrified of living on the brink of society after her husband’s abandonment.
While Triana didn’t feel she had been a truly errant child, she thought back over her life, and conceded that perhaps she had been a bit reckless in her youth, like the incident at the fishing hole with Travell. Perhaps, in her mind, Amelia still saw that side of Triana. Of course, those articles in the Times hadn’t helped matters, for it only made the countess imagine she was going to have to relive that previous hell. Thus, she had accepted Eastbury for her daughter’s hand, and saw any refusal or argument on Triana’s behalf as that same, childish rebellion.
A wave of empathy flowed over Triana as she walked over and took her mother’s hand in her own. With a start of surprise, Lady Trenton looked at her daughter warily, expecting to be attacked yet again. But with a sincere smile, Triana just squeezed gently. “I don’t think I’ve told you this lately, but I love you, Mama.”
The countess’ expression wavered and then her eyes filled with moisture. “You can’t know how long I have wished to hear those words from you,” she whispered. With a heavy sigh, some of her bluster subsided, “I only want a good life for you, Triana, and I honestly believe Eastbury can give you that. He seems to
admire you and that’s all any of us can truly wish for in a marriage.”
Triana offered a melancholy smile in return. “But what if I love someone else?”
The countess appeared taken aback for a moment, and then her face cleared. “You’re speaking of the duke.” At Triana’s brief nod, Amelia frowned. “Has he made you an offer?”
Triana swallowed before slowly shaking her head. As disheartening as it was, it was the truth.
“I thought as much,” her mother murmured. “Triana, you must understand that Chiltern is rather… experienced, and you are yet naïve to the ways of the world and their many… persuasions. I know you may believe yourself in love with a man as charming as Chiltern, but you are a mere dalliance to him. If his heart was truly engaged, then he would have made you an offer long before now.”
Triana refused to let her mother believe Gabriel was the rogue she thought him to be. “He knew I was betrothed to Eastbury, so how could he propose to me when he knew I was intended for another?”
“If he truly wanted you, do you honestly think that would have stopped him?”
When Triana had no reply, Travell spoke up. “Have you forgotten your petition to the Regent? Who would dare go against the Crown’s wishes?”
Amelia merely shrugged. “I have found that if a man truly wants something, very seldom is he deterred from getting it. Look at your father — do you think he cared about anything but his own selfish desires when he left us?”
Triana refused to see Gabriel as being cut from the same cloth as her errant father. “But the duke isn’t like that, Mother! If you would just give him a chance…”
Already, Lady Trenton was shaking her head. “I have seen enough of the Duke of Chiltern to recognize a man out for a single purpose, whereas Eastbury has offered his hand and his protection for a lifetime. Now, I am through with this discussion. The wedding will take place as planned and that is the end of it.”
***
“Ah, there you are, my lovely bride-to-be.” Eastbury greeted Triana in the parlor the next morning, the vicar at his side. The earl’s face was wreathed in smiles, his pudgy countenance puffed out with pride.
How she wanted to wipe that smirk off of his face, knowing what he’d expected of her at their last meeting, but she managed to keep her composure.
“It’s nearly time for the ceremony to begin,” the earl persisted in his silky voice.
He hadn’t needed to remind her, for she had paced her chamber most of the night, dreading the dawn of this day. But at precisely eight o’clock, Genevieve had arrived to help her into a lovely, pink satin dress, the color accenting her pale skin. Her dark hair had been styled into a lovely chignon. Diamond earrings that had been in the Trenton family for generations graced her ears. For all appearances, she looked like a blushing bride, but inside, her heart was breaking.
Travell walked in and addressed the earl. “If I might have a moment in my study?” he asked brusquely.
“Of course,” Eastbury said. He turned to Triana with a grin. “I’ll only be a moment, my dear. No doubt we need to finalize the marriage contract.”
“You might be more comfortable waiting in the drawing room,” Travell said to the vicar, who moved forward.
While Triana was grateful for the brief reprieve, she thought she saw Travell wink at her as he led the earl away. Strange…
She shook her head, intending not to think any more of it as she sank down into a chair near the fireplace.
“Triana.”
She gasped as she glanced up, wondering if her eyes weren’t deceiving her. She had to clutch the arm of the chair for support as she encountered a pair of familiar, silver orbs. “Gabriel…” Her whisper had barely left her lips as he rushed to her side and pulled her to her feet, hauling her against that warm, solid chest.
Her eyes instantly welled with tears, for nothing had ever felt so wonderful.
She closed her eyes as he held her close and whispered into her hair, “Please tell me I got here in time. Tell me I’m not too late to save you from Eastbury.”
Triana’s joy nearly brought her to her knees. She wondered if she was dreaming, for surely Gabriel couldn’t truly be here with her! But as he lowered his head and kissed her thoroughly, she knew that it was all too real.
She grasped his jacket lapels, fearing that at any moment he might dissipate and all her hopes would be crushed once more. “How did you—?”
He cupped her face in his hands as if she was the most precious possession he’d ever beheld. “Didn’t I tell you that you were mine?” he said hoarsely. “Nothing can keep you from me, and I meant it.” He searched her gaze, and she felt her heart swell at the blatant adoration she read there. “I love you, Lady Triana Abernathy, spinster extraordinaire that you are. Tell me that I haven’t lost you in spite of all of my foolishness, and that you will be my wife before this day is out.”
Triana’s heart leaped. “You love me?”
“How could you not have known, you stubborn, frustrating woman? I thought I’d made it rather obvious. But perhaps I’ve been remiss in my attentions.” He gathered her in his arms, and swung her around in a circle, eliciting a breathless laugh from her.
Her pulse suddenly skittered to a halt as he set her down and reached into his jacket, where he produced a small scrap of white linen. Her eyes widened as she recognized his handkerchief; the initials emblazoned in black on the delicate fabric, and the very item she had carried so close to her heart for so long.
“You left this with me. Why?”
She swallowed. “I nearly didn’t, but I suppose it was because I knew I had to let you go.”
He gave a brief nod, and then, without any warning, he walked over and promptly tossed it into the fireplace.
Triana’s mouth fell open in horror. “Why did you do that?” she cried.
He flashed her that wide grin that caused her blood to flutter wildly in her veins and her bones to melt with desire as he returned to her side. “What need do you have of that, when you have me for the rest of your days?”
“But how is that even possible?” she whispered. “Travell already tried to free me from the betrothal, and Prinny refused his request.”
He traced a delicate finger along her jaw. “You seem to forget that I am a duke, and not only does my rank outweigh that of Eastbury and Travell, I was able to convince the Regent that our marriage would be a true… love match.” With a shrug born of arrogance, he added on a grin, “Plus, I gave him the name of our French spy.”
Her eyes widened. “You know who it is?”
“I do,” he concurred. “But I don’t want to discuss politics and intrigue right now.”
His eyes turned to liquid silver, their molten depths filled with all manner of delicious emotions. “Marry me?” he asked huskily.
A sob escaped. “Did you really have to ask? My answer has always been yes when it comes to you,” she whispered, to which Gabriel once again claimed her mouth in a kiss that left them both breathless.
When he pulled away, he took her hand in his. “Come.”
As they entered the foyer, she was taken aback to find a red faced Eastbury, who was held on either side by two red-coated soldiers.
When Triana glanced at Gabriel in shock, he merely shrugged. “Reinforcements the Regent sent along in case things got messy.”
The moment the earl spotted them, he began to struggle. He glared at them both hotly, spittle flying out of his mouth in his rage. “Chiltern! You vile cur! How dare you have the nerve to come here and kidnap my future wife!”
“I don’t believe it’s kidnapping if the lady goes willingly,” Gabriel interjected smoothly. “And the lady in question will soon be my duchess.”
“I will meet you at dawn for this!” Eastbury continued to rant, to which Gabriel calmly removed a sealed document from his inner jacket pocket.
He held up the paper and walked toward the earl, where he spoke quietly, deadly. “We can do this one of two ways. You can adm
it that you have lost and leave quietly, preferring a life of solitude in Scotland. Or, you shall cause an even larger scandal for yourself by resisting and being thrown in the Tower for the murder of a local harlot who died from injuries sustained by you, to which I have more than one witness to attest to the fact. It’s your choice.”
Eastbury spluttered, although his fury had appeared to abate somewhat as his eyes fixated on the document in the duke’s hand. “You dare to try and exile me?”
“Look at it as a time to reflect on your poor choices.” Gabriel returned with a dangerous glitter to his eyes.
The earl seemed to weigh his options, but with his face twisted in mottled fury, he pulled a knife from his belt and lunged for Gabriel. “I’ll kill you for this!”
The stunned soldiers didn’t even have time to react, before Gabriel had Eastbury pinned down on the floor, with a knee to his back and an arm twisted behind him so fast that the earl barely had time to howl in pain. “You’re going to break my arm!”
“I’ll do more than that if you ever threaten me again,” Gabriel growled ruthlessly. He lifted the earl to his feet, and tossed him to the guards. “Remove him from my sight and make sure he never sets foot on English soil again. After the Regent hears of his attempt to harm a fellow member of the peerage, I’m rather sure he will be more than happy to extend his exile. Permanently.”
With a pitiful whimper, Eastbury was led away.
Travell walked up to Gabriel and they shook hands. “It will be an honor to call you my brother-in-law.”
“And I, you.” Gabriel returned in all seriousness.
With a glance at his sister, the viscount added, “Take care of her.”
Gabriel looked at the woman who had stolen his heart and made it possible for him to breathe life again, and nodded solemnly. “Forever.”
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