Bride for a Night(76)

A brief flare of amusement shimmered in his eyes. “Are you attempting to be insulting?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. You may be assured I shall have you safely aboard my ship by nightfall,” he drawled.

“Then what is it?”

There was a tense silence as he fought against his in-bred instinct to deal with his troubles on his own. He had devoted a lifetime to shouldering responsibilities and protecting others. It would never be easy for him to share.

Wisely, Talia forced herself to wait, knowing he would only retreat if she pressed him.

Eventually he lifted his head, although he kept his arms wrapped around her, as if he needed the warmth of her body snuggled close.

“I discovered information concerning my brother that I have not yet managed to accept,” he confessed, his voice hoarse.

Her mouth went dry with horror. “Dear lord, he is not—”

“No,” he hastily interrupted, his expression impossible to read. “He enjoys the unjust health of most sinners, so far as I know.” His jaw clenched. “Indeed, I have learned he is currently residing in Calais.”

“Calais?” Talia blinked in confusion. “Calais, France?”

He gave a sharp nod. “Yes.”

“That’s absurd. What would he be doing in Calais?”

“Avoiding the men whom I sent in pursuit of him, for one thing. And for another…” He grimaced in disgust.

Talia lifted a hand to lightly touch his cheek. “Gabriel?”

A bleak emotion darkened his silver eyes, sending a chill of foreboding down Talia’s spine.

“For another he is attempting to fleece Jacques Gerard for the funds necessary to continue his extravagant lifestyle in France.”

Harry and Jacques were acquainted? It would be natural when they were in Devonshire, although Talia could not imagine Harry ever wishing to become friendly with a vicar, even if he did reside on his family’s estate. But they were in France, and if Harry knew that Jacques was here, then he must also know that he was a spy.

Which would mean…she cut off the thought before it could fully form.

“I do not understand.”

“I wish to hell I did not,” Gabriel muttered. “Harry is a traitor.”

Even with a suspicion of what was coming, Talia reeled from the shocking announcement.


“No.” She pulled away, shaking her head in denial. “It cannot be.”

As if predicting her disbelief, Gabriel was already moving to pull out a folded note from his jacket, shoving it into her hand. “Here.”

It took only a moment to skim through the signed confession, her heart sinking with every word. Dear lord, she had always thought Harry weak, but this…

She handed the note back to Gabriel with a dreary expression. “How could he do such a thing?”

“I have no answer,” Gabriel said bleakly. “Harry has always been spoiled by my mother, but so are any number of noblemen and they do not become spies.”

“Not you,” she said before she could halt the words.

He lifted his brows. “I beg your pardon?”

She wrapped her arms over her breasts, feeling oddly exposed.

“You were not overindulged,” she reluctantly clarified.

Gabriel gently draped his jacket around her shoulders, tucking it around her body.

“No, when I was not at school I was expected to spend my days with my father to learn the duties of an earl,” he agreed without a hint of regret at having been denied a childhood. Indeed, his expression softened with obvious fondness at the mention of his father. “My earliest memories are leading a team of mules through a field while my father helped the tenants toss hay onto the cart they pulled.”