She professed to love him. And while he’d spent the better part of his life wanting nothing to do with that damned sentiment, when she’d uttered those words, she’d breathed into him the truths he’d buried deep down inside. Truths he’d kicked the dust of life upon and hid—even from himself—that damned longing to have someone. What she’d dangled before him preyed on his greatest fears, but also a desire he’d never known he possessed grew inside him.
The façade of his townhouse pulled into focus and he urged his horse forward. No sooner had he leaped to the ground than a servant rushed forward to claim the reins. With a murmur of thanks, Gabriel strode up the handful of steps and through the doors opened by Joseph. “My lord,” the butler greeted. There was a reproach in his eyes that may as well have been a mirror of Waterson’s sentiments at the club.
Gabriel shrugged out of his cloak. “Joseph,” he said. He looked up the staircase and cleared his throat.
“Her Ladyship has retired for the evening.” The servant had developed an uncanny knack to know precisely what Gabriel was thinking before he even spoke.
“Er, yes, right. Of course.” He started the path up the stairs and reached the landing to the main living quarters when a figure stepped into his path.
He swallowed a curse as he nearly crashed into his sister. “What are you doing a—”
Chloe planted her hands on her hips and glared. “Do not finish that sentence.”
It was the truth of his existence that he’d be ordered about by mouthy, bold, English ladies. With a sigh, Gabriel tugged out his timepiece. “Chloe it is late.”
“Is it?”
“It is.”
“I was being facetious, Gabriel,” she said between clenched teeth. “Of course it is late. And you should have arrived home long ago.”
First Alex, then Waterson, now Chloe. He should be expecting an opinion from Joseph on his marriage to Jane.
“Jane needs your support.”
“I know that.”
“She must do what Imogen did.”
Perhaps it was the infernal hour or the brandy he’d consumed at his clubs, or mayhap it was just that his sister was deuced difficult to follow and always had been. “What Imogen did?”
Chloe pointed her eyes to the ceiling and her lips moved in what he suspected was a silent prayer. “Brave the scandal.” A determined glint lit her eyes. “She is going to have to enter polite Society and only then, when they see she can’t be cowed, will they move on.” She wrinkled her nose. “Society is cruel and merciless, you know.”
And Jane would have to brave that. At the idea of her facing down the condescending sneers and pointed looks, fury unfurled in his gut. “I know that.” Gabriel curled his hands so tightly into the palms he nearly drew blood. “I’ve already, with Alex’s help, arranged several ton functions for Jane to attend.”
“And…” She blinked several times in rapid succession. “You what?”
Did his siblings think him wholly ignorant of what Jane must do and face? “Both Waterson and the Earl of Primly will throw Jane—us—their support. I’ve accepted an invite to the Duke of Crawford’s ball.” He firmed his jaw. Despite everyone’s low opinion of him, he’d not see Jane disparaged or shamed before Society. Then abandoning her on her wedding night, aren’t you already responsible for that crime? Guilt knifed at his conscience. “I will speak to Jane in the morning. She will be presented to Society and I will stand beside her and—”
“Then you will send her to her finishing school.”
His sister and Jane had spoken. He swiped a hand over his eyes. “Chloe, it is late.”
“As you’ve previously stated.”
With her in one of her tempers, it wouldn’t do to tell his sister that the missing piece to her words was her inevitable marriage and then Jane’s departure. “And I will not debate the terms of the contract I’ve entered into with Jane. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” he said with a firmness he’d usually reserved for Alex through the years and stepped around her. He made it no more than five steps when she called out.