Page 75 of Duke in Darkness

“Your Grace!”

Turning, she smiled at Philip Rundell as he approached from behind the shop counter. “Mr. Rundell.”

“My word, it’s been an age. What a treat to see you again.”

“Thank you. I don’t believe you have met my husband, the Duke of Exton.”

The jeweler bowed low. “Tis an honor and privilege to make your acquaintance, Your Grace. May I offer my condolences on the loss of your cousins, and commend you on your long service to king and country. How may I serve you today?”

Gabriel stared at Mr. Rundell for the longest moment. “I want to purchase some pieces. For my wife. Sapphires and diamonds.”

“Lovely, lovely. Allow me to fetch some chairs, then I shall make notes and drawings for your approval. One moment!”

As Mr. Rundell hurried back to the counter, Gabriel leaned down. “I don’t see a certain clerk.”

“Probably because he’s out the back sweeping and polishing and sniffling over his soft hands becoming blistered,” she said without thinking.

“That’s a rather specific guess.”

Lilian lifted her chin, but couldn’t halt the guilty blush that scorched across her cheekbones. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“You know exactly what I mean,” he growled. “Confess.”

“I may have, ah, visited with Xavier,” she replied, gulping. “And informed Mr. Rundell of his employee’s actions.”

“Perhaps I haven’t told you…but I value one thing above all else.”

Nearly trembling, Lilian made herself ask, “What is that?”

“Loyalty,” Gabriel replied, shocking her with the tenderness in his gaze as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

“You have mine,” she whispered. “And my affection.”

His grip tightened possessively, his gaze hot. “My duchess. So sweet and yet…quite the avenging angel, yes?”

Her heart soared, and she could barely form the words in reply. “Poppycock, Colonel. I’m a harmless little kitten. With claws.”

Her husband liked her. He truly liked her.

Nothing could ruin her happiness now.

Nothing.

CHAPTER 18

“P lease do hold still, Your Grace. Unless you wish your hair to resemble a hedgehog?”

Gabriel stifled a grin as he met his valet’s unamused glare in the bedchamber mirror. “I don’t know, the Hedgehog Cut…might become the style of 1815.”

Hobbs paused, visibly swallowing. “You made a jest. An actual jest.”

“Are you going to cry? Didn’t think it was that bad.”

“You saved countless lives on the continent with your terrible humor. I saw it myself. Terrified men soothed and their hands steadied, men able to laugh instead of scream. A way to release pressure. It’s hard to explain to civilians. They think it uncaring, or that perhaps the soldiers do not take war seriously, when the opposite is true. I feared…I feared you might never find your way back from the dark.”

Frozen in place, Gabriel could only stare. Then he said hoarsely, “I feared the same. But so often the guiding lights…are people. Those who stay. Those who listen. Those who speak up. Those who comfort.”

“Angels come in many guises.”