Page 32 of Unmask Me My Love

“Stand still, ma chérie.” Her mother pulled her right sleeve down, baring her shoulder.

“Maman!” What was she doing?

“Fais ce que je dis.” Veronique turned her, so the duke could see her back.

“Ahh.” Rother sucked in a breath and his eyes widened.

“You know that star-shaped mark quite well, I believe, although yours is in a somewhat more interesting place.” She pulled Gabriella’s sleeve back up. “If you needed proof, there it is.” She glanced from Rother to Gabriella. “However, anyone with an eye can see it.” She took his hand. “Believe me, Gabriel. She is your daughter.”

Stunned, the duke looked from one woman to the other then nodded slowly. “Yes, she is.” He stared at Gabriella so long, she suddenly wished herself back across the room beside Hal.

At last, he put his arms around her and drew her close. “Gabriella. Oh, my child.”

She slid her arms around him in return, a careful embrace that eased into a true one as tears started from her eyes.

He released her, only to grasp her mother around the shoulders, hugging her, then grab her head and kiss her. Lips firmly pressed to hers, he cradled her to him.

“Uhh, Your Grace?” Hal appeared by her side. “If you remember the question I put to you two weeks ago? May I please have your daughter’s hand in marriage?”

The duke released Veronique, though he kept hold of her arm. His face was flushed, his eyes dark as night. He stared at Hal then Gabriella.

Best make sure he knew her choice. She gazed up at Hal, anchoring herself to his arm.

Just try to part them now.

“I have just this minute found her, Halford. I should make you wait at least as long as it takes to read the banns.”

“I will agree to that, Your Grace, if you will write to my father with your acknowledgement of Gabriella today.” Hal laid his hand on top of hers. “We will need the time to plan the wedding and introduce her to society as your daughter and my future wife.”

“I have one other condition.” The duke’s stern countenance dropped back into place in less than the tick of the clock. “Promise me you will remain in England.” He ran his thumb down her jaw, a soft warmth that penetrated to her heart. “I need to get to know my daughter.”

“Why must they remain in England?” Veronique cocked her head at the duke, one delicate eyebrow raised. “What if they wish to come visit me and my father in Angouleme?”

“But you will be here, in England, my dear. There is one more proposal I wish to discuss with you.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her again.

“I will take that as permission as well.” Hal pulled Gabriella to him. “To the bride and groom.” He pressed his lips to hers, sweet and wonderful beyond belief.

“Well, Hal,” Celinda said, sounding very far away, “now I’m surely holding you to your promise about Lord Finley. I need to have my happy ending as well!”

Chapter 13

The cut crystal chandeliers threw beams of light down from high above the excited throng of people waiting to see her as Gabriella walked into Lady Ulley’s ballroom a scant week since the Duke of Rother had acknowledged her as his daughter and Hal had proposed.

Heart beating with excitement and dread, Gabriella leaned a little more on Hal’s arm than she normally would have, but it was très étrange to now be the lady wearing the beautiful gown and not merely the maid who had constructed it. She glanced down at the green silk dress she’d created during the week while trying to keep her nerves at bay. Surprisingly, she’d found sewing now calmed her, kept her focused and less likely to brood about whether the ton would accept her as the illegitimate daughter of a duke.

On-dits had run wild during the past week, and Gabriella suspected the reason Lady Ulley’s townhouse was full to bursting was because everyone wished to see the Frenchwoman the most eligible Duke of Rother had married out of hand less than a week ago. The very next afternoon after her mother’s appearance, the duke had called on them at Lord Ivor’s townhouse and gone down on one knee, formally asking her mother to be his wife. When Maman had immediately said yes, he’d pulled a special license from his pocket and spirited her off to the nearest church that very day.

Gabriella might’ve been scandalized—if he wished to marry her mother, he should have taken his time and courted her properly—however, her mother’s glowing face when she told Gabriella the news of the betrothal and her radiant smile as she spoke her vows to the duke had stilled any protest Gabriella could’ve made. Maman had waited eighteen long years to be with the man she loved. What need was there for her to wait longer?

Unfortunately, her father’s impetuous attitude toward his own wedding had not extended itself to hers and Hal’s.

To the contrary, when Hal had immediately asked for her hand in marriage, Papa, as he’d asked her to call him, had remained adamant that she and Hal must wait for the banns to be read so that he would not lose the daughter he’d just gained. Even though Gabriella could understand that, it didn’t make it any easier for her and Hal to remain circumspect in their meetings with one another, especially when each time they met they were drawn to one another as though he was the south pole of a magnet, and she his absolute north. The past week had been a frustrating series of longing looks and heavy sighs.

“There he is, Rother.” Hal nodded toward a tall, striking gentleman who bore quite a resemblance to Hal, especially around the eyes and nose. “You promised to perform the introduction.”

Papa turned from whispering something in Maman’s ear that had made her cheeks quite pink and brought his quizzing glass up to his eye. He looked the Duke of Brixham up and down then dropped the glass monocle and nodded. “Very well, Halford. Although I do not see what all the rush is about.”

“You seemed more than rushed to marry Madame d’Aventure,” Hal grumbled, so low only Gabriella could hear him, thank goodness.