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“Because I do not want to give her hope,” Gabriel replied. “Hope is the worst of all evils; it keeps you on a line, forcing you neither forward or backward, and keeps you unmoving. Appearing at her doorstep would tempt her to think this is real. I have seen what an empty marriage is like, and I will give anything to avoid it.”
“If she is that smart, she’ll understand, but you need to see her at least once,” David pressed. “Bet the whole of London is looking for you to do something; otherwise, others will take your place. You know the moment your light shines on another, all attention is directed to them.”
“Which is precisely why I want to wait this period out, break the so-called courtship, and let her have any lord she pleases,” Gabriel murmured.
“Still, keep up appearances,” David replied.
“There is a ball in two days,” Gabriel added dryly. “Shan’t that be enough?”
“No.”
Sighing, heavily, Gabriel nodded, “I’ll see what I can do.”
David narrowed his eyes, “Are you foxed, or can you go with me to Bond Street to find a new set of cufflinks?”
Gazing into his glass, Gabriel replied, “Do you not have people do those things for you? A valet, a tailor, a footman? A falcon with a note tied to its leg?”
“You’re being facetious,” David huffed. “But sober, so you are coming with me.”
Gabriel stood and reached for his jacket. “If you are going to force me to go shopping, my drink is going on your bill.”
“Fine,” David snorted. “Let’s go.”
“Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell?” Gabriel read stiffly while looking at the jewelers. “You must seek your finery here?”
“Where else?” David asked as he passed through the door. “They are called London’s most prestigious jeweler for a reason.”
“And a reason to be seen,” Gabriel dropped his voice.
“Since when do you give up on a chance to be seen?” David eyed him as they moved to the main counter.
Passing by the many mirrors, Gabriel caught his reflection, and so did the women who lingered at the displays. He tugged at his jacket sleeve, the silver-grey waistcoat hugging his trim torso. His chiseled features were the picture of elegant masculinity, but he could not deny the dark circles under his eyes.
If I have slept a total of eight hours in the last three days, I’ll be shocked.
“How good to see you, Your Grace,” Lady Crescentwood said as she came around a corner.
Inclining his head to the lady, he replied, “Pleasant to see you as well, My Lady.”
She fixed her monocle. “Your absence had been noted, Your Grace, particularly by a few pertinent persons; would you care to explain why? You do ascertain that such action, or rather lack of it, will make matters worse than better?”
“To my credit, I have been extremely occupied with business,” he lied smoothly.
“Are there so many horses you went to see?” the Lady asked, touching a brooch on her lapel.
While David was occupied with the person behind the desk, Gabriel came closer to the Lady “All my life, every choice I have made is done with clear analysis and prudence weighed by whether it is the right thing to do, My Lady. I do not want to draw more attention to Miss Porter because when scandal does brush my ducal role, it rolls away like water on a duck’s back, but not so for others. I want to ensure that no one is hurt.”
The Lady’s lips pursed. “Avoidance is not acceptable, especially in this case, Your Grace.”
“Miss Porter will not suffer any ill ramifications of our connection. If any scandal comes from this, I will be the one who will take the brunt of it, not she. I give you my word, not a scratch will land on her; I will be the villain, the Hades to her Persephone if you will.”
The Lady’s eyes went wide before she cleared her throat. “You don’t say.”
“I do,” Gabriel nodded. “There will be nothing to smear her name.”
“Make every effort to make it so.” The Lady fixed her glass. “Otherwise, you will do what is honorable, Your Grace, and I would hate to call you honor in question.”
It was true. If anything more happened, and it was known, Anastasia could be utterly ruined, and it would trap Gabriel. Anastasia was not an empty-headed society miss, more concerned with the next ball and the newest gown she had commissioned than the world around her. He would not let her pay for his stupidity, and she would understand that they had to part ways for the betterment of both of them.
