Dusky Duke and the Gypsy Pirate Princess

by Kya Lind

  ♣♣♣

  The next day, Greyson sent a message to his grandmother requesting her presence in his study. After she arrived and was seated, Greyson had a hard time starting.

  Greyson stared down at his desktop. SarahBeth waited patiently for him to pull his thoughts together.

  “Honesty is not happy.” Greyson waved a hand.

  “She will come around.”

  “That is not the point, grandmother. She is not happy. Being married to me has not given her anything but sadness. I should not have forced her into this position that she told me repeatedly that she did not want.”

  “She is trying.” The dowager duchess gave to appease.

  “She is trying too hard, she should not be expected to change who she is to become my duchess. She should not be expected to give up everything she is to become someone accepted by other people.”

  “She is not doing it for them. She is determined to do it for you, Greyson. She demands each day that I show her what is expected of a duchess. She is dedicated to learning to be your duchess.”

  “But she is not happy. She doesn’t truly wish to be a duchess or my wife for that matter. You and I know that she would gladly return home if I allowed.” Greyson raked his hand through his hair.

  SarahBeth eyed her grandson and drew in a deep breath. “Greyson, I will try to explain something to you. When I met your grandfather, Greyson William the second, as he called himself, I was immediately drawn to him. Many call it love at first sight. It is not you know. I saw something in him, your grandfather that I needed. Something that when I was with him completed me, filled a large hole in my life. And that feeling of wholeness was something I needed. Something I could not live without. Your grandfather made me feel secure, like I belonged. I latched on to that and refused to accept that we would not be married. You have heard the story many times I am sure.”

  Greyson nodded.

  “I had to discover what your grandfather needed from me before I could convince him that he wanted to marry me. He needed me to distract him from the burdens of his position. He needed me to be someone he could be himself with- the good and the bad. And someone he could play with… the reason I am telling you this is because I see you in the same situation. You fell in love with Honesty at first sight. What drew you to her?”

  Greyson frowned, “Her happiness.”

  “And now that her happiness is gone, you are questioning your marriage to her?”

  “No,” Greyson glared at his grandmother for suggesting such a thing. “I took her happiness away with my selfish actions.”

  SarahBeth tilted her head forward, “And what do you give to complete her. What does she need from you in return? “SarahBeth waved a hand at Greyson’s coffee cup. “You can only drink so much from a cup before you must refill it, or the cup becomes useless.”

  Greyson sat and contemplated his grandmother’s words long after she was gone. What did Honesty need from him? What did he have to offer that she wanted? He stared at his empty cup. If he needed her happiness, then what did he fill her life with that would allow that joy to return and flow over on him? He thought of the times she had responded in his presence. The times he recounted in his head, each event; to find a pattern. And then he saw it. All the times he had been with her since the beginning. From the masque to the night he had kissed her. They had been alone or only in the presence of the children. And she had responded to him, even when she had been upset, she had still responded.. . because he had been straight forward in his affection. He had not been his customary reserved self when in only her presence. He had showed her his heart and she had responded. Now with this engagement they were both acting in the expected reserved manner. She had no one to show her love- the love she received unguarded from her children, and only from him in private. He remembered her grief when he had withdrawn his attention in private before. When she had decided, he had not wanted to marry her. Her happiness when he discounted that claim. Greyson frowned at this problem. He was not allowed to be alone with her, not that he trusted himself to be alone with her. What to do? The dark lines under her eyes spoke of her lack of sleep. He needed a plan, or they would not make it through the next six weeks without him taking her to bed to prove his devotion. Not that such an action did not have great appeal at the moment, and every moment between now the blasted wedding in September.

  ♣♣♣

  Greyson arrived at the salon just as the dinner gong sounded. He made his way to Honesty’s chair. She was seated in the back of the room with his grandmother on one side and Teresa on the other. Greyson kissed his grandmother on the cheek and when moved to Honesty. She tilted her head to receive his customary peck of greeting. His lips glanced off her cheek and slid to her ear where he placed a real kiss. Honesty jumped in surprised and jerked her head toward him. Their mouths almost touching as Greyson drew back. He smiled a genuine smile for the first time in weeks. Honesty’s eyes met his in question as he stepped back and pulled her to her feet. Her gaze darted to the others in the room. Nobody seemed to have seen the exchange between the two. Greyson pulled her hand through his arm and escorted Honesty to the table. She looked disconcerted. Greyson chuckled silently to himself. This was going to be fun.

  Honesty watched Greyson as the meal was served. Something had changed, but what? Honesty was intrigued as the meal progressed and Greyson continued with the sleight of hand looks that no one else seemed to see. Unseen by the others at the table, Greyson held Honesty’s left hand under the cover of the table. His thumb caressed her wrist under the edge of her lace glove. The softly spoken words as he passed the salt. The gestures were decidedly sensual and intimate. Greyson was flirting with her. He met her questioning gaze and the corner of his mouth tilted up; a sure sign that he was amused. Otherwise, there was no change in his manner or tone. He was as always the duke of Devonshire, his usual bored and dry self. Honesty was confused by his behavior, and was delighted when after dinner Greyson insisted on a garden walk with Teresa. As soon as they were out of the sight of the others, Honesty tried questioning Greyson, but he shushed her and pulled her along the hedgerows around the back of the house. Both women hurried to keep up with his long strides. When they reached the grand music room, Greyson pulled them inside and lit a lantern.

  “Play a waltz, Teresa.” He commanded as he pulled Honesty into his arms tight against his chest and twirled her away into the darkened room.

  Teresa bristled at the order but sat down at the harp and began to play.

  Greyson breathed in the scent of Honesty’s hair and felt her relax in his arms. “I have waited too long between dances, my love. I apologize. I shall not allow it to happen again.” He kissed the top of her ear and heard her sigh.

  “What has happened, Grey?”

  “I realized today that I am playing the game by the old rules, even after I promised you that we would make rules to fit the new game we play.”

  Honesty tilted her head back and looked up at him in the darkness as they continued to dance to the harp music.

  “You were correct, the king and queen can only move in expected patterns, but the goal of the game defines the reason for the moves.”

  Honesty shook her head in confusion at his words.

  “We have been playing this game as though our wedding date meant nothing and your duchess date is the true reason for our actions.

  “Duchess date?”

  “Yes, the date, we declare to the world that you are my duchess.”

  Honesty giggled at his definition.

  “But that is not the reason, we play the game. The goal is to free us of society’s regard. We are already married, and my heart is already yours.”

  They continued to danced for several minutes as Honesty absorbed his words. “I have been playing this game as I would if I were indeed your fiancé in an arranged marriage. And this is not the case at all. I have allowed you to forget that I desire to be married to you above all else.” Greyson pulled her to stop and wh
ispered in her ear the words that he had yet to speak to her out loud. “I love you.”

  Greyson waited. Honesty sniffed as though swallowing tears and sliding her arms around his neck pulled his head down and kissed him. Greyson returned the kiss. He sighed into her mouth. He had hoped that she would say the same to him, but he accepted the kiss for what it was. She was choosing to move toward him in this relationship; just as he had asked her to do when they played the new game of chess. At that time she had told him no, now her kiss said yes.

  “I don’t hear any dancing happening in that dark corner, you know,” declared Teresa’s voice from the pool of light as the sound of the harp continued.

  Greyson chuckled softly, and pulled Honesty back into a slow waltz. Both of them still engaged in the kiss. After several minutes, Honesty pulled her mouth away and ducked it against his chest. She struggled in pull in shallow breathes.

  “Sorry,” she gasped.

  “What do you mean, you have trouble dancing and kissing and breathing while wearing your laces too tight.” His voice held amusement. “You just need more practice.”

  Honesty nodded against his chest; her breath still raspy.

  Greyson danced her slowly back toward Teresa. When they were again in the circle of light, he released his tight hold on Honesty. “It is time to return to the others, I guess.”

  Teresa stopped plucking the harp strings. “We will need to circle the garden at least once to give Honesty a chance to lose the kissed look.” Teresa stood and rearranged her clothes as Honesty blushed a fiery red. Greyson laced his fingers through his wife’s and led the two women into the summer garden.

  After a turn around the garden they approached the stairs to the front veranda that led to the game rooms. Greyson pulled her to a stop after Honesty had taken one step up the stairs. He pulled her around to face him. Their eyes were on the same level. His smiled into hers in the faint light. “Good night, darling.” She returned his smile as their breath mingled in the rose tainted air. Then he was gone into the darkness of the night. Honesty’s smile widened, that man was impossible.

  ♣♣♣

  The days that followed were filled with short walks and rides to the beach, always with Teresa present. Greyson enjoyed the late night walks in Honesty’s company. He slowly saw the gypsy, pirate princess return. With his subtle encouragement, she became more herself in his company. They talked about every topic, she even argued with him about politics and the nation’s responsibility toward the poor of the cities. Greyson was delighted by her intelligence and views, but realized that her generous heart was going to cost him a considerable amount of money in the future when her truly understood her position as his duchess.

  SarahBeth sat back and watched the members of her family at the dinner table. The long table stretched out between herself and her grandson. There were almost fifty people at the table every night now. The dowager duchess pondered as she remembered the discussion she had with Greyson earlier that day about Honesty starting to serve as hostess at the dinners. He had flatly refused to allow it. When she had stated that Honesty would be expected to assume the role after the wedding, he had informed her that she was mistaken. He had stated that she would continue to act in that role as long as she was alive and that Honesty would not be moved from her current position at his right hand. When she had objected, he had cut her short with some nonsense about new rules for old games. SarahBeth watched the couple. Something had changed, but she could not put her finger on it. As far as she could see Greyson had not changed his behavior in the slightest after their talk two weeks ago, but Honesty’s behavior toward him had changed. She was not reserved toward him anymore; her actions spoke of familiarity and comfort. Honesty leaned toward him in conversations with a smile that often reached her eyes. The only difference SarahBeth could see was the twenty minute stroll Greyson insisted on each night after he escorted her to her rooms. When she had questioned him about Honesty’s changed behavior, he only shook his head. “I have only taken your wise advice.” That remark had not revealed anything to her. Even Teresa was not forthcoming with information about what happened on the strolls more than to assure her that they were honoring their promise to her. SarahBeth frowned as she continued to watch the two young people at the other end of the table. Something had changed. She watched Honesty’s relaxed and confidence smile in Greyson’s direction. The curiosity was driving SarahBeth insane.

  ♣♣♣

  Greyson pulled Honesty up onto the top of one of the large flat topped bounder that lined the cliff top above the shore. The bright moonlight illuminated the area as bright as daylight. Greyson wrapped his arms around Honesty’s waist and pulled her back against his frame. “Are you sure you don’t want to come up here?” Greyson called to his sister.

  “No, no, I am quite all right here safe on the solid ground.” Teresa called back.

  Honesty laughed and leaned back into Greyson’s embrace. “The view is spectacular.” She called down to her friend.

  “I can see quite well from here thank you,” called Teresa in return.

  Honesty laughed again, and went to take a bite from the apple Greyson had picked her in the orchard on the walk to the cliffs. Greyson wrapped his hand around hers and moved the apple from her mouth to his to take the first bite.

  “Rogue,” she hissed pulling the apple away from his sharp teeth and taking the second bite. Greyson placed a warm sticky kiss against the curve of her neck. “Grey,” she protested laughingly.

  Greyson’s hand slid away from hers to wrap around her ribcage just under her breast. Honesty sucked in a shallow breath in reaction.

  “Behave, someone may see. It is as bright as dawn out here.”

  Greyson’s hand slid higher as he chuckled into her ear. “I am only holding you steady, darling. Cannot take the chance of you falling.”

  Honesty turned her head to look at him in the moonlight. He was so different when they were alone from the duke that everyone else saw. This man, who smiled so easily and flirted shamelessly, was more than charming. He was indeed the perfect stranger she had met at the masque, the man who had taken her and her siblings to Buckingham Place. He smiled at her and raised her hand with the apple to take another bite. The sea wind ruffled his black hair. His eyes were shadowed.

  “What are you thinking,” Honesty whispered.

  Greyson chuckled, “That it is too bright to kiss you senseless.”

  “Alright, lovebirds, it is getting late and we need to be heading back.” Teresa’s voice rose from the dark shadow between the boulders.

  Greyson stood unmoving, his arms wrapped about Honesty looking out across the moonlit ocean. The warm breeze whipping her skirts against his legs. Only four more weeks he told himself, only four more weeks. He felt her sigh in contentment before taking another bite of the apple. Greyson took the last bite and raised his hand with the apple core. “Make a wish, love,” he said as he threw the heart into the sea below.

  “I wish that our duchess date was tomorrow.” Honesty whispered with longing.

  “With all my heart,” agreed Greyson.

  “Come down, before I come up and get you,” demanded Teresa. Greyson and Honesty laughed as they climbed down. Teresa was afraid of heights. They both knew the threat was an empty one.

  Greyson went ahead of Honesty down the steep break between the rocks that they had used to climb up. As he handed her down, his hand had slid up her leg. “Grey,” she protested again, but forgot her objections as her feet touched firm ground and he kissed her in the shadowed protection of the boulders.

  Minutes later the three made their way back along the well moonlit path, through the orchard and into the formal garden and around the outside of the castle to the stairs to the front veranda. When Greyson paused to bide Honesty good night, her eyes begged him not to go yet. “Come play a game of chess with me.”

  “Darling, right now I am on a winning streak that I know will not continue if I play you at chess again.” Gr
eyson smiled.

  “Chose to step into the game.” Honesty reminded him of his own words. She pulled on his arm to move him up the stairs. He smiled and agreed.

  They were both brought out of their private conversation by Teresa, who stood frozen on the stairs about them. The conversation that had stopped her floated down from the veranda above. The voices of several of the girls could be heard from the patio area. “What do you think they are doing every night in the garden?”

  “Well, mother says that grandmother is so partial to the duke and has always allowed him to do whatever he wants. One cannot expects her to change now.”

  “My mother says that the duke’s father once pursued Honesty’s mother even though he was married at the time. And she was a notorious flirt, you know. Can you imagine they could easily be brother and sister?” Greyson recognized the voice of one of Timothy’s girls. The one he had warned Honesty about before. “And to imagine them out in the garden doing whatever when they may be siblings is just revolting.” The other girls twittered in agreement.

  Teresa turned and started back down the stairs, but Honesty stiffened her spine and started up. The group of girls gasped as Honesty followed by Greyson stepped from the top of the stairs. Honesty stopped and glared at each girl in turn before excusing herself from Greyson’s presence and retired for the night. Greyson stood and watched until she was gone and then looked at the girls, noting who was present, and then he turned without a word and strolled away.

  Chapter 19

  Greyson had not followed her last night, even though he had wanted to with every fiber of his being. He wanted to snatch those girls bald. He knew the patterns. He had lived in the ton long enough to know that if you could not find something against someone you invented it. Greyson swallowed his anger.

  At breakfast when Honesty did not appear, he was not surprised. She may have the backbone to address insult at the source, but facing a whole house of backbiters first thing in the morning took more than even the bravest could manage. SarahBeth caught his eye. Hers filled with worry and concern. Greyson frowned and nodded. He should have realized that Teresa would have informed her first thing this morning.