Page 35 of Scoundrel for Sale
Then, all at once, he surged forward, catching Gabe in a bear hug, right in the middle of the hallway of Westminster Hall in front of several dozen shocked witnesses.
“Thank you,” he said into Gabe’s cravat. “Thank you, on behalf of the entire de Noronha family, and from the bottom of my heart.”
Gabe was stuck, obviously uncomfortable, but unable to extract himself without manhandling an eighty-year-old man. “Oh, er, it was nothing, sir,” he said in Portuguese, trying to gently loosen Mr. de Noronha’s grip on his jacket.
“Nothing!” Mr. de Noronha relaxed just enough to stare up at Gabe incredulously. “I would not call saving the life of my only surviving grandson nothing!”
“It’s—it’s quite all right,” Gabe muttered.
“Seven grandsons, I once had!” Mr. de Noronha continued, oblivious to Gabe’s discomfort. “Seven! All of them proudly volunteered to protect their country. One by one, they were cut down by the madman Bonaparte, until my Tiago was the only one left. Then I come to find out that he would have suffered the same fate, were it not for you! You are the reason my family’s name will continue!” He squeezed Gabe even tighter. “Ever since we learned what you did for our Tiago, we have prayed for you. Yes, every single day, the entire de Noronha family prays for our heavenly Father to bless and watch over our dear friend Lieutenant Davenport.”
“I’m sure I need it,” Gabe said. “Thank you.”
“Come, Avô,” Tiago said, smoothly extracting his grandfather from around Gabe’s waist. “I know you are overjoyed to meet Lieutenant Davenport. But we must not embarrass him. You know how stilted the English are about these things.”
“Ah, of course,” Mr. de Noronha said, straightening his jacket. “My apologies, Lieutenant.”
“Not at all, sir,” Gabe hastened to say.
Tiago gestured to Abbie. “You will also want to meet Abigail Davies. Like Carlotta, she is a dowager Lady Dulson. She is the one who found your sister’s diary, as well as the marriage contract, in the dower house.”
Your sister’s diary. The hope that had been budding in her chest ever since Tiago came striding down the hall burst into bloom. “Mr. de Noronha,” Abbie said in Portuguese, “what a pleasure. I can hardly believe my ears. Are you truly Carlotta’s brother?”
“I am,” Mr. de Noronha said. He started to reach for Abbie’s hands but stopped himself with a chuckle. “I know it is not the done thing here. But we are almost as grateful to you as we are to Lieutenant Davenport there.”
It was Abbie who took his hand, pressing it in both of hers. “Not half so grateful as I am to see you.”
His eyes were bright as he laughed. “It is not possible. You see, the lands my father granted to Carlotta were right in the heart of the de Noronha vineyard. He intended that her children would always have ties to our lands, and to our family. That they would not become strangers to us.” He shook his head. “Those lands were not given lightly. Nothing is more important to us than family, you see. So to have them stolen from us by this Baron Dulson, who was so callous toward my sister, and who had no interest in being a part of our family, has been like a wound upon my heart for all these years.”
“Oh, this is too wonderful,” Abbie said. “I knew there had to be a reason I was holding out.”
Mr. de Noronha tilted his head to the side. “Holding out? What do you mean, holding out?”
She quickly filled them in on Nigel’s scheme to force her to give up her copy of the marriage contract. Both Tiago and his grandfather were outraged on her behalf.
“Please, do not distress yourself,” Abbie begged. “For the first time in so long, I believe that everything will be all right. Now that you are here, my hopes are rekindled.”
Just then, Mr. Vickery approached. “Ah, Lady Dulson, there you are.” He stopped short, noticing her companions.
“Mr. Vickery, you will not believe the good news!” Abbie quickly introduced Gabe, Tiago, and Mr. de Noronha, and explained how they had come to be there.
Mr. Vickery’s body sagged. “Thank God. My lady, given this change in circumstances, I think the time has come to reveal the true reason Nigel is pursuing this suit against you. Would you agree?”
“I would,” Abbie said.
“Good,” Mr. Vickery said. “Gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to accompany me, I believe we are next on Judge Waring’s docket.”
No sooner had they queued up outside the door than it swung open.
And out strode the Duke of Wellington.
Gabe and Tiago both snapped to attention at the sight of their former battlefield commander. The duke jerked back in surprise, but then his face split into a grin. “De Noronha. Fairbourne. What the devil are you two doing here?”
“Fairbourne?” Tiago cut his eyes to Gabe. “Since when are you called Fairbourne?”
“He just inherited his great-uncle’s title,” the duke explained. “Our humble lieutenant is now a viscount.”
“You did not tell me this,” Tiago said.
