Dusky Duke and the Gypsy Pirate Princess Read Online Free PDF Page B

bend. His heart beat faster as the coach drew nearer.  They had come.
    Greyson stood at the head of his phaeton as the coach rumbled closer. The two boys on top with the driver yelled a greeting as the coach rolled to a stop next to his. Then bodies seemed to tumble out of every portal, and soon eight grinning children and one frowning guardian stood before him.
    She raked her hair through her hair. “I am so sorry we are late.” She looked a bit hassled.
    Greyson realized that the task of arriving on time with eight children, even when several of them were older, would be a daunting goal.
    She continued. “We have not properly introduced ourselves. . . .”
    The older boys began. One started followed by the next. “Truth” “Justice” “Valor” “Courage“
    And then the girls started, “Victoria,” “Majesty” “Ability” “and the Baby is named Marine,” added Abby.
    “But we call him Blue,” added Maggie. And then the two younger girls nodded as what they said was of the uttermost importance.
    Greyson’s eyebrow went up as he silently added Honesty and Prudence, quite a collection of virtues.
    Greyson bowed to the crowd, “And you may call me, Grey.” He knew that as soon as they found out his true station, they would not be allowed to call him by his given name must less his nickname, but for now. He smiled at the Williams. “If you are agreeable, I thought the two older boys and the two younger girls might ride with me to the gardens, and then the next younger two boys and this young lady,” Grey indicated Victoria, “can ride back with me.” The group erupted with everyone talking. To Grey’s amazement, Honesty with one simple word bought them to order, and with one more simple order, they all scrambled to find places in the two coaches just as he had suggested.
    Grey climbed onto the driver’s seat, and smiled down at Abby, who was snuggled up to his side. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement.
    “True?” The oldest boy sat forward in anticipation. “And Just, right?” the other boy nodded. “Just, you hold onto your little sisters while True takes a turn at the reins.” The boy nodded vigorously and wrapped his arms around Abby and Maggie on Grey’s left. True sat on his right. Grey wrapped his arm around the young man’s shoulders and positioned the reins in his hands.
    “We are going to do this slowly, understand. If you cannot follow directions, you will lose your turn.”
    The young man nodded solemnly as Grey lightly tapped the reins to the back of his matched pair. The phaeton sprang forward. Grey held the reins around True’s hands and glanced at Abby worriedly as she bounced up and down in the seat next to him. “Sit still, young lady.” Grey instructed. Just glared at her. Abby calmed down to a little bounce.
    True did very well with the driving instructions and then Just took his turn while True handled the little girls. Soon they arrived at the entrance to Buckingham Palace. As the Williams reassembled and unloaded the picnic baskets from the back of the phantom. Greyson had a conversation with the guard master at the gate. The guards saluted as he strolled past with the Williams. Greyson smiled again, they did not have a clue that the reason they were allowed easy access was because he was a Buckingham.
    Once in the gardens, they shook out the picnic blankets and settled down in the grass. Greyson watched Honesty directing her siblings as fruits and chicken were passed around. He couldn’t remember a day he had enjoyed more.
    After an hour the baskets were repacked, and stored under a nearby tree. They moved to the center of the garden. A giant maze consisting of ten foot high hedgerows planted in wide pathways. “Remember if you get lost put your hand on the wall and don’t let go. You will eventually find your way out. Try not to get separated from us; we don’t want to have to hunt for you all night.”
    The Williams quickly divided; each older one taking