why. He could be no more pleased about what had happened than she was. It was a nightmare for both of them.
“Lady Hartfortshire was very…insistent about telling the world she’d walked in on you and Gilmore in a delicate position,” Pippa said gently. “Though I do have to say the Duchess of Abernathe did try to stop her. She apologized profusely to Celeste and me when we spoke to her.”
“Oh God.” Abigail covered her face with her hands. “It was bad enough before. I was barely acknowledged because of Erasmus and his bad behavior, and I was fine with that. I knew it would be that way. But now it’s my behavior they’re judging. What if it hurts you and Rhys, Pippa? What if it hurts Gilmore?”
“All of us are only concerned about you,” Rhys said as he pushed to his feet and paced across the room.
“How can you not acknowledge that you could be damaged by this?” Abigail asked him.
“I’m damaged enough, my dear.” He shrugged. “It was not your doing. And at any rate, I may not be in as poor a position as I thought. Gilmore’s loyalty has an enormous impact. And, ironically, I was approached by another person last night. The Duke of Abernathe was speaking to me before the incident, and this morning Pippa and I received an invitation to some huge soiree he and the duchess are throwing. So whatever you did didn’t hurt me, I assure you.”
She felt a little tension leave her. “Well, at least I am happy about that. I suppose the answer to the problem is very obvious, though.”
“Indeed, it is,” Nathan said softly.
“I will just…go back into seclusion,” she said.
Everyone in the room stared at her until she shifted beneath the weight of their gazes. Rhys was the one that moved toward her, an expression close to pity in his eyes. “I don’t think that’s the solution, Abigail.”
She stared at him, and his words became clear. “Are you…are you talking about me marrying Gilmore?” She pivoted toward him and saw that he was not reacting with shock or anger or distress at the idea. His expression was entirely unreadable. “We despise each other!” she snapped, and then faced the room again. “He certainly doesn’t want me.”
“I think we’ve established that is decidedly untrue,” Nathan said gently.
She got up and backed away, her gaze still on him. He couldn’t mean that. He couldn’t want this. This couldn’t be happening at all.
He stood, a slow and graceful unfolding of limbs, and cleared his throat. “I appreciate the kind support from everyone, but I think Abigail and I need a moment alone.”
Her hands began to shake at her sides. This was a dream, it had to be. Or a nightmare. And yet it seemed to actually be happening. Nathan really was staring at her, his dark eyes holding hers steady, no question within them…but also no affection. No emotion that she could discern at all.
“Is that really a good idea?” Rhys asked, stepping up to Abigail’s side. “I stand as family to Abigail, and I think it might be best if we—”
“Please,” he said, sharply and firmly. “Please.”
Rhys sighed and looked at her. “Is that what you want?”
“It seems we have a great deal to discuss, and yes, perhaps that would be easier with just the two of us.” A shiver worked through her and she tried to ignore it. She turned to Rhys and took his hand. “Thank you, though, for acting as my brother in this matter.”
“I’ll always be your brother,” he said, squeezing her hand, and then motioned to the door. “Come.”
“There is such a pretty view of the park from the back terrace,” Pippa said as they exited as a group. “I think that would be the best place to wait.”
As the door shut behind them, Abigail flinched. She turned away from Nathan, staring out at the street below and wishing she could run away down it and never return. He was silent as she did so, and finally she shook her head.
“You don’t want to marry me.”
He moved to stand beside her, though he didn’t touch her or look at her. He cleared his throat. “I think the feeling is mutual, isn’t it?”
She glanced in his direction, her mind taking her back, once more, to the moment when he’d dragged her down on the settee and pleasured her. “I…suppose.”
“You suppose?” he repeated, and chuckled lightly as he faced her, arms crossed against his chest. “You’ve spent a