A Hero for Lady Abigail (A Wallflower's Wish #5) - Maggie Dallen Page 0,13

quiet for so long that she forced herself to look back his way just to see what he was thinking. It was impossible to say.

“You don’t need to justify anything to anyone,” he said. “But if you’re truly sorry about any of your past words or deeds, perhaps it is time to change course.”

His words struck her somewhere between her ribs and her throat. They seemed to lodge there, not letting her speak. No one talked to her like this. No one, but certainly not an eligible young man.

Her mother’s fake laughter beside them brought her back to the moment. Back to herself. She forced a sunny smile. “Perhaps you are right. Which is why you’ll be happy to hear that I meant what I said. I’m here to help you.” She glanced meaningfully toward Charlotte who was sneaking glances in their direction as well.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

She smiled and adopted the bravado tone that made gentlemen grin even as they shook their head. “Do you know the most glorious thing about being me, Major Mayfield?”

He arched his brows. “What’s that?”

She leaned in just a hair too close for propriety’s sake and tapped him playfully with her fan. “Everyone wants what I have.”

His brows drew together, first in confusion and then in consternation. “You cannot mean…”

But before he could finish, he was glancing over to see a clearly curious Charlotte staring right back.

Abigail watched him, noting with amusement and a pang of something bittersweet the way he gulped helplessly in the face of Charlotte’s sudden interest. He turned back to her with a clearing of his throat. “And I suppose you mean to tell me that you’re here to help me out of the goodness of your heart?”

She laughed. “Of course not. I have as much need of this ruse as you do.” She laughed again, this time a little louder than necessary as she touched his arm again.

He looked down at her hand on his arm. “This ruse of yours...does it often get you what you want?”

Never. “Almost always. And this time it’s about to benefit you.”

He opened his mouth to retort but they were interrupted by—no surprise at all—Charlotte and her mother. Lady Ainsworth was quick to make the introductions and Abigail tried not to sneer as Charlotte simpered and fluttered her lashes as she curtseyed.

Soon enough, however, Charlotte turned to Abigail. “Lady Abigail, what a delightful surprise. I did not think you’d wish to join us here today.”

The gleam in her eyes had Abigail’s belly knotting in anticipation.

Charlotte’s eyes widened with feigned concern and she lowered her voice, but not so much that everyone around them could not hear. “Lord and Lady Merrick are expected to attend.” She winced as if in sympathy. “I thought perhaps you’d rather not see them, given your history.”

Abigail’s blood ran cold, though she’d steeled her expression well enough to hide it. That tight, knotted sensation sank into the pit of her stomach as she glanced over at Major Mayfield. Had he heard about her history with Lily? The way she’d treated her friend so horribly that first season just so that she could shine? Or worse, had he heard about her disastrous courtship with Merrick and the way she’d dropped him in favor of his brother?

Don’t believe everything you hear, she wanted to tell him. There is more to the story.

But she couldn’t tell from his expression whether Charlotte’s words meant anything to him or not. And even if they did, he’d no doubt believe the sordid tale. Everyone else did. And why shouldn’t he?

She’d given no one, least of all him, any reason to believe that she was anything other than her mother’s daughter.

5

Alex looked between the two women, his brow furrowing the smallest bit. Was it his imagination or was Charlotte making Abigail uncomfortable?

The brunette’s expression was so simply demure that he could hardly believe Charlotte had been intentional in her barbs, but he could feel Abigail shift next to him, her chin dropping the tiniest bit. The part of him that wanted to rush in and protect had the urge to step in front of Abigail and shield her from...from the woman he intended to court.

He gave himself a mental shake. Perhaps Max had good cause to be concerned, after all. Abigail was clearly working her way into his thoughts and planting little seeds of doubt into his plans.

He straightened.

He didn’t allow anyone to distract him when he had a mission.

Miss Charlotte cleared her throat. “But