A Hero for Lady Abigail (A Wallflower's Wish #5) - Maggie Dallen Page 0,14
perhaps they’ll leave early. Many of the guests here at the picnic are on their way to Lord and Lady Arundel’s home for a brief repose from London.”
“I received an invitation as well.” Abigail notched her chin.
“Did you?” Charlotte asked, giving the smallest smirk. “I’m so glad they still include you.”
Alex straightened, resisting the urge to once again step in front of Abigail. Not that she needed rescuing. If any woman could care for herself, it was this one.
“I’m glad too,” Abigail answered, her voice as pleasant as if they were discussing the weather. “They are a wonderful group of ladies.”
“You used to be friends with the duchess, didn’t you?”
Alex cleared his throat. Though Abigail didn’t need his saving, he couldn't help but step in. “Will you be there, Miss Charlotte?”
“I will.” She smiled at him. “And yourself?”
“Yes,” he answered, his brow furrowing. Visiting with Max and Marigold would be wonderful, of course. But there was just a little niggle of doubt about his plan to court Charlotte.
“Perhaps we could stroll about the pond and discuss the party,” Charlotte gave him a hopeful smile even as her mother grimaced, poking her daughter discreetly in the ribs. Charlotte, however, was distracted long enough for Abigail to snap open her fan and whisper from behind its folds. “Say no.”
For a second, he looked at her, completely perplexed. Why would he say no to such an invitation? It was the one he’d been hoping for. But then again, he somehow trusted Abigail to understand this situation better than he himself did. Which struck him as completely odd. When had that happened? “I do apologize, Miss Charlotte, but I am travelling with Lord and Lady Arundel and I must depart the picnic momentarily.”
Charlotte’s mouth turned down, her shoulders slumping for a moment before she perked back up again. “But we shall have plenty of time together this weekend.”
“Indeed,” he answered, giving a final bow as Miss Charlotte departed with her mother. He turned to look at the maven on his other side. Abigail wore a smug smile. “Do you mind telling me why I just denied the very woman I am trying to pursue?”
Her grin widened. “Don’t you know? She wants you even more for the rejection.” She tapped him playfully with her fan. “When it comes to courtship, it’s all about strategy and tactics. You should understand that well, Major.”
His lips parted in surprise as he recognized the truth in her words. He only just stifled a laugh. “I suspect you are quite lethal on this front, Lady Abigail. The French would quake in their boots if they saw you coming.”
Her eyes twinkled at that. “I’ll take that as a compliment. And…” She tilted her head just a touch closer, close enough that he caught her floral scent. “You really ought to consider the arrangement I suggested earlier. We could help one another.”
He had no doubt that was true. But something in the offer felt...dishonest. “I’m sorry, my lady, but I’ll have to refuse. Charlotte will like me for my own merits or not at all.”
She gave him a long look, her gaze penetrating until she finally spoke. “Major Mayfield, you might be one of the finest men I have ever met.”
And with that, she turned away and collected her mother. He watched them depart the picnic, their heads huddled together. He saw the footman hand them in, the carriage door close, and he continued to stare until the vehicle was gone. Her parting words stuck with him long after that.
He hadn’t a clue where Charlotte had gone, but he didn’t search the crowd for her as he made his way to his hack.
The next day he stood on the drive at Max and Marigold’s estate as they greeted guest after guest. They’d been at it nearly an hour when they finally had a break in the carriage line.
“That’s the trouble with living so close to London,” Max grumbled. “Everyone accepts.”
Marigold gave her a husband a sympathetic smile. “Of the two of us, I’m supposed to be the shy one.”
Max placed an arm about his wife’s waist. “You’re doing marvelously as a marchioness, but truly, I won’t mind if we don’t host elaborate parties.”
She gave her husband a sideways glance. “Noted. Truly, I wanted this to be a small event but every person you invite, you worry that you might be snubbing someone else. And then, next thing I knew, the guest list had grown by leaps and bounds.”
Even Alex had to smile