A Hero for Lady Abigail (A Wallflower's Wish #5) - Maggie Dallen Page 0,30

in place. She could feel Alex’s eyes on her, but she kept her smile aimed at their host and hostess who were now staring at her like she was a viper about to strike. “If you’ll excuse me…”

She turned back to her horse, but Alex caught her arm. “Don’t go just yet,” he murmured.

She spoke to him through that frozen smile. Afraid that if she let it go she’d never be able to summon it again. Terrified that if she let her emotions off the tight leash she was holding, she’d lose her composure entirely. “I hardly think you need my assistance delivering the cloak, Major.”

“Abigail—”

“You’d best hurry, Major Mayfield.” She kept her voice loud enough for the others to hear.

Now that her mind was functioning again, it was working hard to make up for lost time. Each realization was worse than the last and if Alex didn’t let her ride off soon, she would very definitely lose her composure.

As it was, her hands on the reins shook as she accepted his assistance back into the saddle. How much had Lord Arundel and his wife seen? What must they be thinking? Why had he kissed her?

Or had it been she who kissed him? She couldn’t remember now who had leaned in first and a panicky sensation in her chest made it hard to catch her breath.

“Abigail?” His voice was soft, the question clear. “Are you all right?”

But what could she say? No? She was all too aware of their audience, and no matter which way she turned this in her mind, it always looked the same.

Their hosts must have known they’d shared a kiss—an intimate moment, at the very least. All while he was supposed to be escorting another young lady. A good, proper girl who Alex intended to court. Even now she could hear them talking softly to one another.

It didn’t take much imagination to know what they were saying.

He wasn’t hers. He was meant for another. And the manipulative, beastly Lady Abigail had come along and snared him.

Her heart gave a violent kick, and her inhale was embarrassingly audible as she gasped for air. She needed space. Distance. If she was going to sort this out, she needed to get far, far away from the confusing presence of Major Mayfield. Alex.

“Abigail, please, don’t rush off. Let me deliver the cloak and then—”

“I will not sit here and wait for you,” she said in a low voice. “It’s bad enough that they think I—that we—that you—”

“That I kissed you?” He leaned forward until his face was directly underneath hers so she was forced to meet his gaze. His warm, wonderful, laughing gaze. “I can think of worse fates.”

“Yes, well, you’re a man,” she said. Her voice sounded hard and cold. It was this or fall apart weeping and she was not one to weep. Ever. Lady Abigail did not cry.

“I’ll explain matters to them,” he said, his voice growing more gentle, which only made her want to cry that much more. “You have nothing to fear.”

“How shall you explain that the dreadful, manipulative duke’s daughter kissed you while you were off being the gallant knight for a damsel in distress?”

“Abigail.” His voice hitched with laughter and his tone was gently chiding. “It’s not like that and you know it.”

Do I? She looked away. This conversation would do no good. It changed nothing. Appearances aside, her insides twisted mercilessly every time she thought of the fact that he was courting another.

She might have her faults—all right, fine, she had many. But stealing other ladies’ suitors was not one of them. She swallowed as she looked down at her still-shaking hands. Or it hadn’t been until just now.

“Abigail, please, about Charlotte—”

“Alex, shall we take the cloak back to Miss Charlotte for you?” Marigold called out. “It seems we’re interrupting and—”

“You are not interrupting,” she said, far harsher than intended. All three of them blinked at her in surprise.

She supposed the sweet, kind, mousy Marigold didn’t get snapped at often.

One more strike against Lady Abigail.

“I’ll be off,” she said, speaking loudly enough for all to hear. “Major, you’d best get that cloak to Miss Charlotte. She’s waiting on you.”

He opened his mouth as if to protest but one look at her expression had him nodding. He lowered his voice for only her to hear. “We need to finish this conversation, Abigail. Meet me later. Please.”

She drew in a deep breath, her insides trembling as badly as her hands.

“Please,” he said again.

She felt