A Hero for Lady Abigail (A Wallflower's Wish #5) - Maggie Dallen Page 0,33

people he called his friends.

All right, perhaps that was a bit dramatic, but then again Max still had yet to speak a word. “I’ve another appointment,” Alex said, preparing to rise.

Max’s brow furrowed as Alex stood. “But we’ve yet to discuss anything. Sit.”

“Why don’t you tell me what this is about?” Alex crossed his arms, widening his stance.

Max stood too. “It’s about how you’re being led astray by a—”

Alex’s chest swelled. “You’d best choose your next word very carefully.”

Max stopped, his head cocking to the side as he studied his friend. “I think perhaps we should start this conversation over.”

“I’m not sure we need to have it at all.” Alex countered. “Hence my initial silence.”

Max cleared his throat, his hands splaying out in front of him. “Do you remember the weekend I met Marigold?”

“Of course.” Alex relaxed a bit remembering how hardheaded his friend had been. He’d resisted his feelings for Marigold, refusing to change course and insisting he was not ready to marry. In the end, it had been Alex who’d nudged his friend in the right direction.

“Then you remember that you helped me see that Marigold was the right woman for me?”

“I remember.” His arms fell to his sides, the memories easing much of the tension between them.

“Then you also might acknowledge that I have nothing but your best interests at heart?” Max gestured for Alex to sit again.

He did as his friend requested but his mouth set in a hard line. “It’s not me I’m concerned about.”

Max grimaced. “I’m beginning to understand. But perhaps you could tell me what has transpired to change your mind so completely. Because last I remember, you were intent upon courting Miss Charlotte.”

“I was.” Alex swiped a hand across his forehead. He didn’t want to have this conversation now. He was due in the library in just a few minutes and he didn’t wish to be late. “But then I actually met her.”

Max’s mouth dropped open for a moment before he snapped it shut. “I see.”

Alex shook his head as he scrubbed the back of his neck. “I thought that I wanted a woman who was predictable. Meek, even. One who would bring quiet and peace into my life and help my heart and head to heal after the war but...”

Max leaned forward on his elbows. “You were looking for a woman who was boring?”

That made Alex smile. Leave it to Max to speak so plainly. “Maybe.”

Max grimaced. “Abigail is never boring, I’ll give you that.”

“No. She isn’t. But it’s more than that, Max. What I realized about my interest in Charlotte was that I was looking for a woman who was safe, not one whom I actually cared about. And while I thought I needed security, what I was actually craving was…” He searched for the right word.

“Are you going to say excitement?” his impatient friend cut in. “Because if you were, is it possible that Abigail is equally detrimental, just in the completely opposite direction of Charlotte?”

Alex spread his hands before him on the desk. “It’s more than excitement. She makes me feel… lighter. Alive. Happy. Ready to live life again.”

“Abigail?” Max asked, his incredulous tone making Alex bristle again.

He straightened. “Since we began talking about your courtship with Marigold, let me remind you that I never once told you whom you should or should not have feelings for. I simply asked your future wife to dance, sparking your natural jealousy.”

Max had the decency to wince. “I understand your point. But it’s just that Abigail is so…”

Alex’s teeth clenched. “I heard Marigold’s story. She acted as most debutantes would.”

Max shook his head. “She turned on Lily when Lily needed her most. If I’m honest, I’m afraid she would do the same to you.”

Alex paused, one of his hands gripping the arm of the chair he sat in. “Max.” he let out a long breath, attempting to keep his calm. He knew his friend wanted to look after him, but he was being completely unfair. “I know that you have done things in your past that filled you with regret.”

“You know that I did.” Max’s voice was laced with pain. “There is much, especially with my father, that I wish I could do over.”

“I understand. And I honestly think you should understand that it is unfair to judge Abigail based on one event of wrongdoing that happened years ago. We grow, we change, we learn from our pasts and we hopefully become people of substance. She made an error in judgment.