A Hero for Lady Abigail (A Wallflower's Wish #5) - Maggie Dallen Page 0,34

Yes. But will you paint her as a villain for the rest of her life?”

Max didn’t reply, but his silence and the way his head bowed, spoke volumes.

But Alex wasn’t done. “As I have spent a great deal of time speaking with Abigail, I can tell you that I know her nature far better than you.”

Max grimaced, his fingers scratching at his jaw. “You’re right.”

Alex sat back, not expecting the words from Max. “I’m right?”

“Yes. And if you really think she is a woman of substance, I’ll support you. But I do warn you, this is going to make next Christmastide rather difficult. To think of Abigail joining our circle…”

Alex grinned, his chin tucking down. Because the very idea of being with Abigail at Christmastide, of building a life together... “Oh, how tongues would wag.”

Max chuckled. “That would be rather fun.”

“It would.” Alex stood again, this time far slower and without irritation.

Max stood too. “You know your own mind then.”

“I do.” And he also had a pretty good idea of Abigail’s too. And if he wasn’t mistaken, he’d upset her with that kiss. She was right, he should have waited until it had been completely clear that he and Charlotte were done and that his interest was only in Abigail. That was his mistake and one he intended to correct post haste. “If you would excuse me, I really do have another appointment.”

Max nodded. “Go. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Alex turned and left the room, intent upon reaching the library before everyone gathered in the salon. He was running out of time as he heard the clock strike seven from somewhere in the foyer. He’d asked for this meeting and if he didn’t arrive—

But he hadn’t made it a few steps down the hall when he was accosted by more well-intentioned friends. For which he had almost no patience left.

But as Marigold and Lily fell into step on either side of him, he was forced to slow his pace. “Ladies, whatever you wish to speak with me about, can it wait? I’m already late.”

“It can’t,” Lily replied, never one to mince words.

“Lily,” Marigold soothed, her voice gentle. “We promised to be delicate.”

“Then I must delicately suggest that Major Mayfield stop and listen to us rather than rushing off to wherever he is going.”

His eyebrows lifted as he assessed the red-haired beauty. She and Abigail as friends must have been a force to be reckoned with. “Or perhaps,” he replied. “You should make an appointment for which I will do my absolute best not to be late.”

Marigold made a squeak, letting him know that he’d surprised her. He knew he wasn’t acting like his usual self, but he had no patience left for words spoken against Abigail. Because that was surely what this ambush was about.

Lily sniffed. “Fair point. How about we walk with you, doing our absolute best to keep up?”

It was a compromise he appreciated but if he were being honest, he didn’t want to hear what they had to say. “Fine. But as a gentleman, I warn you, if you’re here to sway me against Abigail then you’re wasting your breath in the walking and the talking.”

“I’m not,” Marigold touched his arm. “Here to sway you against her.”

“You’re not?” came Lily’s incredulous reply.

“I’m not,” Marigold straightened.

Alex stopped again, his attention focused on Marigold’s chocolate brown gaze. “Really?”

“Really.” Marigold reached for his hand, pulling him to move again. “I won’t bore you with the details, but I happen to know for a fact that she cares for you so deeply, she’ll even let you go because she thinks it’s best for you.”

Pride and something else swelled in his chest. What was that sweet emotion, filling him, making him feel lighter? Like a flash, he realized it was love. Pure and sweet. The realization stole his breath and drew in a heavy gulp of air as he looked down at Marigold. “Did she tell you that?”

Lily made a snorting noise of dissent. “Oh please. This is Abigail we’re talking about. Of all the shallow, hateful, mean debutantes—”

“Lily,” he interrupted, once again delivering the same message he’d given to Max. “You speak with such charity, clearly you are a much better person than she.”

Lily’s face turned a shade of red that matched her hair. He winced to know that his blow had hit its mark so completely. It wasn’t a role he relished but he could not listen to her denigrate Abigail. “I know you’re likely angry at me, and later