She forced herself to meet the major’s gaze one last time.
She bit her lip to hold back the urge to weep at the thought that this might be the last time she looked into his eyes like this. “There is no need,” she said evenly. “There is nothing for us to discuss. I have no intention of marrying you, Major.” She hitched up her skirts, looking away like a coward before she could see his response. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
She was already heading toward the door and no one tried to stop her. Only silence followed her, but the moment she shut the door behind her she heard the voices start up at once.
She didn’t stick around to hear what they said. Her steps were far quicker than a proper lady’s ought to be as she made her way through the hallways, ignoring other guests as she headed toward the stairs leading to her rooms. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, her breath was coming in harsh gasps. She’d finally made it to the bottom of the staircase when Lily’s voice stopped her. “Abigail, wait.”
She wanted to ignore her old friend, but Lily always had been faster than her, and a second later the redhead was in front of her, blocking her path. “Let me pass,” she said through gritted teeth.
“No.” Lily’s chin was set in stubborn defiance but when Abigail dragged her gaze up to meet her former friend’s, she saw Lily’s lips part in shock at the unshed tears she surely saw there.
With a loud sigh, Lily took her not-so-gently by the arm. “Come with me.”
Abigail might have argued if only she wasn’t afraid that a sob would escape if she tried to speak. A moment later she found herself inside an empty music room and across from her was a frowning Lily.
Abigail groaned. She was not up for another battle with Lily. Not now. All she wanted was to cry her heart out, was that too much to ask? After all, it wasn’t every day she discovered that she was in love. And she certainly hoped being forced to reject the love of her life for his own good was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion because she knew without a doubt that she could never make such a choice again and live to tell about it.
Pain was gnawing at her insides, clawing at her chest. “What do you want?” she attempted to snap.
Lily’s brows drew together in a frown of irritation and maybe just a little concern as she eyed Abigail from head to toe. When she was done with her scrutiny, she pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “Was that the truth back there?”
Abigail blinked at the cold fury in her former friend’s tone, and the reminder of how she’d just rejected a proposal from the man she loved—oh heavens, she truly loved him—it was enough to make her swallow a sob. “I already made it clear I would not make Major Mayfield marry me in some misguided attempt to save me. What more do you want?”
Lily blinked, looking slightly puzzled before giving her head a little shake. “No. Sorry. Not that part. I meant…” She drew in a deep breath that made her chest swell and she dropped her crossed arms. “Did you mean it when you said you rejected Merrick for his brother because…” She wet her lips. “Because you knew he was meant for me?”
Abigail’s stomach plummeted. “Oh. That.”
Drat. How much had Lily overheard before they’d stormed in? Humiliation had her belly twisting in agony. How much had Alex heard? She squeezed her eyes shut. No wonder he’d come storming in to her defense. He’d no doubt heard her mother’s harsh words, and she knew for certain he’d heard her mother’s threats about choosing a husband for her.
Between that and their stolen kiss, she might as well have waved a handkerchief and shouted for a shining knight to come to her rescue. A noble man like Alex could never have resisted such a pathetic cause.
“Oh that?” Lily’s voice rose in outrage. “Is that all you have to say?”
Abigail stared at her friend. “Truly, Lily, I do not have the energy for yet another battle with you. We’ve been over all this before.”
She started to turn away, but Lily stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Oh no you don’t.”
Abigail stopped with a weary sigh.
“You did it on purpose,” Lily said, her tone filled with accusation. “You tossed over Merrick in favor of