The smile fell away. “Daniel, I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I have not been entirely honest with you.”
“All right.” He was suddenly tense. “How about you clear that up now.”
“I…” Her words fell away as she looked over his shoulder. “I need to go, Daniel. Sorry, I, ah, just saw someone I must speak with.”
“Abby—” She turned away and headed left, weaving her way through the crowd, and he had no hope of reaching her with two small children to contend with. What had she wanted to tell him?
Chapter 8
“Women, Leo, are complex creatures.” Daniel headed to the sweets stall, pondering everything he knew about Abby, which wasn’t a great deal, and what she’d wanted to tell him.
I have not been entirely honest with you.
What could that mean? It couldn’t be good, he knew that much. But he also knew that whatever it was, it wouldn’t stop him from wanting her. Unless she was a princess, then he’d be annoyed. Or the daughter of a nobleman and her name was actually Lady Something-or-other. That wouldn’t be a good thing… in fact, it would be a bad thing. Also that was a great deal more than “I have not been entirely honest with you.” It was lying.
He purchased sweets for his niece and nephew, then made his way back to their parents while they consumed them, smearing a great deal over their faces.
“I won, Daniel!”
Sally was wearing a bonnet that seemed about ready to topple sideways. Flowers of every color were attached, and a small bird nestled in the crown. On her chest was pinned a pink rosette.
“Did you indeed? Congratulations.” He kissed her, the dutiful brother, and admired the bonnet. His family were all milling around looking at things, so they wouldn’t question him if he left, which he decided he must now do. “Excuse me a moment; I shall return shortly.”
“If you are about to buy more toffee, bring me back some,” Oliver said out the side of his mouth so Thea didn’t hear. “We shall be up there, seated under that tree, when you return.” He pointed to a small rise to their right, and then took Leo out of Daniel’s arms.
“I will get you some.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why would there be something wrong when all I have said is that I will get you some?” Daniel looked in the direction Abby had walked. Was she still here?
“You look agitated.” Oliver studied Daniel. “Off somehow.”
“I am not off.” His reply was testy. “You can’t know if I’m off by five words.”
“They were spoken tersely.” Oliver blocked his way.
Daniel simply stepped to the left and walked away; there was nothing to be gained by debating with any of his siblings if they believed he was hiding something from them. It would be long and fraught with aggravation, and he needed to find Abby and find out what she’d not been entirely honest about.
He looked at stalls, nodded to people, and purchased his brother’s toffee. Tucking it in his pocket, he headed to the path that led down to the small pond. He’d found her feeding the ducks in the park last time; perhaps she’d gone there now.
I have not been entirely honest with you. He had absolutely no idea what she had wanted to tell him but knew he did not want to wait until Tuesday to find out.
“Dillinger!”
Turning, he found the Deville brothers, all four of them, behind him. Spread out across the path, they had their legs braced and were blocking his return. Daniel wasn’t sure why, but suddenly the hair on the back of his neck rose. Their expressions were grim, which suggested this was not going to be a pleasant conversation. Searching his memory, he tried to find something in there that would indicate why they were angry with him.
Their business dealings had gone well. Thea had taken them to task, but he’d said very little, and surely they were not going to discuss that? The look in their eyes suggested this was a great deal more serious.
“Good afternoon.” He bowed, keeping his eyes on the brothers.
Large and menacing, they would intimidate most people. Daniel had been raised to look after himself as a child, and his brother had finished that education with lessons on how to fight dirty should it be required. Still, he wouldn’t win against four of them, and surely they would not be foolish enough to start something here, in the park, where so