He kept his eyes on her as he moved closer, almost like she was pulling him toward her, which was foolish, but he couldn’t seem to either look away or move in the opposite direction. She had yet to see him. Would she feel the same way? They’d shared a connection; he was sure of it.
“Excuse me.” He passed an elderly couple who were attempting to spin in a circle with arms entwined, then a young man who was dancing a jig.
“More!” The crowd roared as the song stopped. Abby clutched her hands to her chest, and Daniel just bet she sighed. He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face at seeing her again.
“Mr. Dillinger!”
“Toddy.” He acknowledged the man to his right and the others with him, reluctantly dragging his eyes from her. They worked for Daniel’s family often on building projects. “Are you enjoying the performance?”
“We are. Will you sit?”
“I’ll just stand at the rear as I cannot stay long, but thank you all the same, Toddy.”
He heard Toddy say Daniel was a good fair man for one of his standing, and it almost made him laugh, but he swallowed it down. When you were a coal miner’s son, you didn’t have “standing,” but you straddled several different worlds as if they were made of broken glass, fearing at any time you may slip. You also didn’t always fight fair to get to where you wanted to be, like a gentleman would.
Before he could reach Abby, a man approached her. His hands gripped her waist. A beau, perhaps? The thought was not a happy one. Looking at her face, he revised that. She wasn’t pleased to be in his clutches. Daniel’s anger was swift. Lowering his drink to the nearest table, he moved closer.
“Unhand me at once, sir!” Even in anger, her voice was like his sister-in-law’s, who was the daughter of a duke. That too had intrigued him. Why did she speak like nobility?
“Come and dance with me.” The man was pulling her off the chair. Abby was struggling to get his hands off her. “I like a snooty woman in my arms.”
“No!”
No one was looking their way, even though Abby had raised her voice. Those nearby were caught up in the entertainment and likely the alcohol they’d consumed.
“Aw, come on now. I just want to dance with you, and maybe a wee kiss.”
“No!” She was struggling.
“Remove your hands,” Daniel said, reaching the man’s side. He carried more weight, but that was mainly in his belly. Daniel was taller and fitter.
“Daniel!” He didn’t look at Abby as she said his name. Never turn away from your enemy. He’d learned that lesson early in life.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” The man glared at him.
“The lady would like you to release her. Do it now, or I will make you.” Daniel pitched his voice so the man could hear, but he kept calm.
“This isn’t your business. Me and her, we’re going to dance.”
“I don’t want to dance with you. Unhand me.” Abby pushed against the man’s shoulders. He didn’t release her, and Daniel’s anger turned to rage that the man was upsetting her.
“Unhand her now.”
“Get lost.”
He didn’t want to make a scene, because it was likely others would join in, and he had no wish for a brawl to erupt in here. People would get hurt and Gus’s interior damaged.
“We can do this here, or outside, but you will release her, either alone or by my hand.”
The man let her go and faced him, leaning in, trying to intimidate Daniel. If only this man knew who his brother was, he’d understand any form of intimidation was useless.
“Make me.”
“Outside then.” Daniel nodded toward the door.
The man jutted out his jaw, unwilling to leave yet happy to start something. Sighing, Daniel punched him hard in the jaw. The man swayed. Daniel caught his arm, lowering him to the floor where he could rest against the wall.
“Oh, dear.”
He looked up at Abby. She didn’t look hysterical, just mildly concerned. Clearly it took a great deal to fluster her, which Daniel found he liked.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, but I fear it was necessary, as he would have made a scene, and with so many people in here that could have been disastrous.”
“I understand. Will he be all right?” She was peering down at the still man.
He’d thought his memories of her inflated; he knew now they didn’t do her justice. She was beautiful with her dark hair and bluebell-colored eyes. At least he thought they were blue; it was hard to tell in here. She wore a cream dress that had small lavender knots all over it, and a cream ribbon secured the end of her braid.
Lush, he thought, running his eyes over the curves he could see. A bewitching angel with long lashes and an enticing upper lip that begged to be kissed.
“Are you all right, Abby?”
“I am, thank you. I was about to kick him when you arrived.”
“Were you? I’m sorry I missed that.”
She smiled, and it added so much more to an already sweet face. “My brothers have taught me to look after myself.”
“Excellent. He will wake soon and not be pleased, so I think it prudent you leave here at once.” Daniel held out a hand to help her off the chair.
“Oh, but there is still another set to go, and I so rarely get to see or hear Eros play.”
“I believe last time we ascertained you are one of his besotted admirers?”
“Indeed I am.” Her smile flashed white teeth. “He is an amazing talent, as you very well know because you said as much.”
“I was trying to impress you,” Daniel drawled.
“Surely not.” She was teasing him. “He is extremely
