He spoke in the same slow, steady manner as his brother.
“I fail to see why anyone would have an issue, but you are to be commended for doing this for her, Mr. Dillinger, if you do not enjoy these affairs.”
“I’m not entirely sure I do not enjoy them—after all, I have friends with lofty titles—but there are those that would struggle with the son of a coal miner in their presence.”
“I understand, and many cling to the belief that unless the blood in your veins flows blue then you are unworthy.”
“Aptly put, my lady.”
“But I don’t believe that is all of society, Mr. Dillinger. Some are trying to move with the changes that are so obviously happening around them.”
“My wife often accuses me of reverse snobbery. She says that I hold my birth close and trot it out when required, usually when I am faced with one of those who think me beneath them.”
Your brothers would never allow you to associate with a man such as myself. She remembered the words Daniel had spoken to her.
“There are some aspects of society I enjoy, Mr. Dillinger, and many I do not.”
He thought about that, his head tilting slightly, and she realized she’d seen Daniel do that.
“I understand you know my brother, Lady Abigail?”
She knew he couldn’t read her thoughts, but still it was unnerving to have the words spoken when she’d just been thinking about Daniel.
“I do. We have met a few times.”
“I am glad to see you have no ill effects after the last encounter. I understand my brother came to your aid. It’s my hope that whoever was responsible for the scare you received will be caught soon.”
“My brothers will ensure he is, Mr. Dillinger.”
His laugh was more a soft chuckle. “Don’t be too hard on them, my lady. They love you, and protection is their way of showing that.”
“And yet they threatened your brother.”
“Yes, I am not pleased about that, but I do understand their reasoning, even if I don’t like it. I have many siblings. Several of those are sisters.”
“My brothers can sometimes also be fools, Mr. Dillinger. I’m sorry for their behavior. I will make it clear that they must not confront your brother again.”
“Daniel is more than capable of taking care of himself. He did for many years after I left him, and he has continued to do so. Not many could challenge and win against him.” She heard the pride in his voice.
“I have four large brothers, sir.”
“We are also large, Lady Abigail.”
He had a point there. The silence that settled between them after those words was not uncomfortable.
“Where did you leave him?” She had no right to pry but asked the question anyway. It was likely she would have no future chance to find out information about the man who intrigued her, so she’d take this moment to do so.
“We were parted for many years when I left our home to go to London. When I returned, he’d grown into a man at the age of sixteen. In fact, he was unrecognizable.”
“I am glad you were reunited. It is very hard to live without family. My brothers may be extremely annoying and overprotective, but I would not like to be without them in my life.”
“I am glad that I reunited with them also. Although I am unsure if Daniel has ever really forgiven me.” The words were solemn.
This was one of those moments shared with a person you were unlikely to speak with again. A single stolen moment in time when you felt a connection with a person that would pass, and both parties would move on.
“Have you asked him?”
His laugh was dry. “Getting information out of my brother when he has no wish to give it is like moving a mountain, my lady. He is the Dillinger who holds everything inside him. There is no better man, I assure you, and yet he does not share his emotions freely.”
She didn’t know why he was telling her these things, but Abby was glad of it.
“Will you tell me of your family, Mr. Dillinger?” She could not continue to pry about Daniel, as surely that would raise questions, but she could learn about the rest of his family, and that would have to be enough.
She sat in the shadows beside him and listened to him talk with obvious love about the people in his life. It was perhaps the highlight of the evening, and it wasn’t until she was alone in her bed later that night that she stopped to wonder again why he had been so happy to share these insights with her. As no reason was forthcoming, she closed her eyes and fell asleep with the memory of Daniel once again inside her head.
Chapter 18
His sleep had been disrupted yet again by Abby. Visions of that knife and what it could have done to her had him waking in a cold sweat. He’d risen early, unable to sleep, and worked on the files he’d brought home. It hadn’t helped.
She could never be anything to him… which was a lie, as she was already so much. He’d never wanted anything quite as much as he wanted her.
“And yet you will never have her,” he reminded himself as he walked up the steps to his brother and sister-in-law’s home at midday. He’d had setbacks in his lifetime before; this was just another and in time would pass.
Feeling bolstered by these thoughts, he knocked on the wooden front door.
Large, impressive, and grand on every level, his brother had bought it many years ago as a statement. He’d wanted people to know he was wealthy. That a coal miner’s son could achieve the same as those born into wealth. It was now a home filled with love… but still grand.
“Good day to you, Elliot,” Daniel said to
