“I know it’s not the done thing to maim anyone intentionally, especially not those carrying your blood, Dimity, but at this moment if Gabe walked into this room, I would likely do something rash.”
Dimity regained her feet and locked the door. “That solves that problem. The idiot will not break the door down and is likely scrambling what few wits he has to try to talk his way out of the mess he and those other fools have created.”
Abby took another sip, this one bigger than the last. She didn’t start talking until she’d reached the bottom of her first glass. Granted, it was small, but still, Abby was not one for large quantities of alcohol like her brothers, so it did not take a great deal to make her light-headed.
“I know I have not behaved as I should to Daniel, Dimity, and I have apologized to him for that. But what my brothers have done is completely unforgiveable. How could they?” Her friend stayed silent, simply sipping from her glass and staring into the fire
It was a skill to be silent. Abby had never really conquered it. She suspected Daniel had. How was he?
She still couldn’t believe he was here. Why was he here? Seeing him ill like that had nearly broken her heart. If she’d doubted that what she felt for him was a powerful emotion, seeing him vulnerable had certainly cleared that up.
Is it love? Could it be so after such a short amount of time? Surely not.
“They love you, and in their foolish little minds, saying what they did is keeping you safe. Plus, I doubt they thought you would ever find out. Taking you to Devon so soon after they spoke to Daniel’s brother took care of that, or so they believed.”
“Safe from who?” Abby grabbed the bottle and refilled her glass. Her head was feeling pleasantly light now. Had Gabe lied about his reasons for taking her to Devon also? Was her aunt in fact healthy?
“You are an earl’s daughter, Abby. In your world, that suggests you marry someone of equal birth or better. Your brothers would like you to marry a king, and if not then a prince. If neither of those options are available, they would settle for someone of their choosing with noble blood, or better yet, someone they could manipulate. There is little doubt in my mind they have seen the way you look at Mr. Dillinger and don’t like it, as clearly he looks at you the same way.”
“Does he?” Abby shouldn’t be so happy about that.
“He does, but your brothers have no wish for you to marry such a man.”
“He has not asked me,” Abby said softly. “We hardly know each other.”
“And yet you care for him deeply, and likely know him better than any of the noblemen you have encountered this season. Don’t try to fool me that you haven’t thought of a future with that man.”
“I cannot believe they went to Daniel’s brother and lied, Dimity.”
“Yes, you can,” Dimity scoffed. “They are ruthless, especially your oldest brother. He believes that as head of your family, he is at liberty to do whatever he wishes concerning your welfare.”
“I don’t even know who I was supposedly betrothed to.”
That made Dimity laugh. “Who do you think it is?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” She thought about the men she knew. “Perhaps Mr. Radcliff. He is the son of a viscount and attentive.”
“Do you like him?”
“He’s a nice enough man but seems overly enamored with Gabe’s title. Besides, what does that matter? I would never marry him now.”
“You don’t like him because he is not Mr. Dillinger,” Dimity said. “No one turns your head as he does, so no one would interest you.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Abby whispered. “How can I face my brothers again knowing what they are capable of, and all because a man with no title is interested in me… if he is?”
“Oh, he is. Never doubt that.”
“I don’t know what to do now, Dimity.”
A loud thumping on the door signaled the arrival of Gabriel.
“Open the door, Abby!”
“Rot in hell!”
“What did you say?” He thumped again.
Abby got to her feet and swallowed the last of her drink. It hit the back of her throat and made her cough. She then staggered to the door.
“What’s the problem, Gabe, is your hearing going with the onset of old age!”
Dimity roared with laughter.
“Open this bloody door at once, Abigail!”
“I would rather kiss a rat!”
The door shuddered as he thumped his fist against the wood, but it held. She could hear Dimity laughing over her shoulder.
“It really is not a laughing matter,” Abby said.
“Oh, yes, it is.”
“Abby, I just want to talk.” Gabriel was trying to be reasonable now. “Open the door, and we will sit down together and share a meal and work this through.”
“Give me a really strong curse word, Dimity,” Abby whispered loudly. When her friend did not reply soon enough, Abby found one of her own.
“Away, you scullion! You rampallion! You fustilarian!”
“Don’t you quote bloody Shakespeare at me through the door, you little baggage! Open up!”
Abby returned to her seat and fell into it. She and Dimity then ignored the pounding until Gabe finally gave up.
“When I return, you better have this door unlocked!”
Abby ignored the raging earl.
“I think what I feel for Daniel is more than simply like, Dimity,” Abby said slowly. “In fact, it is a great deal more.”
“I think I agree with you,” her friend said.
Abby bent to take off her shoes and warm her toes.
Chapter 26
Daniel felt better after a few hours’ sleep. So much so that he rose and dressed. He couldn’t avoid the earl indefinitely, even if he wanted to. Besides, he needed to make sure Abby was all right.
She is not betrothed. He’d wanted to get out of bed and beat her brother senseless when he’d seen the utter devastation on her face when she realized
