“You cannot expect Mr. Dillinger to change his plans for us.” She felt Dimity’s eyes on her but didn’t return the look. She wanted his company but didn’t want to appear too eager.
“He is not changing his plans. As I have said, he is going to Devon also.” Gabe’s tone was reasonable, and yet Abby didn’t feel reasonable. She felt different today, as if the world she’d woken in yesterday was in some way altered today. She felt like singing, and that was not good, as she couldn’t hold a note.
“It really is not a problem, Lady Abigail. Your brother and I shall chat about the weather.”
“Or horses.” Gabe smiled at her.
Abby nodded but didn’t look at Daniel again, instead talking with Dimity, who was frowning at her.
The meal dragged, but only Abby seemed to feel the tension between her and Daniel, which clearly suggested she was imagining it.
“Are you ladies ready to leave?” Gabe asked her and Dimity when the meal was finished. They nodded.
“Excellent, then we will do so at once. Mr. Dillinger and I will ride.”
The carriage was waiting for them, and Daniel stepped up to help her inside.
“We will talk, Abby.”
“Yes.” She squeezed his hand, then climbed inside.
Gabe poked his head in the doorway seconds later to make sure they had everything they needed.
Curiosity had her asking, “Why are you so insistent that Mr. Dillinger accompany us, Gabe? I had thought you wanted him as far away from me as possible?”
“I thought he was Daniel to you?”
“What has that to do with anything?”
Her brother’s eyes were steady on her face.
“I may not like whatever this is between you, but he is a good man and an honorable one. He is travelling to Devon and will be another set of eyes watching you. That is reason enough.”
“And they say women are contrary.”
“Has something happened, Abby? I can send him on his way if it has?” Gabe’s eyes darkened.
“Of course not. When would something have had time to happen?” Abby said quickly. She had no wish for him to suspect anything had happened between her and Daniel; that would be a disaster.
“Very well, then we will be off. Try not to teach my sister any more curse words or bawdy songs if you please, Miss Brown.”
“Oh, but we must do something with our time, and as I left my stitching at home I had thought a few bawdy verses would keep us entertained.” Dimity fluttered her eyelashes looking sweet but far from innocent.
In fact, Abby had no idea what Dimity’s past entailed. She knew her father was a scholar of some sort and a private tutor. There was also a brother off working in Wales doing something. Dimity did not like to talk about her own life but was more than happy dissecting Abby’s.
Gabe’s smile was fleeting. Shaking his head, he closed the carriage, and they were soon rolling away from the inn. The place where she had discovered what passion really meant. He’d kissed her before, but last night he’d touched her in places no one but she had touched before. Making love with Daniel had changed her, and what lay in her heart was now confirmed. What the future held was uncertain, but she wanted a future with him and believed he did too, so for now that had to be enough.
“Care to share your thoughts?” Dimity said.
“Not really.”
“Oh come now, surely you must if they are that weighty.”
“Do you write to your brother, Dimity?”
There was a flash of surprise in her eyes before she looked out the window.
“No.”
“Is he older or younger?”
“Older.”
“And you don’t want to discuss him with me?”
“Not really, Abby.” Her friend looked at her. “We have never been close and not spoken in many years.”
“I’m sorry.”
Dimity shrugged but said nothing further.
“But you are close with your father?”
“I am. He is a good man.” Dimity was clearly uncomfortable with the discussion. “Now tell me of your thoughts.”
“So you are to know about me, but I cannot know about you?”
Dimity’s smile was small. “There is very little to tell, Abby. You, however, are holding something back from me.”
“I have never felt about a man the way I do Mr. Dillinger, Dimity.” Voicing the words out loud gave them strength. “Last night I went to the stable and he was there. We talked, and…” Her words fell away. She was uncertain how to continue.
“And?”
“And he is a wonderful man, and I believe he cares for me as I do him.”
“Of course he cares for you, Abby, it is there in the way he looks at you. Last night he took your brother to task for speaking badly to you, then told him off for lying to his brother. I must admit to enjoying the shock on Lord Raine’s face.” Dimity chuckled. “I doubt many would have the courage to do that to an earl.”
“I know.” Abby sighed. “He said last night we knew nothing of each other, and yet I feel closer to him than any man.”
“I would love to know how this conversation came about. Did it come before or after the kiss?”
Abby fought the wash of heat that wanted to fill her face. What had happened was between her and Daniel.
“After.” She wouldn’t be ashamed of what she felt, what she’d experienced.
“The problem is, Abby, you are the sister of an earl, and there are certain expectations that people think you should uphold. Any path that has your Daniel in it will not be an easy one to navigate.”
“I know.”
“It is expected that you be a lady at all times.” Dimity held up a hand and bent the first finger. “Marry well, and to noble blood.” Another finger lowered. “Don’t question what is meant to be.” She closed the third.
“There are some who have challenged that successfully, Dimity. Take Mr. Dillinger’s brother. He married a duke’s sister.”
“Well now, that’s heartening. And you do love him, Abby, very much, I can tell.”
As
