He’d just defended the woman he loved. Wasn’t that how a man was supposed to act? He’d declared his intentions, he’d—
“Major Mayfield,” Lady Gorem’s sharp voice cut through his thoughts.
He turned to look at the woman who so closely resembled Abigail. Outwardly, anyhow. True, her chestnut hair, the curve of her jaw, the line of her back were nearly identical, but there were important differences between the two women. Most notably, the hardness in Lady Gorem’s eyes. “Your Grace.”
For a brief moment, he wondered how Abigail had managed to retain any softness at all. But then again, she was one of the toughest people he knew, and he realized she’d been fighting to be a good person for some time. That made him relax, just a bit. Had she denied his suit because she didn’t want him or had she been protecting him too?
“Has it occurred to you…” The duchess’s mouth pressed into a firm line, “that you are ill-suited to court my daughter?”
He cocked his head. “My connections are strong enough. My wealth is growing. My affection undeniable.” He took a step closer to the woman, standing taller. He had no intention of backing down now. “How am I ill-suited?”
Lady Gorem’s chin tilted higher. “I have worked tirelessly to make my daughter the most perfect candidate on the marriage mart. To think that she would end up with you…” She waved her hand with a sneer of disdain.
Alex’s lips thinned over his teeth in a grimace. If he had his way, this woman would be his mother-in-law. Best to tread carefully, but every instinct told him to give her a good setdown. “A man who would work tirelessly to make her happy?”
Something flashed in the duchess’s eyes. Alex couldn’t say if it was indecision or regret. “You want to make my daughter happy? Please.” Her chin notched again. “You want the dowry of a duke’s daughter, you—”
“Your Grace,” He cut her off with a clipped tone. “I don’t give two figs about her dowry. But, with your permission, I would like to go after your daughter. Something’s not right and I need to find out what that is.” He’d seen pain flash in Abigail's eyes before she’d left. The more he thought on it, the more he realized that wasn’t the behavior of a person who didn’t care.
Relief eased the tension in his chest. She might have rejected him, but not because she did not have feelings for him. In fact, he was starting to suspect it was because she did.
The duchess blinked once, then twice. “I cannot condone such behavior, Major.”
“Major,” Marigold called from behind him from the doorway. “Perhaps we should allow the duchess to make her way to the drawing room. Dinner will be starting soon.”
He just barely held back an exasperated sigh. He’d like to continue this conversation. In his estimation the duchess needed a good reminder about kindness and the proper way to treat people that one should love. But he gave a stiff nod.
“You’re too young to dismiss me, Lady Arundel,” Lady Gorem snapped back. “I told Abigail this party was a mistake.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Marigold answered, her soft voice smoothing even Alex’s ruffled emotions. “I have greatly enjoyed your presence here. It’s been most...enlightening.”
Lady Gorem tsked. “Kill them with kindness, Lady Arundel. That is your strategy?”
Marigold stepped into the room, her smile unwavering. “I don’t wish to hurt anyone, Lady Gorem.”
With a shake of her head, Lady Gorem turned toward the door. “We’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow. I’ve received a missive from my husband calling us back to London.”
“Of course,” Marigold replied. “We’re fortunate you could come at all. Thank you for attending.”
Without a reply and with a swish of her skirts, Lady Gorem was gone.
Alex turned to look at Marigold. She’d done a far better job of handling the irate duchess than he had. “You’ve really grown into the role of marchioness.”
She gave him a wink. “My heart is not invested in the matter the way yours is.”
Had he been that obvious? His head dipped as he rubbed the back of his neck. “How did you know?”
Marigold gave a small laugh. “Oh, it wasn’t difficult. Let’s see. You can barely look away from her, you’re stealing kisses in fields, you’ve rushed headlong into danger multiple times to save her...”
He winced despite himself. “And yet, she said no when I suggested marriage.”
Marigold cleared her throat. A tiny sound that echoed through the room. “Your feelings are obvious to me because I am on the outside looking in and because I’m not emotionally involved.”
He frowned down at his friend. “What does that mean?”
She shrugged. “In Abigail’s estimation, you were courting another woman just this morning.”
That was a fair point. “I did mean to clear that up. I just got carried away when I heard her mother.”
“Of course you did.” Marigold gave his sleeve a tug. “But she doesn’t know that yet and if she wanted to be a good person, she might think that you’d be better off without her.”
His brows drew low. “Better off without the woman I love?”
Marigold gave him a radiant smile. “Just out of curiosity, and since we’re discussing things you’ve yet to tell her, does she know that you love her?”
He took a half step back as Marigold’s words sunk in. Did she know? He’d never told her so. “I...I…don’t know.”
“I do believe that you know what to do next,” Marigold answered.
He shook his head, his limbs weighted with regret. “You heard Lady Gorem. She doesn’t approve. She won’t allow me permission to court and they’re leaving tomorrow. How am I going to tell her any of it?”
Marigold winked again. “Take heart. If there is one thing they’ll avoid, it’s scandal. If you press the issue, they’ll concede. There are ways around Lady Gorem.”
“But
