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Kincaid trudged behind the ladies, juggling the packages he held. Their laughter floated behind them as he followed them like a besotted fool. Yet, with each smile Jacqueline gifted him, he didn’t care how anyone perceived him. Because he was a besotted fool. Beyond smitten. His gaze locked on Jacqueline, and he silently begged for her to turn around so he could glimpse her smile again.
However, most would think Lady Noel was the lady of his unwavering attention since it was her packages he carried. At each shop, he would stand waiting and offer to carry the items she purchased. When he first offered, she had shown her delight at receiving his attention. He’d smiled when he overheard her whispering how divine he was to her sister. And each time, Jacqueline shared her amusement at him fulfilling his side of their bet. Even though they had never finished their game, he wanted to bring her joy.
Along the way, Falcone had noticed the attention he paid Lady Noel and shifted his attention to her. So at the last shop, she showed her displeasure when he offered to carry her box. It would appear he had fallen out of her favor. Kincaid only felt relief. Now he no longer had to endure her longing glances.
The ladies paused outside of a bookstore. Now this was one stop he wouldn’t moan at following them into. His love of books matched Jacqueline’s and Lady Eden’s. The previous stores they shopped in had stretched his patience with the ladies’ inability to make a decision. Not to mention his annoyance with Lord Falcone. He held no opinion on what color ribbon they should purchase or which shade of thread used to embroider handkerchiefs with. Lord Falcone, however, was more than willing to offer his advice. The marquess’s ability to charm each lady bothered Kincaid, especially when he directed his attention on Jacqueline. He knew Falcone did so to bait him into reacting, but he refused to ruin this excursion for Jacqueline.
Kincaid quickened his pace when Falcone opened the door for the ladies. The gentleman was always one step ahead of him at showcasing his manners. Jacqueline trailed behind the other ladies, glancing over her shoulder at Kincaid. A secretive smile graced her lips, and with a small nod, she indicated for him to follow. That very smile he wished for caused him to stumble and drop the packages. He never took his gaze off her, and she giggled into her glove at his mishap. He smiled at her like the besotted, smitten fool he was. Then Lady Eden tugged Jacqueline inside the store, and he lost sight of her.
Before he knelt to pick up the packages, he glanced at Falcone, who quirked his brow in question, then smirked his victory before sauntering inside with the ladies.
Kincaid bent over to gather the packages. “Arrogant bounder,” he muttered.
“Why have you left the ladies alone with Falcone?” Gray snarled from behind him.
Kincaid sighed. He walked over to the carriage and passed the packages to the footmen, then continued toward the bookshop. Jacqueline had sent him a message with her smile, and he didn’t want to miss his chance with her. “They are not alone with him. The shopkeeper and other villagers are inside, too.”
“They may as well be alone with how familiar he has acted toward them,” Gray argued.
Kincaid stopped in his tracks and turned toward his friend. “Have you followed us all day?”
“No. Only for the past hour. I do not care for the attention he pays Abigail.”
Kincaid shook his head. “For everyone’s sake, do not call him out.”
Gray scowled. “Why not? Falcone needs to understand he has overstepped himself. Abigail is not his to pursue.”
“Nor is she yours. You have stated your position regarding her and you hold no right to stop another gentleman from courting her.”
Gray gritted his teeth and stepped close to Kincaid. Yet, his friend never wavered his stance. He spoke quietly so no one passing by heard him. “Not only Falcone, but you have overstepped, too. First with my cousin, and now with Abigail. You may soon be Jacqueline’s husband, but you are the one who holds no right to question my actions.”
Kincaid stood still while Gray let out his frustration. He placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him. “Easy, Gray. I only meant to offer my advice. Falcone is here to play a game at our expense. Do not show your hand. He only finds amusement when we react. As for Abigail, I believe you upset her when you make your demands on how she should behave or who she can talk to.”
Gray stalked away, running a hand through his hair. He turned back to Kincaid and nodded his acceptance. “Shall we join them?”
Gray didn’t wait for Kincaid to answer and continued stalking toward the bookstore. Kincaid followed him inside and searched for Jacqueline. He watched Gray move closer to Abigail, and he shook his head at how quickly Gray forgot his advice. At least, Falcone wasn’t anywhere near Abigail or Jacqueline. He didn’t even try to locate the marquess and instead snuck behind Jacqueline. She stood reading a book near the back of the shop.
He slipped his arm around her waist and bent his head to place a soft kiss against the back of her neck. She sighed at his touch. When she didn’t protest his attentions, he swept her behind the bookcase into a small hallway where the shopkeeper kept his inventory. Kincaid visited the shop frequently whenever he stayed at Colebourne Manor. He knew the number of visitors would keep the shopkeeper near the front.
He pressed Jacqueline against the wall. Her impish smile beckoned him to devour her. However, he stole a kiss instead. His tongue stroked her lips to open for him. When she did, he captured her sighs. He pulled away and cupped her cheeks, brushing his thumb across her lips. “I need you.”
Jacqueline melted at Kincaid’s declaration. He uttered those three words with such intensity, she felt them at the bottom of her soul. Her body shook with need. However, they couldn’t act on their desires. “Why the delay, Lord Kincaid? I thought you might have returned to the manor.”
She needed to distract him, or otherwise, he would continue to kiss her senseless and they would shock the local villagers with a scandal. Jacqueline regretted asking him as soon as he pulled away from her.
“Your damn cousin cannot keep his opinion to himself about Abigail. I do not blame the lady for wanting to leave.” When Jacqueline gasped, Kincaid closed his eyes at his mistake. “Forgive me, my love. I do not wish for her to leave, only that I understand her frustration toward Gray. He is exasperating in how he believes he has control over her actions. Even if they were married, it is not his right. But hers.”
Once again, Jacqueline sighed at Kincaid. He truly was her knight in shining armor. The need to keep her independence was a powerful reason that she fooled herself into denying his marriage proposals. But all along, her heart knew he would never make demands of her. He might offer his suggestion, but he would leave the ultimate decision to her.
Kincaid cringed when Jacqueline remained silent. He’d blundered it when he spoke of Abigail so freely. He risked a glance in her direction and found her gazing at him with adoration. Somehow, he’d seemed to redeem himself when he mentioned Abigail’s independence was her own and no other’s. His declaration must have resonated with Jacqueline. Or at least, he hoped.
“Lord Kincaid?” Jacqueline whispered. She held up a finger and motioned for him to move closer.
“Mmm.” His feet moved on their own accord.
She tugged on his cravat to draw him to her. Her hand slid around his neck, and she urged his head lower. He complied, and Jacqueline drew his lips between hers and kissed him, leaving him with no doubt.
Only hope.
Before he could wrap his arms around her, she slipped from his grasp and snuck back into the shop. Every few steps, she glanced behind her to see if he followed.
And he did, close on her heels. Before they encountered anyone, he whispered, “Minx.” Her response was a throaty laugh, and she blew him a kiss.
A kiss he captured and allowed to soak into his senses. Her playfulness gave him a surge of hope. Even Falcone couldn’t ruin his mood. When the lord approached Jacqueline and gave her suggestions, Kincaid trusted in his love. Because when he allowed Falcone to make him jealous, he showed Jacqueline that he didn’t trust her, but he trusted her with his heart.
However, he wished he could say the same for his friend. After Kincaid didn’t react to him, Falcone moved on to Abigail. Gray had taken a stand close to Abigail. He guarded her as if she were the queen herself. When Falcone reached for the book at the same moment as Abigail and their fingers touched, Gray advanced on them. He pulled Abigail away, standing between them.
“Lord Falcone, you take liberties not allowed with Miss Cason.” Gray snarled.
Abigail gasped. “Lord Gray!”
“Stay out of this, Abigail,” Gray ordered.
Abigail yanked her hand out of Gray’s grasp and ran from the bookstore. Jacqueline and the Worthington sisters followed her. Kincaid stepped forward and tried to draw Gray back, but he wouldn’t budge.
Kincaid attempted to smooth the matter over. “Gentlemen, shall we continue this later? You are drawing unwanted attention onto us, which will only cause rumors to spread about Miss Cason. Which I do not think either of you wishes upon the lady.”
Falcone threw Gray a look. “On this, I will agree with you, Kincaid. I have no wish to tarnish the lady’s reputation. It is a shame how others view her as it is. Especially when Gray subjects Miss Cason to his insensitive nature.”
Gray growled, biting back his response. He wanted to pummel the arse in front of him, but he refused to have any gossip attached to Abigail’s name. He’d already risked too much with his familiar grasp when he pulled her away. By all rights, his actions were no more different from Falcone’s. He turned and left the store. He needed to find Abigail and offer his apologies.
Which left Kincaid alone with Falcone. There was much he wanted to say to the marquess, but an audience had gathered to watch an altercation between two lords. He refused to give them a show or for Falcone to gloat his satisfaction at winning. Kincaid left the shop before Falcone could taunt a reaction from him.
When he came upon the carriage, Jacqueline was talking with Eden and Noel. Her worried expression caused him alarm. “Has something happened?”
“Abigail wanted to walk back to Colebourne Manor, and Lord Gray stormed off after her,” Lady Eden explained.
Kincaid quirked a brow at Jacqueline. “Do you wish for me to follow them?”
Jacqueline shook her head. “No, ‘tis best if my cousin digs himself a deeper hole. He will never learn otherwise. I think we should return. We are drawing attention our way.”
Kincaid felt the stares focused on them. He helped the ladies into the carriage and joined them. He had seen Lord Falcone saunter off to the local tavern after he caused the scene in the bookstore. Tension hung over them during the ride back, a much different mood from when they left that morning. While he tried to make small talk, it all fell flat. Jacqueline kept a pensive expression, and he understood her grief. She felt torn between her cousin and her close friend, wanting them to settle their differences and admit their love for one another.
However, it would take the mischief of a matchmaking duke to perform that miracle.
~~~~~
ABIGAIL STORMED TOWARD the manor. Lucas had followed her since she left the village. The humiliation of him attacking Lord Falcone over an innocent mistake flooded her with shame. How dare he! With each step she took, her fury grew. She wanted to turn and attack him with her wrath, but it was pointless. Lord Gray was an exasperating, arrogant, controlling arse. How she imagined herself in love with him confused even her.
Well, no more. She would harden her heart against him. She swiped at the tears pouring along her cheeks. Abigail hated how sensitive she was. She cried at the drop of the hat when something injured her emotions. During the past few months, Lord Gray had attacked her senses with each demand he made. Demands he made because he cared about her. Abigail understood why he said what he did, but it still caused her heart to ache. Except for now, his silence softened her heart.
Abigail knew Lucas kept his distance because he worried about her and understood how he’d hurt her. He would see her safely home, and she would forgive him as she always did. However, another piece of her heart had broken away today at his callous disregard. By now, Abigail doubted they even held a connection. It was all a figment of her imagination. Everyone told her to hold on to her faith in Lucas. But with each day that passed without his confession, her hope unraveled more.
Abigail stopped near the tall oak tree at the edge of the drive and waited for Lucas. When he reached her, she started walking again. Neither of them spoke. His guilt and her surrender at her circumstance hung between them. His behavior today showed Abigail how much she needed to take the governess position. She would proceed with her plans. It was the only way to keep her sanity.
When she waited for him, Gray realized she offered her forgiveness. He also realized his actions in the bookshop had helped Abigail make her decision to leave. He wanted to curse everyone and everything for his frustration. His father, his cousins, his friends, but most of all himself. He was the only one to blame for hurting her so deeply. The sight of the tears streaked along her cheeks settled in his gut. Guilt hovered overhead, ready to smother him.
He fought his need to draw her into his embrace. They were near the house and anyone would see. Not that she would allow him to comfort her. In the last few months, he had ruined their friendship. Each comment meant to protect her only slandered her instead. He was clueless about how to repair their friendship to the way it had been before his father started his matchmaking madness.
They reached the house, and Abigail paused on the steps. She turned and gazed at him with her sadness. He wanted to sink to his knees and plead his case. But she wouldn’t give him a chance.
Abigail searched Lucas’s eyes. She saw not only his guilt but also the longing that she herself felt. She offered him a small smile before walking through the door Oakes held open for them.
“Abigail?” Lucas asked softly.
Her only answer was to shake her head before she climbed the stairs and disappeared into the manor. Lucas’s shoulders slumped in dejection.
He’d lost her.