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Lucas trudged down the staircase. He had attempted to find Abigail throughout the day, but at every opportunity, one of his cousins ran interference. He wasn’t even lucky enough to catch her eye. She avoided him. He didn’t expect this reaction from her after the evening they spent in each other’s arms. Lucas thought Abigail would find enjoyment in their pending union. He wanted to discuss his plan with her. Now he must wait until after the evening’s entertainments concluded to steal her away.
He missed her. Not just her company, but Abigail herself. Over the past few days, he had felt the familiar kinship they shared. Now it had disappeared again, all because of his meddling family. His cousins’ husbands regarded him with pity or else they taunted him with their opinions. And to think two of them were his best mates. Duncan shook his head in disappointment at him whenever their paths crossed.
He also had to deal with his cousins’ reactions. They no longer tried to pressure him into confessing his love for Abigail. Every time he tried to approach Abigail, they informed him he was too late. What did they mean by that? His Uncle Ramsay would burst out into laughter when their paths crossed. Aunt Susanna and his father’s pinched expressions stated how they weren’t pleased with him at all.
He wondered how this evening’s dinner would play out. He had hoped to convince Aunt Susanna to sit him next to Abigail, but getting his aunt alone to make his request was impossible. If his family wasn’t offering their displeasure at his behavior, they avoided him.
When he strolled into the drawing room, his family grew silent. Each of them regarded him like an uninvited guest. Even Abigail slid behind Gemma’s and Jacqueline’s increasing figures to hide from him. He should just travel into the village and eat dinner at the tavern. At least there, no one would judge him.
“Ah, now that my son has joined us, we may dine,” Colebourne declared.
“Gentlemen, please escort your wives into dinner,” Susanna directed.
Lucas stepped forward to escort Abigail, but his aunt stopped him in her next direction after she hooked her arm through Ramsay’s.
“Colebourne, be a dear and escort our lovely Abigail into dinner.”
Colebourne bowed before Abigail and held out his hand. “My lady, shall we?”
Abigail smiled. “We shall.”
Lucas scowled in displeasure. He watched each couple walk toward the dining room while he trailed behind them. Abigail glanced over her shoulder at him. He attempted a smile, but Abigail quickly looked away. His shoulders slumped at her rejection. Would he even be able to draw her away later?
When he came upon the table, he expected his aunt to sit him in between his cousins. However, she surprised him by placing him between Abigail and Charlie. Lucas was confident in his ability to handle one cousin. It was when the lot of them conspired together that he never stood a chance. Hopefully, if he kept Abigail entertained, it would limit any discussion with Charlie, who, out of all his cousins, never kept her opinions to herself. She was more than happy to express her thoughts on any subject.
As they waited for the footman to serve the first course on their plates, Lucas turned to Abigail. He gazed at her, taking in her beauty. She wore her hair down with bejeweled combs holding her curls in place. The long auburn tresses trailed along her back. He groaned silently, remembering how he ran his hands through her curls as he made love to her. She looked beautiful with her hair spread out across the pillows. He ached to gaze at the sight again.
Abigail smiled across the table at Gemma and Ralston. Lucas wished for her to bestow her smile on him. He attempted to win one. “You look lovely this evening, Abigail.”
“Is she not lovely every moment of every day?” Charlie interrupted.
“I think she is,” Jacqueline added.
“No other rose holds the beauty of the one before us,” Evelyn quoted from a poem she had read.
“A beauty like no other. Do you not agree, Duncan?” Selina asked.
“I agree, my love.” Duncan winked at Abigail.
“Are you going to answer Charlie?” Gemma asked Lucas.
Lucas gritted his teeth. “Yes, she does.”
Charlie shook her head, not pleased with the tone of his answer. “You do not sound very convincing.”
His cousins planned to make his life difficult. For every punch, every degrading comment he made at their husbands, and his attempt at fleeing his marriage to Selina, all of it would come back to haunt him. They would make him suffer while seeking their revenge.
“Thank you, Lucas,” Abigail whispered, shooting the ladies across the table a pointed glare.
She hoped they would stay quiet and not draw any unwanted attention her way. If the duke learned of her intimacy with Lucas, he would demand for them to marry. While she had always longed to become Lucas’s bride, it was never under the duress of a forced marriage. Nevertheless, her heart understood how her wishes would never become reality because of her station in life. Now she stood on the verge of her plans coming to naught because of her friends’ attempts to defend her.
She refused to make eye contact with Lucas in fear of what his gaze might hold. If it held regret, it would pierce her soul. But if his eyes held longing, she didn’t know how she would react. Poor Lucas. Either way, she must not allow him to win. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.
Abigail listened to the flow of conversation floating around the table and a sense of melancholy settled over her. She would miss these family dinners where lively discussions filled the air with humor, debates, and the caring of a united family. Even though she shared no blood with this family, they had embraced her as one of their own from the very beginning. They each held a special place in her heart.
“Say the word and I will take care of him for you,” Duncan whispered dramatically to her left.
Abigail turned and smiled. “There is no need. He has done no wrong.”
Duncan winked. “This time?”
Abigail laughed. “This time.”
Lucas growled at the laughter Abigail shared with his cousin when she wouldn’t even grant him a simple smile. Charlie’s snicker didn’t ease his frustration any.
“Mind your own business, Charlotte,” Lucas warned.
“And if I do not? You forget I am a married lady and I do not fear your threats any longer.”
“I am sure I can uncover something you’ve done to inform Sinclair that he would not care for. Perhaps how you tried to ride the wild stallion that Father bought last week,” Lucas threatened.
Charlie smirked. “Like I said, your threats are meaningless. Did you believe I wouldn’t seek my revenge for how you treated Abigail during the season last year? Consider yourself warned, cousin. I’ve yet to share with the others what you said to her. Would you like me to share how you told Abigail she did not belong at those entertainments because of her standing in society?”
Lucas shrugged his indifference. He wouldn’t allow Charlie to understand how much he needed her to keep her silence. If she informed the other ladies, then they would stop his pursuit of Abigail. “Gossip away.”
Charlie frowned when Lucas didn’t take her bait. “Perhaps I should just inform Uncle Theo how you ruined Abigail.”
Lucas curled his fingers into fists underneath the table, holding in his fury. “I know for a fact you would never hurt Abigail by sharing that bit of news.”
Charlie sighed. “No. You are correct.” She paused. “However, I must warn you. If you so much as hurt Abigail anymore, I will not hesitate to seek my revenge.”
“Warning noted.”
Lucas turned away from Charlie, deciding to ignore her for the rest of the meal, then fixed his attention on Abigail. She sat quietly, not joining in with the conversation, a lovely smile gracing her face. He unfolded his fists and swiped them along his pants. He was as nervous as a young pup asking a girl for a dance. However, Abigail was skittish, and he feared scaring her off before he made his offer. Any wrong move and his entire family would explode with their wrath.
He brushed the tips of his fingers across her hand. She jerked her hand away but not before a sigh whispered past her lips. If the soft hush was any sign, it proved his touch affected her greatly.
“Abigail.” He whispered her name so as not to draw attention to them.
The touch of his fingers singed her. She felt the slow burn spreading throughout her and ached to have his hands glide along her body. Sitting next to Lucas was the sweetest torture.
“Abigail,” Lucas whispered again.
Darn. She had to answer him before anyone overheard. “Yes.”
“Will you please give me your attention?” Lucas begged. Abigail turned her head slightly. “Please raise your gaze. I want to stare into your eyes and get lost in your soul.”
Abigail gasped at his bold declaration, and her eyes flew up to meet his. The longing in his gaze left her speechless. It was one she was unprepared for and never expected. His gaze held a promise he meant to fulfill, one that would leave her with no doubt to the depths of his love. She shook her head to clear it, imagining his stare to be something it wasn’t. But when she focused back on Lucas, his gaze only grew bolder.
A blush spread across Abigail’s cheeks, turning them a lovely shade of red. “Yes. You look lovely this evening.” He paid her the same compliment again. Which only turned her cheeks brighter.
“Hush,” Abigail whispered.
“I will not. I have waited all day to speak with you. Why have you avoided me?”
Abigail glanced around the table, hoping for someone to come to her rescue. But every single one of them was a traitor. When she met their stares, they looked away and started a conversation with another dinner companion. She thought they were on her side, but obviously, she was mistaken. Her eyes narrowed as it raked the entire table. They were all in cahoots with Colebourne. Knowing each of them as she did, it was a contest to see who would make the match between her and Lucas.
Well, they would all lose. Even Colebourne himself.
“I thought it was the wisest course of action, considering how nothing has changed. I did not want to lead you to believe I expected anything from you,” Abigail explained.
“What if I wanted you to expect something from me? Would you have considered paying me an audience?” Lucas asked with sarcasm, upset by Abigail’s indifference.
Abigail sighed. “We agreed. One night and one night only.”
Lucas growled. “No, you agreed. I promised nothing of the sort. I wish to make another promise to you. Will you become my . . .”
Abigail’s eyes grew wide in panic. Lucas didn’t mean to propose, did he? He couldn’t. It would never do. Her eyes searched the table again for anyone to interrupt them. When her gaze fell on Ramsay, he was the only one to take pity on her. He gave her a nod of understanding.
“Abigail, I learned of your new position in Lord Ross’s household. Colebourne told me of how he is a fellow Scotsman. I am afraid his name is unfamiliar to me. What parts does he hail from?”
“North of Inverness. He has a small holding he inherited from his grandfather.”
Ramsay nodded. “Are you looking forward to caring for the youngins?”
Abigail smiled. “Yes. They sound most charming. He has two adorable daughters who get into all sorts of mischief. I cannot wait to meet them.”
“How would you feel about meeting them sooner?” Colebourne asked.
Abigail pondered his question with confusion. “But I will meet him once we travel to London.”
“I am afraid I must prolong our departure another week due to my health,” Colebourne explained. The table erupted with concern over the duke’s welfare, but the duke hushed them. “Nothing too troublesome. Susanna convinced me to take a longer rest and to enjoy my family before the rush of the season. So, I extended an offer to Lord Ross and his daughters to visit for a few days.”
“That is a very generous offer,” Abigail answered.
“One done out of selfishness, my dear. This way, his visit will put aside the rest of my concerns for your welfare. It would show how honorable the earl is, and it allows him to meet your family. Plus, it will be a joy to have young children around. Worthington’s sister, Maggie, brought the house alive again with her youthful enthusiasm on her visit. I yearn for more enjoyment.”
“Meddling old fool,” Lucas mumbled.
Abigail stiffened at Lucas’s comment. How can a gentleman gush lovely words one minute, then turn into a grumpy fellow who slandered his father the next?
Abigail glared at Lucas before offering Colebourne a charming smile. “Thank you. Your kindness and generosity are plentiful. I appreciate your gesture. Do you think he will accept your offer?”
“I wrote a letter this afternoon and sent it off to London via a footman. Hopefully, he will reply soon. And if he refuses, perhaps you should reconsider the position. Because if he is not willing to meet your family, then it leaves one to wonder if he will honor the requests we made.”
Abigail nodded. “You make an excellent point.”
“I am excited to meet your Lord Ross. He sounds most delightful,” Aunt Susanna said.
“He is not Abigail’s Lord Ross,” Lucas growled.
Susanna waved her hand at Lucas’s pettiness. “But isn’t he?”
Lucas tightened his grip on the wineglass. “No.”
Susanna smiled at her nephew with patience at his show of temper. “If you say so, dear.” Then she turned and started talking with Kincaid about the new business he had started, ignoring how she had riled Lucas’s temper.
Lucas threw his napkin on the plate and rose from the table. He had had enough of the insufferable dinner. The only reason he had joined them was for the chance to talk to Abigail, but he kept getting interrupted. He had been about to propose when Ramsay had to mention Lord Ross. A gentleman he had never met was a thorn in his side, one he would need to yank before he ruined any chance he had left with Abigail.
“Please excuse me, I have some correspondence I must finish. Welcome home, cousins. I hope we can visit and enjoy each other’s company in the days to come.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. Lucas hid outside the door to listen to the comments made about him. However, he was sorely disappointed because no one mentioned him leaving early. Instead, he had to listen to them question Abigail about Lord Ross and his daughters. He closed his eyes, banging the back of his head against the wall at his foolishness.
Abigail’s voice softened when she regaled them with Lord Ross’s letters. Lucas listened to the praise at the earl’s fatherly skills and the respect she held for him as a gentleman. Had she fallen for the earl and his charming words? It made him wonder every time she uttered Lord Ross’s name.
Who knew one could hold jealousy of a fictional gentleman?