by Lisa Reisner
Grumman’s chin went up with pride upon hearing Marcus’s praise. “It has always been my pleasure to serve you, my lord.” Grumman walked closer and Marcus started to wash his hands. “And I must offer my highest endorsement of the way you handled Lord Bainbridge. If half of what I overheard was true, that man deserved a far worse punishment than what he was just given.”
“I only wish Olivia didn’t see everything,” Marcus remarked with a sigh. He wished Abigail was here, she would know exactly how to handle this delicate situation. “I am not sure what I should tell her.”
“Tell her the truth. Children respond well to honesty.”
Marcus handed the towel back to Grumman and marched up the stairs to Olivia’s room. Her door was slightly ajar, and he took that as an invitation to walk in. The sight of Olivia clutching her teddy bear and shivering under the covers made him feel awful. She had been giving him the silent treatment since he had dismissed Abigail. Marcus was not even sure she would listen to what he had to say.
Marcus sat on Olivia’s bed and began to stroke her hair. “I am so sorry. You were not supposed to see that. It must have been very scary for you.” Olivia just continued to stare off in the distance, without saying a word. He decided to take Grumman’s advice. “Normally, I would never hurt anyone, but I was very angry with him because he hurt Abigail.”
The mention of Abigail’s name seemed to rouse Olivia from her daze. “The same way you hurt Abigail. She looked so sad when you made her leave.”
Marcus grimaced because he knew he was going to have to be more specific. He was not sure how Olivia would handle the truth. “I did hurt Abigail’s feelings and that was very wrong of me, but the man you just saw treated her in an unforgivable manner. He beat her, Olivia.”
Olivia sat up in her bed, listening intently, looking perplexed by his statements. “Why would anyone do that to Abigail?”
Marcus really didn’t have a good answer. “I’m not sure, but it really doesn’t matter what his reasons were. A man should never raise a hand to a woman under any circumstance.”
Olivia appeared to accept his explanation with a polite nod and then tears started to roll down her face. “I miss her, Uncle Marcus.”
“I miss her, too,” Marcus matched her tone with an equal amount of longing. He gently grasped Olivia’s chin and looked solemnly into her eyes. “And I plan to do something about it. I am going to find her and bring her back to you. I swear it!”
Marcus’s declaration elicited a tiny smile. “Really? That would be wonderful.” Olivia surveyed Marcus carefully. “Uncle Marcus, why were you so upset with Abigail?”
Marcus gave her question some thought. This time he had a good answer and he almost laughed as he explained his harsh behavior. “It is the strangest thing. Generally, I am a very cautious and logical man and all the important decisions I make are done with great care. However, where Abigail is concerned, it seems my good sense goes out the window. I leapt to all the wrong conclusions and I blamed Abigail for something she did not do.” Marcus wondered if Olivia understood what he was saying. “Is this making any sense?”
Olivia gave him a very adult look. “Actually, it does.”
“Well, I am glad you understand. It gives me hope Abigail will accept my explanation for my actions and hopefully forgive me.”
Olivia started to giggle, and her grown-up façade faded away. “I think she will.” Olivia leaned closer to Marcus, as if she were imparting a great secret. “I can tell she is sweet on you.”
Marcus gave Olivia a tender smile; her unique perspective warmed his heart. He was truly blessed to have Olivia in his life. Her happiness meant everything to him. Marcus was never one to wish for miracles, but he said a silent prayer he could somehow bring Abigail back to Olivia and make everything alright. Considering everything he was up against, Marcus knew it was a long shot.
∞
“I never meant to lie to you, Caroline, but Abigail was in dire straits and I really did not know what else to do,” Jane confessed. “I hope this will not tarnish our friendship.”
Caroline and Jane were sitting on rocking chairs in the nursery, each holding a sleeping infant in their arms. “If it wasn’t for Abigail, I wouldn’t be alive right now, ecstatic to be the mother of two healthy babies. So, in many ways I’m very glad you misrepresented her situation, but I wish you would have felt comfortable enough to have confided in me.” Caroline covered Jane’s hand with hers and gave her a reassuring smile. “Especially after everything we have been through together.”
Jane felt awful. Caroline was the one person who had always stood by her and she took advantage of her kindness. “You must realize I would trust you with anything, but Abigail swore me to secrecy, and I couldn’t betray her. I feel terrible for involving you with such an odious man.”
Caroline looked worried. “Do you think Lord Bainbridge will search for her?”
“Absolutely! Make no mistake, he cares nothing for Abigail, but he loves controlling and torturing her. Clayton will not rest until he has Abigail under his thumb again. I only hope there is a way for Lord Everton to stop him. Unfortunately, I am not very optimistic. After all, she is legally bound to that monster for life.”
Jane’s mention of Lord Everton seemed to spark Caroline’s interest. “I was under the impression Marcus and Abigail quarreled the last time they were together. Is he not angry with her anymore?”
“It was all a big misunderstanding...” Jane’s voice trailed off as Caroline’s question sunk in. “Caroline, did Abigail come to you for help after she was dismissed from Lord Everton’s household?”
Caroline bit her lip, unable to meet Jane’s intense stare. “Perhaps.”
Jane let out a huge sigh of relief. She would wager everything she owned that Caroline had aided Abigail and would be able to tell her where she was hiding. Jane could not count on many people, but she was sure of Caroline’s soft heart. “Where is she? Lord Everton has gone half mad with grief, trying to find her. If you know her whereabouts, you must tell me.”
“I gave her my word I wouldn’t tell anyone. I can’t go against my word just as you didn’t reveal her secret.”
“Yes, but she would want me to know. And if she knew of Lord Everton’s intentions, she would want him to know.” Caroline looked as if she was wavering, so Jane decided to use all her ammunition. “Especially since he was on the verge of proposing.”
Caroline’s hands flew to her face. “Truly. Marcus wanted to marry her.” Caroline wore a smug grin. “I knew he was crazy for her all along, but somehow I never expected any woman would be able to bring Lord Everton to heel.” A frown quickly replaced her smile. “But this is an awful predicament. Abigail is already wed to that cretin!”
“That is my sentiment exactly, but Lord Everton seems to feel he can protect her from Clayton.” Jane gave Caroline a pleading glance. “If only he knew where to find her.”
Caroline looked as if she was ready to burst. “Well, it still wouldn’t be right for me to betray her confidence.” Her lips formed a sly smirk. “But perhaps if you asked my coachman, he would be able to tell you where he journeyed in the past week.”
Jane placed the slumbering bundle she held in his cradle and leapt up to kiss Caroline on the cheek. “Once again, you prove to be amazing, Caroline. I will send word to Lord Everton and Jordan Stockdale. They are searching for her now.”
Caroline’s face lit up with curiosity. “Why didn’t you tell me you came in contact with Jordan?”
Jane had been doing her best not to think of Jordan. She thought she had buried all the painful memories of her time with him, but seeing his face today brought everything to the surface. “Because my thoughts are on Abigail and frankly, what happened between Jordan and I was a very long time ago. Sometimes it is best to keep the past in the past.”
“Yes, but I have always believed the two of you were perfect for one another.”
“There was a time when I thought the same thing.” Jane
winced. “But I was wrong. Jordan Stockdale is nothing but a womanizer who used me as a pawn in his game.”
Caroline furrowed her brows in disbelief. “I know he has a dark reputation, but he is a good friend of Robert’s, so I can’t imagine he is really all that bad.” The baby girl in Caroline’s arms stirred. “I think Alexandra is getting hungry.”
Jane stared longingly at the beautiful infant in Caroline’s arms. Her heart ached because she knew she would never have a child of her own. Jordan managed so thoroughly to destroy her reputation that no decent man would have her. At least she had the privilege of spending her time with the children of Sacred Heart. In many ways, they were her saviors.
Jane quickly shifted her thoughts and focused her mind on Abigail. “And I think it is time I had a long chat with your coachman.” Jane kissed Alexandra and Caroline on the cheek. “Wish me good luck.”
Chapter 25
Abigail hummed a tune while cultivating the soil with her shovel. She dropped a few tiny seeds into an opening in the ground and smiled with satisfaction. Gardening had always given her a sense of peace, even when the world felt riddled with chaos. Abigail wasn’t certain of her future, but she was positive with the right sunlight and care, young buds would emerge from the earth.
During the past few days, she kept busy acclimating herself to the sleepy village of Stroud. The townspeople were very friendly and even a few paid a call to make introductions. It was obvious they were quite curious about the new lady inhabitant. After all, it was not the norm for an unaccompanied woman to become a member of their community, but Mrs. Hutchinson explained to everyone Abigail was recently widowed, which seemed to stem any unseemly gossip. She silently thanked Jane; once again her elaborate fabrication proved useful.
Abigail put her shovel down and wiped the sweat from her brow. She knew it was imperative to come up with a plan. Although some of her best ideas came to her while her hands were busy in the dirt, she still lacked any plausible solutions, except for booking passage to America. It would take years for Clayton to find her in the vastness of America. With any luck, he would eventually give up the search. But did she have the guts and the resources to pull it off?
Obviously, there would be many obstacles to face by making the voyage to America. First, she was petrified of being caught; Clayton was evil, but he certainly wasn’t stupid. He would suspect her of trying to escape to America and inform the crews to keep an eye out for her. She shuddered at the idea of being at Clayton’s mercy again. He would make her pay for what she had done.
Of course, even if she was lucky enough to get past Clayton, she would have to start a whole new life in a strange country. After everything Abigail had endured, she considered herself very capable, but knew the harsh reality of how dangerous it was for a woman to survive in an unfamiliar place without knowing anyone, which made her think of the final factor that stood in her way. Money.
Abigail didn’t know how she was going to raise enough money for the journey. Tickets to America were expensive and her only valuables were the emerald earrings Marcus had given her. The thought of having to sell them broke her heart. They were all she had left of him and Abigail refused to part with that sweet memory.
Abigail shut her eyes and pretended she was in Marcus’s strong embrace. She had felt safe and protected in his arms, as if nothing or no one could hurt her. Her circumstances had forced her to become independent and a part of her was very proud of what she accomplished, but she would be lying if she didn’t admit it felt good to be taken care of. She wished Marcus could help her during this frightening time. It was a ridiculous notion, given the fact he hated her very existence, but she simply could not stop herself from dreaming of his handsome face.
Stop torturing yourself with what can never be! If she was totally honest with herself, she knew their affair would have eventually ended. Even if Clayton didn’t exist, Marcus would have likely tired of their relationship. His rakish reputation was common knowledge and in time he would have taken another woman to his bed. Abigail told herself what transpired had been for the best, because seeing him with another woman would have been unbearable.
“It looks like rain, maybe it’s best you come inside. There is tea and hot cranberry muffins in the drawing room.”
Abigail smiled at the sound of Mrs. Hutchinson’s voice. Over the past few days, the housekeeper watched over her like a mother hen. Each morning she arrived with freshly baked bread, cheeses and delicious fruit. Abigail felt thoroughly spoiled.
Abigail noticed the ominous clouds in the sky. “You are right, Mrs. Hutchinson. I will just finish things up and be inside in a moment.” She stood up and dusted off her gardening apron. “But I wish you wouldn’t go to so much trouble for me.”
“Nonsense, it’s my job to make you comfortable,” Mrs. Hutchison insisted. “In all honesty, it feels good to take care of someone. Watching over an empty house can become quite boring. It is nice to have some life around here.”
Abigail laughed. “And it is nice to be taken care of so well. It has been a difficult time for me, and you have made me feel very comfortable. Of course, if I keep indulging in your delectable cooking, I will have to squeeze into my clothing.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, child. You are practically skin and bones, some extra short bread would do you some good!”
Abigail had started losing weight when Liam Stone informed her she was being investigated, so she knew her gowns were loose, but she didn’t think she looked emaciated. Obviously, she was wrong. “Do I really look that awful?”
Mrs. Hutchinson shook her head in distress. “My sincerest apology, I did not mean to insult you in any way. You must realize how lovely you are. At least half of the available gentlemen in the village are in a tizzy over the beautiful new lady at Shetland Park.”
Abigail gave her a reassuring smile. “Surely you exaggerate, and please do not worry. I was not offended at all. I know I am not at my best, but thank you for trying to make me feel better.”
“I never exaggerate, miss,” Mrs. Hutchinson asserted, as a frown marred her face. “May I speak freely?”
“Of course,” Abigail said with firmness. “I much prefer a relaxed atmosphere. I usually abhor formality.”
Mrs. Hutchinson’s features softened with concern. “It is just that you seem so sad and it has always been my way to cheer people up with sweets.” The housekeeper paused, trying to gauge Abigail’s reaction to her boldness, but Abigail just nodded, urging her to continue. “I want you to know I also lost a husband at a very young age. I was devastated at the time, but I was lucky enough to remarry a wonderful man. Perhaps, you will be blessed to find a new partner in life.”
Abigail was touched by Mrs. Hutchinson’s words. Although her widowhood was a fabrication, Abigail internalized the advice and applied it to the loss of Marcus’s affections. “I find your optimism refreshing and your openness pleases me greatly, but I am afraid you are wrong.” Abigail could feel her eyes start to water and she feared the terrible loneliness in her chest would suffocate her. “In order to meet someone, your heart needs to be open and mine is forever shut. I will never find another man who could compare to the man I have lost.”
Mrs. Hutchinson was clearly moved by Abigail’s poignant speech. “He must have been very special.”
“Excluding my grandfather, he was the best man I have ever known,” Abigail said with solemnity. “I only wish I had one more chance to tell him how I truly felt about him.”
“What would you say to him?”
Abigail’s heart lurched at the achingly sweet sound of the familiar male voice who asked the question. She swung around and came face to face with Marcus. Abigail was speechless, a part of her thought she was dreaming.
“So, what would you say to him,” Marcus repeated, unable to tear his gaze from Abigail’s face.
Abigail could feel the hot tears running down her face. It wasn’t a dream. Marcus was here, standing right in front of her. There was no anger
in his stance and his deep blue eyes were filled with tenderness. He looked so breathtakingly handsome in his brown waist coat and tan trousers she had to suppress the urge to run into his arms.
There were so many things racing through her mind, but all she could do was answer his question. “I would tell him many things, my lord. For instance, just being near him made me inconceivably happy. I never felt safer than I did in his arms. I respected him greatly for his intelligence, kindness and devotion to his niece.” Abigail’s gaze fell to his lips. “And he awakened things in me I never knew existed. I would have done anything to please him and above all, I hope he knew for certain I would never have intentionally hurt him.”
Mrs. Hutchinson chimed in, obviously sensing the need for privacy between Abigail and Marcus. “I think I shall be off. I have many errands to run in town.” Mrs. Hutchinson was out of sight before Abigail had a chance to stop her.
Abigail’s eyes swept over Marcus’s face, trying to assess if he was pleased. He was silent and staring intently into her eyes.
“Please say something, Marcus,” Abigail pleaded. She wanted to know all the details of what brought him here, and above all, Abigail had to tell him the truth. “How did you find me? I need to explain everything. There was no affair...I am not who you think I am.”
In one swift movement, Marcus stopped her confession by grabbing her waist and devouring her lips in a fierce kiss. His tongue plundered her mouth and Abigail’s mind went blank, her body stirring to life. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her thighs against Marcus’s throbbing manhood. Abigail moaned as her soft mound ached with the need to be filled.
Marcus must have sensed her urgency because he quickly lowered himself to the ground, with Abigail on top of him. He drew up her skirts and Abigail lifted herself so she was perfectly astride him. His palm found her moist center and he skillfully began stroking Abigail’s silky nub. Any modicum of restraint was broken when Marcus drove his middle finger deep inside her wet passageway.
