Miss Abigail's Beastly Beau by Maggie Dallen (amazing books to read TXT) 📕

The captain chuckled. “You’re a good man, Caleb. Marcus said you’d do your part to look after us, but I’ll admit I wasn’t certain I’d feel safe with a stranger such as yourself in our town.”

Caleb poured the drinks and kept quiet. He was a quiet man by nature, but a decade of working alongside Marcus had taught him to keep his mouth shut when a friend needed to speak. Just like his daughter, when the silence drew too long, Captain Jones filled it.

“Do you know,” he started, his tone thoughtful. “There once was a time when I was so sure about everything.” The captain’s mouth etched a rueful smile beneath his mustache as he stared into the glass. “I thought life was simple. I thought I knew right from wrong, good from bad...”

Caleb watched him as he picked up the glass and took a long swig.

“Emotions confuse everything.” Captain Jones set the glass back down with a resounding clink. “Especially love.”

Hear, hear. Caleb gave a little grunt of acknowledgement.

“Love of my wife, love of my family.” The captain shook his head. “I moved my girls here, kept them hidden away, and all because I thought I could keep them safe.” He nodded toward the door where Roger had left. “And then this happens.”

“You couldn’t have known—”

“I could have,” Captain Jones interrupted. “I should have. I knew their mother wouldn’t stay away forever. I knew her morals were malleable.” He let out a harsh laugh. “The woman could rationalize her way out of anything. She always believed that she knew best. That her reasons were worth any cost and any sacrifice.” He shook his head. “And if you gave her half a chance to explain herself, she’d have you convinced too. No, it’s no mystery how she came to be such a powerful leader. The woman has charisma in spades and her words are powerful and persuasive.”

The silence that followed was a companionable one as the two men sipped their brandy, lost in their thoughts.

“Minerva would know what to do,” the captain said suddenly. He rubbed at the spot between his brows with a weary sigh. “I have so much to explain to the girls, and I need her here more than ever.” The captain downed the last of his drink in one gulp and flashed him a wry smile that reminded Caleb of Abigail. “So you see, Caleb. The older I get, the less I seem to know.”

Caleb gave another huff of rueful amusement.

“Take you, for example.” The captain cast him a sidelong look. “If you’d told me a couple months ago that my sweet and kindhearted Abigail had fallen for a pirate with a mysterious past and the manners of a beast—no offense. Well, I would have gone into a rage.”

The captain shook his head, not seeming to notice that Caleb had frozen with his glass lifted halfway to his mouth, his eyes wide and his muscles coiled. With an effort he lowered the glass slowly and swallowed down a cascade of emotions. “She didn’t fall—”

“She did.” Captain Jones’s gaze flickered with amusement as he glanced over. “Don’t think I haven’t seen how she lights up around you. I see the way she’s herself with you, too, which is an unusual sight.” He arched a brow, still not seeming to notice that he was shaking Caleb’s world to its core. “Abigail tends to hide in plain sight around most strangers and acquaintances. Not shy, exactly, but...” The captain narrowed his eyes. “She’s learned to play a part, I suppose.” The captain reached for the bottle and poured himself some more. “I suppose the same could be true for all of us.”

Caleb could only stare, his mind a chaotic mess and his heart battered and rusted in his chest.

“But, all the same...” The captain held out his glass as if to toast. “I do love seeing my girls happy.”

Caleb stared some more as the captain laughed and shook his head. “I’m amazed she’s agreed to go to London at all, seeing as she seems taken with you and she’s always abhorred the city life. But...” He swung his gaze to Caleb. “I suppose there’s no rush, hmm?”

Caleb took a sip of his drink and kept quiet.

No, there was no rush at all.

No hope either.

Not now when he’d already pushed her away.

Chapter 13

“I still can’t believe I’m going to be the only one left here.” Hattie was sitting on Abigail’s bed, watching her methodically and systematically organize her belongings.

It helped to do things with her hands. The only way Abigail had muddled through these last few days was by setting herself to her normal chores and tasks with single-minded focus. Her own studies and her students had become life-saving crutches. Something to focus on as the second hand ticked by and her insides continued to wither.

It was better to stare at a clock or focus on studies than to keep replaying her last run-in with Caleb.

“Sally and Rebecca will be back before long,” Abigail said.

“It’s a shame you’ll only just miss them.” Hattie fidgeted. “Rebecca will be beside herself with envy when she returns, only to find you’re off in London having the time of your life.”

Abigail tried to smile, she really did. Apparently she didn’t succeed.

Hattie sighed. “Why don’t you just talk to him?”

Abigail froze for a moment before getting back to work. She’d told Hattie the whole humiliating ordeal through a torrent of tears the very night her heart had been broken. Since then, however, she’d refrained from talking about it.

Talking about it would do no good.

Tonight, though, Hattie ignored the unspoken rule of avoidance. “Abigail, surely you’d feel better if—”

“There’s nothing left to say.” She winced at the harshness of her own tone and turned to face her sister. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”

“You’re allowed to be upset, Abigail,” Hattie said quietly. “You’re allowed to rant and rave. You’re allowed to go to Caleb’s house and smack him