A Hero for Lady Abigail by Dallen, Maggie (i can read book club txt) 📕

She smiled prettily. “Not to mention the number of seasons you’ve been out.” Her smile turned smug. “I’m afraid you have us at a disadvantage there.”

Abigail didn’t flinch. She’d heard the younger girls’ taunts in every different form. It wasn’t as though a vapid girl like Charlotte could ever hurt her.

But Charlotte could hurt the major.

Poor Mayfield. He couldn’t have a clue what this girl was truly about, though he’d likely see through her quickly enough given half a chance. But if he truly wanted the girl, Abigail knew precisely how he could get her. At least, how he could get her attention. The only thing girls like Charlotte responded to was competition.

“I thought perhaps you were unaware of Major Mayfield’s interest,” Abigail said. “But I see now that you merely do not share his feelings.” She smiled broadly. “I am pleased to know.”

Charlotte’s laughter held an edge of discomfort. “I haven’t properly made his acquaintance. I wouldn’t say that I have no interest—”

“But you’ve been avoiding him, have you not?” Abigail asked.

Charlotte looked to her friends as her lips moved without a sound escaping. Her friends were no help. “Not quite. I mean, not precisely.”

“Ah, I see.”

Charlotte blinked. “What do you see?”

Abigail ignored the question. Not knowing would drive the girl mad. Instead, she turned her attention to the other girls, asking them about their prospects and their plans for the season. Both girls preened at the attention, but Abigail was more concerned with how her sudden disregard for Charlotte left the pretty fool floundering.

The moment there was an opening, Charlotte interrupted. “Lady Abigail, I hope I did not give you the impression that I have no interest in Major Mayfield.”

Abigail arched her brows in a look of pleasant expectation. “Oh, you are interested then?”

Charlotte flushed as her friends now looked to her in confusion, which rather answered the question on her behalf. She clearly wasn’t interested. Not seriously. But she did enjoy the interest. Selfish little beast. 

Charlotte’s smile was cloy and knowing. “I have my sights set a bit higher than an earl’s nephew, of course, but rumor has it he’s acquiring quite a fortune, so…” She trailed off with a girlish laugh that made Abigail’s stomach turn. “Well, I’m sure you understand better than anyone that when one sets one’s sights so very high, ‘tis always best to have a contingency plan.” She smirked. “You know. Just in case one is thrown over at the last moment.”

It was a good thing Abigail’s smile had been fixed firmly in place or it might have faded in the face of the other girl’s bravado. “Mmm,” she managed. “I do understand.”

“I thought you might.” Charlotte’s triumphant grin made Abigail wish they were gentlemen so she might end this fight with her fists. But alas...

She knew very well what Charlotte meant, and Abigail wasn’t entirely sure which made her more furious—that Charlotte would string along a good, kind man like the major or that she’d so blatantly referred to Abigail’s disastrous past with Lord Merrick and his elder brother.

Everyone thought they knew the truth about what happened back then. Even Lily, her former best friend, whom she’d treated so abysmally...but not quite as badly as Lily thought.

She just barely held back a sigh and a roll of her eyes. Yes, yes, you’re a saint because you didn’t treat your closest friend horribly. Just very, very badly. 

None of that mattered anymore. It was ancient history and neither Lily nor Merrick, nor his brother, the newly married heir to the marquessate, wished to rehash the details of that time.

Certainly not with some gossiping, grasping chit like Charlotte.

Swallowing down her anger and an age-old hurt, she gave Charlotte a patronizing smile. “I completely understand how you might doubt your abilities to attract a better prospect…” She watched in satisfaction as Charlotte’s smirk faded fast. “But I have no such doubts.” She smiled beatifically. “I’m certain you’ll have no need of a…what did you call Major Mayfield again?” She feigned confusion. “A contingency plan?”

Her friends winced at Abigail’s judgmental tone and Charlotte scrambled. “I didn’t mean...that is…”

“Oh no, dear.” Abigail patted her hand. “We know what you meant. And that was all I needed to know.”

With one last brilliant smile she staked her claim on the major.

He’d thank her in the end.

* * *

Alex sat in his usual seat at White’s, a half-eaten plate of sausage and eggs before him. Normally he’d finish the meal but the picnic was only a few hours away and he’d opted to save a bit of his appetite.

If last night was any indication, he might not get the chance to speak with Charlotte at all and then he’d need something to do. Eating seemed as good a pastime as any.

Thoughts of the picnic filled him with dread.

Life since returning from France had been difficult, to say the least. He lacked a mission here, missed the daily routine of tasks that needed to be completed. Not that he missed the war, but he did lack structure and the sense of purpose that came with it.

Thanks to Max’s assistance, he didn’t even need to work. He had a lifetime’s worth of funds. And while many men would enjoy the leisure...he did not. Which was why marriage had become his focus. That would be his next accomplishment, the reason he rose in the morning and worked all day.

With a wife and family to provide for he’d have both a goal to achieve and the peace he craved.

He supposed attending all these functions was a job in and of itself, but it did not give him the same satisfaction as other tasks in his life. Mayhap that was because he wasn’t particularly good at it. He never left a party feeling accomplished.

Tossing his napkin on the table, he pushed back his chair. He was familiar enough with completing unpleasant tasks, this picnic would be no different.

“Major Mayfield,” a deep voice spoke from his left. He looked