“If anyone asks, I can tell them you had somewhere else to be. We’ll be in London for the rest of the day and can see you later.”
Cranston shook his head. He’d run from the woman once already. Her betrayal had been the reason he’d chosen to buy a commission nine years ago. He was done running. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if Abigail knew he was good friends with Ashford and, by extension, the man’s wife. The cynical side of him refused to believe that their upcoming meeting was coincidental.
“Nothing and no one will keep me away.”
Ashford nodded and turned to rejoin his wife.
Wife. If things had gone as planned all those years ago, Cranston would have been the first of his friends to wed. Although if that had happened, he wouldn’t have met Ashford or Lowenbrock. They would likely only be acquaintances now.
His emotions were in turmoil as he strode to his carriage. But by the time he arrived at Ashford’s town house, he’d have them in check again.
One corner of his mouth rose as he contemplated the meeting ahead. Perhaps it was time for him to go on the attack. If his time in military service had taught him anything, it was that one was already doomed if they feared losing before stepping onto the battlefield. No, if Abigail was going to be joining him in this battle, it was he who would come out the victor.
Chapter 2
It didn’t take Abigail long to realize she’d made a mistake in accepting the invitation to Miss Mary Trenton and the Viscount Ashford’s wedding breakfast. But not because Gideon was here. She’d known he was a good friend of the groom and had assumed he’d be in attendance.
No matter when it happened, their first meeting was going to be awkward. But a small, no doubt masochistic, part of her had dreamed that he would take one look at her and realize he still loved her.
No, coming here today was a mistake because Gideon, who was now Baron Cranston, clearly wasn’t experiencing the same regret and tumult of emotion at being in the same room again after so many years apart. In fact, he scarcely noticed her.
After congratulating the newly married couple and offering them her wishes for a happy future, she’d proceeded to the drawing room where a number of guests had gathered. She knew a few of the people here but not well. She greeted a few of them as she passed, wary of running into Gideon.
She knew exactly when he arrived. It had always been like this with Gideon. He had only to walk into a room and her body seemed to vibrate with awareness at his presence. She turned to look at the doorway and waited for him to notice her.
He scanned the room, taking in all the guests. Abigail didn’t miss the way the women near him whispered, but her attention was only on him. Her breath caught when his eyes finally landed on her. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it certainly hadn’t been indifference. His gaze continued his sweep of the room. He gave no indication that he’d even recognized her, and the snub felt like a physical blow.
When he strode toward his friend and the new Viscountess Ashford, he dropped a kiss on the woman’s hand and winked at her. She couldn’t deny the warmth in his expression, evident even from where she stood, as he smiled at the viscountess. A hint of jealousy sparked within her.
Which was ridiculous. From all accounts, Gideon and the viscount were good friends, so of course he would know the man’s bride. Abigail’s jealousy wasn’t logical, but then feelings rarely were. She’d pinned so much hope on this first meeting with him and couldn’t deny that his rejection of everything they’d once shared caused a hurt that threatened to steal her breath.
Which she supposed was only fair. Hadn’t she done the same to him all those years ago? She’d rejected him with a cruelty that was aimed at ensuring he stopped pursuing her.
She turned away from the sight of him chatting amiably with the other woman, wanting nothing more than to flee the house. She couldn’t put off their meeting forever, but it didn’t need to happen in the company of so many people.
“Lady Holbrook, it is so good to see you here.” Lady Lowenbrock smiled warmly as she came to a stop next to her.
“I wouldn’t have missed this joyous occasion,” Abigail said by way of greeting, grateful for the distraction. She’d met both the marchioness and the new Lady Ashford the month before. Lady Lowenbrock was married to another of Gideon’s good friends. “But please call me Abigail. I don’t like to stand on formality with friends.”
The marchioness inclined her head. “Of course. And you should call me Amelia.” She lowered her voice. “Can you follow me out into the hallway?”
She nodded in reply, wondering what the woman wanted to say to her that couldn’t be said in this room. As she followed Amelia from the drawing room, she imagined that she could feel Gideon’s eyes on her. But she resisted the temptation to look at him. She didn’t need yet another disappointment if he was still ignoring her.
They walked past a group of people who were gathered just outside the drawing room and moved farther down the hallway. Finally the marchioness came to a stop when there was no danger they’d be overheard.
“Is something the matter?” Abigail kept her voice low, but it didn’t seem that anyone was paying them the slightest attention.
Amelia’s mouth twisted in a small grimace. “I apologize for the dramatics. I just needed to speak to you and wanted to do so in private to save you any embarrassment.”
A frisson of alarm snaked down her spine, and she suspected the worst. Gideon had asked this woman to tell her that her presence wasn’t welcome here. She took a deep breath. “I understand. I’ll just say my goodbyes to Lord and Lady Ashford, and then I’ll go.”
Abigail started to turn, but Amelia placed a hand on her arm to stop her. “Oh no, you misunderstand me. I’m not asking you to leave.”
Well, now she felt positively ridiculous. Of course Gideon wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of having her barred from the house. Not when it was clear she held no significance in his life.
“I’m sorry if I alarmed you,” Amelia said. “I just wanted to warn you that Mary is playing matchmaker. She’s hoping to make a match between you and Lord Cranston.”
Abigail’s stomach dipped. She had to swallow hard before she could speak. “What do you know?”
