Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella) (5 page)

BOOK: Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella)
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“His
plantation is safe,” Thomas assured.

“And how are you so sure?”

“Unaware to him, I own the note.”

CHAPTER FOUR

 

             
By noon the next day, every field, lawn, garden, and outhouse border was picked bare of its dandelions in Mecklenburg County.  Unbeknownst to Abigail, Thomas had invited Mister Brice Winslow the previous day for supper, and Abigail planned to wait on the porch until his arrival.  It was a challenging undertaking.  Although their porch extended the entire stretch of their home from east to west, which was particularly lengthy, there wasn’t a place to stand, let alone sit.  The Large’s front porch was littered knee high in bright yellow and orange petals.

“I declare, Abigail,” Thomas
exclaimed.

H
e came from behind her as she stood at the outside door, faintly amused that she’d chosen her yellow day dress to wear.  Thomas peaked around her and viewed the dandelions.

“You have these men running around in
frenzy just to be accommodating.”

“I am sure there are more than a few in Charlotte
who are exceedingly happy to see the weeds removed from their gardens and fields.”

They walked into the sitting room and Tiny Tess was
already seated and waiting their arrival. Abigail admired Tess’s beautiful silk and lace violet day dress.  She couldn’t recall ever looking as pretty when she wore items so large.  She envied her for that.  The ringlets in Tess’s hair were curled to near perfection and the locks drawn away from her face with a butterfly hairpin.


You must remember, Abigail, when Mister Winslow arrives you cannot allow your dander to be raised and ruin our ruse.  You are
Abilene
Large, our dear cousin from the North.  Do not forget that,” Thomas warned.

“Do you think poor Mister Winslow can ha
ndle another day of two Abigails?” Tiny Tess laughed.  “After yesterday, I’d tend to believe that he would refuse an invitation.”

“As long as there’s a coin to be had, I doubt there will be anyone willing to turn tail,” Abigail added, irritated.

When their butler John brought Mister Brice Winslow to the sitting room, no one was overly surprised that he had flowers in tow.  But they didn’t expect him to be holding a cactus that had a single yellow flower attached to its spiky stem. Although a peculiar gift, Abigail had to admit that the vase that incased the plant was the most beautiful French Opaline vase she’d ever seen.

“This, Miss Abilene, is for you,” Brice announced
after he greeted them with pleasantries. He looked down into her eyes and a wry smile curved upon his lips as he handed Abigail the offering.  “I thought it was most appropriate since something so prickly has within itself to produce such a lovely flower.  Perhaps one day, Miss Abilene, the flower within you may sprout as well and we’ll not only need to endure your spines.”

Abigail accepted the gift with raised brows.  After his speech, she refused to offer him her appreciation for the thought he had placed into the gift.

Brice turned to Tiny Tess and handed her a package decorated prettily with a bright red ribbon.  “As for you, Miss Abigail, I thought this would suit you quite nicely, as it’ll look rather fetching with your eyes.”

Abigail
glared at Brice when Tiny Tess opened her present and she discovered a blue laced shoulder shawl inside. Indeed, it was not only a striking garment but exceedingly expensive.

“It’s
beautiful, Brice,” she exclaimed with excitement.  “Thank you.” Tess wrapped the shawl around her shoulders.  She patted her hand onto the seat of the satin Burch sofa where she sat. “Come and sit beside me,” she offered.

Brice looked at Abigail and hesitated a moment before he sat. 
Abigail wondered if he was waiting for her to show an equal amount of appreciation for the gift he had brought to her.  She was still determined not to give it.

John, t
heir trusted butler of ten years stood near Tess and patiently waited to gain her notice. He was a young and handsome man with dark brown eyes and hair and recently celebrated his thirtieth birthday.  Although aware of Tess’s true identity, he offered her the same degree of excessive attention that the men in town presented while posing as Abigail.  He had taken an instant shine to her.  It made Abigail smile at the thought of what Tess’s future may hold while there.  Perhaps she’d snag a true suitor of her own.

“M
iss Large,” he said to Tess after she and Brice finished their conversation on the quality of products offered in Mecklenburg. He lifted a large overflowing basket from the floor that held all the calling cards which had been sent to their home.  “The staff wanted to know if you’d rather manage this yourself or if they should send the acceptances and regrets in your stead.”

“Oh dear,” she exclaimed.  “There’s not enough time in a year to receive
all these callers.”

“Even a year wouldn’t be efficient time,” T
homas added.  He sifted his hand through the cards. “But it does give me an idea.”

Abigail
glanced at Brice from the corner of her eye.  He looked worried and she wondered if he was pondering the amount of competition within the basket of names that stood between him and her dowry.

“It’s an idea that
I’m certain you’ll all readily approve.”  He looked at Brice.  “And despite your position in this courting game, I believe you’ll support this endeavor as well.”

“Then by all means share it with the rest of us,” Tess chimed in. “I’m eager to know.”

“I’m sure the men who are vying for you can agree that the numbers are great in rivaling for your hand. Surely no one can expect you to receive all the callers who request an audience with you.”

“I should hope not,” Abigail said
. She leafed through the cards and perused the names of the gentlemen who were bidding for her time and affection.  “Many of these men I’d not give the time of day, let alone an hour of my time.”  She gave ladylike snorts to many of the names she saw as she perused the cards.  Numerous of the men had treated her dreadfully while she was growing up.  She couldn’t believe they had the gumption to beg for her affections now.  “The gall of you all,” she murmured.  She realized she had gathered Brice’s attention and she pitched the cards back into the basket and returned to her seat.

“I suggest we arrange a raffle
,” Thomas said, finally revealing his idea.  “We can charge half a dollar per ticket and the winner receive a reception with Abigail, as well as escort her to a barbeque we’ll put on here after the drawing.”

“Oh, that’s horrible, Thomas!” Abigail pursed her lips. “Certainly
your coffers haven’t reached so low that you need to resort to such lengths for money.”

“Of course not,
” Thomas said and waved her off.  “We’ll distribute the takings to the needy women and children of the South who had lost their husband and fathers during the war.”

             
“What a splendid idea,” Tess called out and clapped her hands together.  “I shall very much enjoy that day of courting.”

“Bully for you, Thomas,” Brice praised.  “Indeed, that is a very
honorable gesture.”  He turned to Tess and reached for her hand. “It’s also quite generous of you in offering your time for such a cause.”

             
“Then it’s agreed.  I shall make a public announcement of it on the morrow. We’ll hold the raffle and barbeque next Sunday.  That’s nearly a week to peddle the tickets.”

The dinner bell rang out and they congregated to the outdoor garden to take their sup.  The evening breeze was refreshing
and it was what prompted them to dine amidst the rose gardens that were in full bloom.  A round table was formally set with their finest bone china and crystal. Abigail chose to take her seat across from Brice. Although he frequently irritated her, she had to admit that he was equally as handsome as he was charming, but until she figured out if she wanted Brice’s hand in marriage, she wanted to keep her distance.  Although her childhood love for him still remained, he wasn’t that same person she adored many years ago.  As she, they had both grown into adults with different attitudes and ideals.  Abigail was still in debate whether those changes, good and bad, made him worth pursuing. In Abigail’s way of thinking, he should be thankful.  After the way he discarded her before she fled Mecklenburg, it’s a miracle that she’d consider him at all.  She brushed the memory aside. She couldn’t allow herself to think about that time.

They
heard voices and laughter in the distance from many men who had made their way to town and chose to camp at the edge their lands.  Until she made her choice of a suitor, Abigail suspected that they’d remain squatters on their property.

Save for Thomas, they had all been seated at that table and began conversing about the town’s chatter in relation to Abigail Large’s arrival.  They were all amid laughter when Tess said that she was absolutely certain she viewed a female dressed as a man in the crowd rivaling for her attention.

That’s when
the shot rang out.

Abigail looked on in horror as Brice’s
black dinner jacket formed a growing circle of dampened blood upon his shoulder. He looked stunned for a moment as if he was trying to ascertain what had just occurred. Indeed, they all were dumbfounded by the startling event. Yet it was Brice who first rose from his seat, and quick as powder he grabbed Abigail’s arm and thrust her toward the door and to the safety of the house.  He whirled around to help Thomas and Tess but another shot rang out and a bullet whizzed above his head and met the awning above.

“What in the blazes is going on
?” Thomas shouted.

“Grab her arm,” Brice ordered.

With all the fretful excitement, Tess had caught a case of the vapors and swooned in the settee that was brought out to accommodate her size.  Abigail, fearing for Tess’s safety, returned outside and helped the men retrieve her.

“Get back in the house,” Brice shouted at her.

“You’ve been shot,” Abigail exclaimed. “You can’t possibly believe that you two can carry her on your own.”  Abigail didn’t wait for him to dispute her. There wasn’t time for it, and that was made clear when another shot rang out and shattered a Venetian goblet that sat on the table.  Brice used his body to shield and protect Abigail when she knelt down to Tess. She placed a couple hard taps against her cheeks and hoped to rouse her awake. “You need to wake up,” she ordered.

Tess opened her eyes and smiled
sweetly at Abigail.  Being overcome from fainting, she had forgotten about their dire circumstances.  Yet when another shot rang out, Tess was sorely reminded and jumped from her seat and quavered upon her feet when she tried to gather her balance.  Abigail led the way and Thomas and Brice took Tess by the arms and guided her to the house.

Brice
retrieved the quilt that was inside the sitting room where they earlier sat, and he gently placed it on Tess’s lap. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she said with a breath of relief.
Her smile broadened and she reached for his hand.  “You dear, sweet man, you saved me.” She then noticed the blood that was seeping into his clothing and exposed the existence of the wound beneath.  She pointed and began to speak but the vapors had made their way to inflict upon her gentle senses again.

John rushed to the room and ran to Thomas.
He caught a glimpse of Tess and gasped.  “Is she—?”

“She’s fine.
She just fainted,” Abigail assured. 

“Should I gather
the housemen to go after the assailant?”

“I
’m not hearing anymore shots or seeing anyone out there.  He’s probably long gone by now,” Thomas said as he cautiously peered out through the window panes.

Abigail looked
at Brice and the blood on his jacket appeared to increase in size. She raised her hand to her mouth and stifled a gasp.


Fetch me the medicine bag, bandages, and fresh water,” she ordered to John. “Take your jacket and shirt off, Brice,” she added, and led him to a chair.

“I’m fine, Abilene. It’s only a flesh wound,” he countered. “I saw much worse during the war.”

“I’ll not hear arguments.”  She pointed at the chair and silently commanded him to sit.

“If you feel you must tend to my wound, then I’m going to have to insist we take it to the other room.”  He nodded his head toward Tess.  “I don’t believe poor Abi
gail can handle another swoon.”

He was right
.  For such a strong woman she had very weak sensibilities.  Abigail looked at Tess.  Guilt ate at her gut for involving her in their hasty scheme. She could have been killed.  For that matter, they all could have been slain out on the terrace.

“Can you watch out for her, John,” Abigail asked as she retrieved the
supplies from him. 

“It’d be my pleasure.”
He knelt down to Tess and took her hand into his.

She led Brice into a spare bedroom on the other side of the kitchens.
It had become her mother’s room when she had taken ill with melancholy and hadn’t the energy or inclination to take the stairs.  A chair sat beneath the vanity and she pulled it out. “Sit,” she gently ordered.

BOOK: Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella)
2.38Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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