Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella) (8 page)

BOOK: Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella)
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Affectionately
Yours,

Brice Winslow

 

Abigail swiped the tears from her eyes and retrieved a handkerchief that she had previously
flung to the floor.

“Are you all right,” she heard Tess
softly ask from the doorway.

Abigail looked up and Thomas and Tess
stood side by side inside her doorway and looked at her with troubled expressions.  She felt foolish that an aged letter would bring her such distress, but she didn’t care.  Brice had sincerely cared for her at one time.  That alone gave her reason to feel hope and happiness.

Abigail nodded and smiled.  “Bittersweet tears,” she assured.

“My apologies for the letter, Abigail,” he offered.  “I never thought for a moment you didn’t receive it.  I had reckoned the contents were for the purpose of casting you off and that you had left for Baltimore to find solace.  I saw no reason to rehash the issue of the note, so I never asked.”

“After Maggie
warned me of Brice’s upcoming nuptials, and it following so soon after losing our parents, I couldn’t bear to stay in town.  I needed a fresh start somewhere far from here.”  She stood up and reached for her brother’s hand.  “Had I received this letter then, I’d still have made the same decision to leave.”

“And what was in the letter?” Thomas asked.

“From the look on her face, I believe that is to remain private,” Tess smiled.  She patted Abigail on the back.  “If you’re truly all right, I’m going to return to my backgammon game with John.”

“John? 
Our John?” she asked grinning.

“The very one,” she laughed.  “I reckon a peaceful evening with a gentleman will be a far cry from what tomorrow will bring at the raffle.”

“Oh, Tess, there are so many horrid men who’ve come to vie for your hand.  I am truly sorry we have placed you in such an imposition. I surely hope my brother is paying you handsomely for your inconvenience.”

“Thomas rolled his eyes heavenward.

“Your dowry may match a King’s fortune, dear, but your brother is paying me a Queen’s ransom for my efforts.  Worry not about my comforts.  After this show, I shall be living in luxury for the rest of my days.”

“That is, if Brice’s attacker doesn’t catch us in his
sights.”  She looked at Thomas.  “And what have you learned of that?  Have you discovered any news from your inquiries?”

Thomas pulled a
gold, antique watch from his vest pocket that had belonged to their father.  “No, I haven’t, but I have a man coming shortly with an update on the subject.”  Thomas pocketed the watch into his vest and turned to Abigail.  “I only have a few moments to spare, so I shall make this brief,” he said, and Thomas’s expression held great concern.  “As we all agree the assailant is trying to prevent Brice from having undue advantage with Tess, I feel it may be beneficial to him if you and Brice were to publically court.  The attacker may believe his heart lies outside of Abigail’s dowry.”

“No,” Abigail nearly shouted.

“Are you worried you may be harmed,” Tess asked.

“Although I probably should be, that isn’t why I protest.”  She looked at Tess and held her by the shoulders in a firm grasp.  “Tess, I am going to just say it outright.”  Abigail looked sternly in her
sapphire eyes that nearly mirrored her own in shape and size.  “Brice is falling in love with you.”

Tess laughed.

“I’m serious, Tess,” she assured.  “It was not even an hour ago that he confessed it to me.”

Tess smiled and cupped her hands gently on Abigail’s cheeks.  “Darling, I have known more men that I care to admit, and I can attest that I know their ways well. Brice Winslow hasn’t an inkling of love for me.
”  She looked at Thomas and whispered in Abigail’s ear, “Being a woman of much experience, I would sense such affections.”

“Of course he does.  In fact, he even shamelessly admitted that he had a fondness for you and me both.  And not only does he hope, but he expects me to pursue him
whilst he courts you!  Have you ever heard of anything so indecent?”

Tess shook her head and smiled. 
“Oh, sweetheart, I do believe Mister Brice Winslow is wise to your scheme.”

“Surely he isn’t,” Abigail and Thomas repeated in unison.

“Oh Thomas, surely
you
see it.” Tess laughed. “He’s playing Abigail as you two have been playing him.”

Abigail frowned.  “Perhaps we hadn’t fooled him at all.”

“It would appear Mister Winslow has put me out of a job,” Tess smiled.


You’re not high tailing it out of here just yet, Miss Tess” Thomas exclaimed. “Even if Winslow is aware of our ruse, we still need you to keep the thousands of other men at bay until we get Abigail married.”

“It’s not that I
must
marry, Thomas,” Abigail countered.

“As long as that dowry is up for grabs, you will never have a normal life.  Marriage will set you free of its restraints.”

Abigail looked down at the letter that was still in her hand. “Well, if I must marry, then I want it to be Brice.”

“Despite that it may be for the purpose of your dowry?”  Thom
as frowned.  “Abigail, this farce was in place to prevent that from occurring. I’ll not idly stand by and see you marry a man who doesn’t truly love you or is undeserving of your love in return.”

“Then we’
ll come up with another ruse,” Abigail suggested.

“Well, dear sister,
my bag is currently empty of tricks.”

“What if we brought another woman into the mix and say she is the true Abigail Large.
  We can confuse him with our numbers.”

“He’d
never fall for it,” Tess said.  “What you need now is honesty.”

“Honesty
?” Thomas and Abigail asked in shocked unison.

Tess warily eyed them
and raised her arms in the air.  “Are you both that unfamiliar with telling the truth?”

“Perhaps Tess is right.
Maybe we should try our hand at honesty.”  She looked at Tess and smiled.  “What do you propose we do?”


First and foremost, you must remove the shadows that have been cast over him that’s making his decisions based on needs and not his wants.”

Abigail pondered the suggestion for a moment.  “I think that is a fine idea but how do you
propose we go about the task as we are not privy to his financial burdens?”

“I
’ve already investigated his financial affairs,” Thomas shamelessly admitted. “His only pressing debt is his plantation and stock.”  He looked at Tess.  “I’ll send him the clear deed to the property and see to it his debts are clear.”

“That is very generous of you,” Abigail said.  “More generous than I’ve ever known you to be to someone outside family.”  She eyed him distrustfully
and walked in stood in front of him.  “Why?”

“I have my reasons, dear sister.”  He reached for her shoulders and gently pushed her aside.  “Continue with your plan, Tess,” Thomas directed.

“You must tell Mister Winslow the truth about who you are before he has a chance to call you out on it first.”  She smiled at Abigail.  “He’ll need to know that he can trust the woman he is to call his bride.”

“And you truly think this will work, Tess?”

“I have seen how Mister Winslow looks at you, Abigail.  He is already on your hook; you just need to reel him in.”

“Then I shall tell him before the raffle
.  Perhaps he’ll accompany me to the barbeque and announce our engagement,” she said excitedly.

CHAPTER SEVEN

             

“Mister Brice Winslow has arrived,” John announced
.

“Please, see him in, John.”  Abigail fidgeted with the
embroidered handkerchief in her hand.  She wasn’t sure what response she’d receive from Brice.  She suspected he may be angry.  What man wouldn’t be after having the wool pulled over his eyes?  That is, if they had succeeded in fooling him at all, she thought. 

Brice
commanded the room by his manly appearance.  He removed his hat, and unlike when she saw him last, he had his hair neatly pulled back with a piece of twine and it emphasized the strong bone structure of his face.  His black suit was neat and clean and lacked for even one wrinkle.  For an unmarried man, he always appeared exceedingly well kept, Abigail thought.  A refreshing aroma of mint accompanied him inside the room and she smiled.

“Please sit
,” she said quietly.  She waved her arm toward the white and blue settee across from where she sat. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Brice tilted his head and looked
at her suspiciously.  Foregoing the distance she wished to have between them, Brice sat next to her and deposited his top hat to his other side.

Abigail
lowered her head and collected her thoughts.  Her fingers nervously twiddled atop her lap and Abigail’s green silk dress threatened to be soiled by the dampness of her palms.

Abigail softly cleared her throat. 
“I believe it’d be best if I get to the heart of the matter and have my say over with right quickly.”


I’d appreciate that,” Brice said when she paused.

“I am not
Abigail’s cousin Abilene, but rather the true Abigail Large.”

Brice
played the true gentleman and appeared surprised.

“No need to be polite, Brice.  I know you’re aware of who I truly am.
I am just unsure how long you’ve known.”

Brice smiled.

“Well?” she pressed. “How long have you known?”

“When I saw you at the station I strongly suspected it was you.”

“But you weren’t sure?”

“No.  It wasn’t
completely certain until I saw you rifling through the calling cards.  It was then I was certain.”

“Truly?” she asked amazed.  “
I don’t recall undertaking anything out of the ordinary.”


That was precisely your error.  It was the ordinary for Abigail.  The anger on your face and the bitter utterances toward the townsmen gave your secret clearly away.  Your expression and words were familiar to the way you were years ago and still are, Abigail.  The woman whom you have posing as yourself doesn’t possess such poor qualities.”

“You dare sit here and insult me?” she snipped.  Abigail scooted away from him and turned to face him.  “I don’t particularly like your tone, sir.”

“And I don’t particularly care
for your attitude, Miss Abigail.”

They sat for several minutes in silence until the maid brought them tea and biscuit refreshments
and left. 

They went untouched. 

“I found your letter,” Abigail finally said to break the unnerving silence.

“I gather by our last meeting that it
’s the first you have read it,” he said.

“Yes.  I
t had been inadvertently misplaced after you had given it to Thomas.”

“So you now know why I didn’t show up
to escort you to the dance?”

“Yes,” she said quietly.

He looked at her thoughtfully.  “I had heard what transpired at the dance by you arriving alone.  I am truly sorry that I was the cause of that pain.”

“As everyone
believed I lied about your intentions on escorting the fat girl, I was easy fodder for the swine that night.”

“Why must you do that?” he said aggravated.

“Do what?” she asked defensively, unaware what had raised his dander.

“Belittle yourself.”

“I was the fat girl. It’s simply stating a fact.”

“No, you were a pretty girl.  You were an intelligent girl.  You were a delightfully entertaining girl once known.”  Brice
heavily sighed.  “Yet, when
you
look back into your past, you only see yourself as that
fat girl
.”

“Well, I’m no longer
fat,” she said.  “So it is no longer an issue.”

“No, it is still an issue
with you, Abigail.  Branding yourself as the “fat girl” is as clearly observable as my father-in-law’s ironing. You’ll not let yourself step out of that past girl’s dark shadow.  In many ways, your scars are even more obvious than the brand that had been burned onto Edward’s face.”

“Yet it is what it is
, Mister Winslow.  Although different circumstances, Edward and I have been scarred. Even you cannot argue that.”


Your scars are mostly self-inflicted, Abigail.  His scar is not.  Edward’s scar and circumstances has made him into a bitter man full of hate inside. You’re allowing yours to do the same.  Indeed, you were of healthy size, Abigail.  But you are so much more than that. You were then and you are now.  Unless you let that go and embrace your good qualities, you’ll never truly be happy.  Not with anyone you are with, and most certainly not with yourself.”

BOOK: Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella)
3.15Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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