Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella) Read Online Free

Abigail to the settee on the other side of the room.  “I apologize, Abigail.  I never expected such mayhem to arise over your dowry, I swear it.”
    “Now that it has, you need to correct it.”
    “And how do you propose I do that?  I cannot rescind your dowry, as I haven’t the authority since it’s stated in our father’s will.”
    She groaned out her frustration and Thomas sat looking all balled up inside.  Abigail smiled forgivingly at him and patted his hand.  “It’s all right, Thomas.  Perhaps it’s best if I just return home to Baltimore.  In time, all will settle and return back to normal.”
    “You ’re not able to do that either, Abigail.”
    “Why in the world not?”
    Thomas anxiously shifted his position on the settee several times until he stood and walked back to his desk.  He ruffled through some papers inside a drawer until he retrieved and held a telegram in his hand. Protectively covering the ear that was nearest Abigail, he sat down beside her.
    “ That,” he said as he handed her the message, “Is just one of many I received from our Northern friends.” Thomas winced before he added, “News has reached Baltimore about your dowry and has been published in The Baltimore Sun .  Since the day you left, men have been lining up for several city blocks at your residence.”  After his confession, Thomas held his ear tighter than a calf’s mouth to its mother’s teat and he cautiously leaned away from Abigail.
    Abigail tw eaked his nose, and even harder than she had previously done so with his ear.  “You’ve ruined my life, Thomas,” she moaned.
    “It wasn’t my intent, Abigail, ” he nasally returned as he tightly held the tip of his nose.
    The door to Thomas’s study hurled open and rebounded off the adjoining wall’s oak wainscoting and then slammed shut with Brice Winslow inside.  His manly good looks were enough to take Abigail’s breath away, but it was the surprise of his abrupt entrance that caught the air within her lungs.  He charged to the middle of the room and was angrier than a bag full of snakes.
    “Where the hell is Abigail?” he demanded, and he glowered down at Thomas.  Abigail stepped protectively behind the settee.  Brice’s hands rested on his hips and frustration etched deep within his brow.  Thomas cleared his throat and walked toward Brice.  Abigail thought her brother was a fool if not frightened of the massive man who loomed threateningly over him, yet she watched Thomas as he kept his ground and stood in front of Brice, unafraid.
    “What is the meaning of this?” Abigail countered .  She feared that if she didn’t intervene, her brother may entice the already irritated Brice Winslow into a physical altercation.
    “He owes me a bride, and yet again another day has passed and she hasn’t arrived.  I just came from the station and she’s not on today’s stage either, nor has she come by way of rail.  Have you not yet informed her that I’m willing to marry her?”
    “Willing?” Abigail repeated , annoyed.
    Brice was almighty mad and Abigail rounded the settee and stood in front of him.  She placed a consolatory hand upon his shoulder and forced a smile up at him.  Abigail didn’t expect her mouth to go suddenly dry or the lump that formed in her throat by the feel of his muscular frame beneath his frock coat.  And she certainly didn’t expect the chill that coursed through her body by her slightest touch upon him.  Yet what astounded Abigail the most was when Brice Winslow returned her smile. It showed interest and desire when he looked into her eyes.  But that didn’t remain long.
    “Perhaps Abigail isn’t as eager to make her way down the aisle with you, as you are with her.  Have you considered that, Mister Winslow?”
    Brice looked as if she slapped him.  Abigail supposed he indeed did not consider that a possibility.  She also concluded that Brice Winslow lost any inkling of fancies for her when his stare