The Perfect Question by Angeline Fortin

Author:Angeline Fortin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love at first sight, friends to lovers, second chance at love, strong female character, highland romance
Publisher: Angeline Fortin
Published: 2012-09-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

What would men be without women?

Scarce, sir...mighty scarce.

~ Mark Twain

114 Mount Street, London

Two Days Later

The Merrill’s leased townhome on Mount Street was much more in line with what Richard thought the Earl of Haddington might be persuaded to let for the Season. The Boughton’s Belgrave Square home was six stories and eight windows marking the width, with a white limestone exterior and Grecian columns bespeaking wealth and influence. This Mount Street residence was compact with only three narrow windows spanning the front, and but four stories in height. The red brick exterior was simple with little embellishment. Several replicas of it dotted the newly renovated neighborhood.

While it suited the tight-fisted Haddington, he couldn’t imagine Abby inside. She’d always been one for wide-open spaces and the outdoors. It was hard to picture her in this cramped space. He would see for himself though, once he knocked upon the door.

He hadn’t seen her in a brace of days, her amusements during that time straying from the political crowd he and Francis had been cultivating. Richard had forced himself to acknowledge how his life should be prioritized and not consciously seek her out, especially when it didn’t seem that she wanted him about. More than that, however, he knew that he shouldn’t be in her company for the simple reason that she somehow made it possible for him to forget. To, if only for a short while, be relieved of his burden.

Relief he shouldn’t have. It robbed him of his focus and the loss of that determination to succeed only added guilt to the simple fact that he was failing. Their hope for assistance was dwindling and he was becoming more disheartened as the days passed. Francis had spent most of the previous night commiserating with Jack over a bottle of excellent Scotch, but he wanted more than to drown his sorrows.

He wanted Abby.

For as much as she was an unwanted distraction, she offered a sympathetic ear to his concerns. Simply voicing aloud his doubts and hearing her calm reassurance restored his faith that in the end, everything would be all right. Even amid the disappointments of the last couple of days, he could remember how her presence at his side in the park had soothed away the pain. And he wanted more.

Of course, he wasn’t certain if she would see him or not, but with a resolute hand, he raised the brass knocker and let it fall.

He needed her.

A butler lacking all the starchiness one might expect of a London servant opened the door. “May I help you, gent?” the butler asked with a slight Cockney accent as he gave Richard a long look with the sort of appreciation he didn’t generally receive from those of his gender.

“Captain Richard MacKintosh to see Lady Abygail.”

The butler’s brow rose curiously, showing more emotion in that single look than the Glenrothes butler, Godfrey, had shown over the course of Richard’s entire life. “Lady Abygail is with another caller at the moment, sir.”

“I will wait.”

“Very well, sir.

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