Page 48 of Stolen Time

Sheltering behind the bushes gave him a moment to make sure his tie was straight, and he took another moment to reach up and push his hair back from his forehead. Someone watching him would probably have thought he looked calm and collected enough, but inside, his heart wouldn’t stop racing.

Had any other prospective consort ever approached this important moment with such overwhelming dread?

Maybe, somewhere far back in their clan’s history. Much was always made of the belief that aprimaand her consort were soul mates, and that they would never be bonded in such a manner if they weren’t truly compatible in every way possible, but even before now, Seth had wondered how much truth lay in thosereassuring tales, in the way some kind of overwhelming passion was supposed to flare between them the very second their lips touched. It seemed much more likely that, while aprimaand her consort might have enough in common to rub along together fairly well, their supposed “connection” was as much a fluke of biology as anything else.

Well, he couldn’t hide here in the bushes forever, no matter how much he might like to avoid the coming kiss. A quick glance down Paradise Lane told him no one seemed to be around, so he emerged from his cover and strode over to the path that bisected the front yard’s neat green lawn, then made himself climb the porch steps.

He’d barely lifted his hand to touch the knocker when the door opened, revealing a smiling Mabel. She, too, seemed to have deemed this occasion worthy of some effort, because she wore a silk dress that usually only made an appearance at various McAllister family functions, and the long string of pearls that her husband Abraham had bought her for their twenty-fifth anniversary hung around her neck.

“Right on time,” she said in approving tones, then stepped aside so he could enter the foyer. “You must be eager to share the consort’s kiss.”

Eagerness had nothing to do with it. He knew it would have been disrespectful to be late to such an important meeting, and that was why he’d made sure to be prompt…even as he’d wanted to use his gift to send himself someplace far, far away from here.

Doing so would have disgraced his family, though, which meant he hadn’t allowed such a traitorous notion to linger in his mind for more than a minute or two.

He forced a smile, saying politely, “And how are you and Abigail today?”

“Very well,” Mabel replied, beaming in response. “In fact, she’s waiting for you in the back sitting room. I thought you would have a little more privacy there.”

Seth wasn’t sure whether that was a good or a bad thing. While he’d inwardly dreaded the idea of having to kiss his cousin in the front parlor, a place that was far more public, he also didn’t know how he felt about having to do such a thing in a more intimate setting.

If he truly was Abigail’s consort, she might want to further prove their connection with another kiss.

No, she’s shy and retiring,he reassured himself.It will be enough for her to know that you’re the one.

He hoped.

“That was kind of you,” he managed as he followed Mabel down the corridor that bisected the ground floor of the house and then into the room in question.

Abigail stood by the big window that overlooked the backyard, now a cheerful explosion of flowers in all colors of the rainbow, everything from bright yellow and red hollyhocks standing tall against the back fence to cheerful pansies dancing along the footpath that led to the rear gate. As usual, his cousin wore one of the pale colors she preferred, this one a soft rose, but a false bloom in her cheeks and on her lips seemed to signal that her mother had applied some subtle cosmetics, enough to make Abigail seem a little more grown-up than she usually appeared.

“I’ll just be in the kitchen,” Mabel announced. “You two come get me when it’s over.”

She sounded supremely confident, as if she believed that the entire universe, their beloved goddess Bridget included, had already blessed the match.

Seth wasn’t nearly so certain, but he only nodded and said, “Of course,prima,” even as Abigail also murmured some sort of assent.

Mabel departed then, leaving the two of them alone. One awkward moment stretched into another, and he realized he needed to say something.

“You’re looking very well, Abigail. That color suits you.”

One hand brushed against the smooth cotton of her drop-waist dress, which he now noticed had ecru roses embroidered at the cuffs and around the neckline. Probably her finest summer frock, something she’d most likely worn in an attempt to impress him.

Seth had to admit she was looking prettier than usual, but she still couldn’t hold a candle to Deborah’s vivid beauty, her full lips…a body that managed to be slim and lush at the same time.

Don’t think about Deborah,he admonished himself.Or at least, don’t think about her until this is all over.

“Some lemonade?” Abigail offered, and for the first time, he noticed the cut-glass pitcher sitting on a silver tray on the coffee table, with two matching glasses placed nearby.

Come to think of it, his throat was awfully dry.

Pouring the lemonade and having a sip would put off the fateful moment for just a bit longer.

“Yes, please,” he replied.

She poured a glass for each of them, then gave one to him. As she did so, he couldn’t help noticing the way her hand shook slightly.

Poor kid,he thought.She’s probably even more nervous about this whole thing than I am.

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