Ch 11: you have been alone

She was a lot stronger than she looked, "Mr. Ross has told me about your cousin's passing. I'm so sorry." Abigail mumbled her thank you. She had spoken to the woman a few times when she would call to speak to Alice but never met her. She looked as kind as she sounded.

"I have the spare room prepared for you next to Mr. Ross ." She carried on, " Alice's not home from school yet, but she was excited to know that you were coming…" Miss Bennett looked past Abigail's shoulder to Owen, flushed and fell silent, "I'd better get dinner on."

She continued quickly before hurrying from the room. Abigail turned around knowing he had silenced the housekeeper slash, cook with some gesture, but she also never missed what she had just said.

"How did she know I was coming?" she said shooting him an accusing look while crossing her arms under her breasts. "And don't tell me you called her, I was with you every minute since we left the cemetery and none of those phone calls were from home after I agreed to come here."

With Miss Bennett 's guilty look Abigail realized that he'd always intended to have her stay with them, but he'd presented it to her in such a way that made it seem to be her choice.

He was good. Good. How could he have planned all of this in such a short time without her knowledge and make it seem like a sudden decision? "Abigail, you couldn't possibly want to be alone—" He started to explain until she interrupted.

"—Owen," she said exasperated, "I have been alone for a long time. I don't like my life dictated to me." His expression didn't betray his guilt in the least but she knew he was guilty of preparing for her arrival even before she agreed to it.

Owen had a soft spot for her because of her cousin, and he also knew how independent she was. "You had the option not to come.

I didn't quite force you." He added softly. Placing the palm of her hand on her forehead she expelled a breath of frustration. Somehow she didn't think she did have a choice. Everything he put forth today seemed like a spur of the moment suggests.

Yet she knew nothing Owen did was a spur of the moment, but this was still a complete surprise. He had everything planned down to her staying with them. When in all the years had she known him that he did something spontaneously?

He strategized, looked for weaknesses, and conquered. She had known him too long and he hadn't counted on that.

Bringing her eyes back to his, she noticed that he was studying her silently and his handsome gaze still gave nothing away. Again she knew his intelligent mind was strategizing her responses and how to countermand them.

"Your proposal. How long have you wanted to ask me? Before you deny it, remember how long we've known each other. I know it's out of respect for Joseph that you don't want me to be alone, but you should at least be honest with me."

He stood straight and thrust his hands into the pockets of his slacks while staring down at her with those striking golden eyes. Taking back control, she thought.

She wouldn't have expected anything less. If she was watching the power play with him and someone else, she would be no less than impressed at how easily he was able to take command of the situation. However, she still had some tricks herself. As she said, she knew him.

"Joseph's been gone for almost two years in the service, you have been alone." Not surprisingly, he didn't answer her question, but the mention of 'two years' nearly had her speechless.