Chapter 9
ARABELLA
I watched the lump of sugar dissolve slowly into my tea, sinking and disappearing at the bottom of the cup. I could hardly blink, even though the steam was burning my eyes. All I could think of was one question, and it burned hotter than the porcelain cup against my hand.
What on earth had just happened?
Kate was just as confused as I was when I told her about Mr. Campbell’s visit with the daffodils, although far more optimistic about the situation.
She sat across from me in the drawing room of her townhouse in the Royal Crescent.
The pink furnishings suited her quite well, even if she did look a bit pale beside them.
She had told me that she had been feeling unwell, but the moment I sent word about Mr. Campbell’s sudden attention, she had invited me for tea that very afternoon.
“I won’t stay for long. You should be resting.
” I studied her pale cheeks again. Even her lips were lighter than usual.
She hadn’t told me what was ailing her besides being tired and having a delicate stomach.
I imagined living alone in Bath was quite lonesome, though she acted indifferent to her husband’s absence.
Mr. Ollerton remained in London, she had told me, but he wrote letters on occasion.
She took a careful sip from her teacup. “I am feeling much better today. Please, you must tell me every detail.” Her eager gaze met mine over the floral cup before she set it down on the tea table.
“I find it all so difficult to believe! I witnessed Mr. Campbell’s coldness toward you on many occasions…
especially at Lady Benton’s party. I thought you had given up that night. ”
“I had.” I scowled down at my gloved hands. “There is no explanation for his sudden attention. He asked me to dance at the assembly last night as well.”
Kate gasped. “You cannot be serious.”
“I rejected him.” I whispered that detail, knowing the dramatic response it was sure to earn.
Kate leaned forward, her jaw lowering even more. “You did not.”
“I did.” I gulped. “I don’t know what came over me. He seemed far too confident that I would say yes, and I felt a sudden desire to humble him.” I bit my lip. “But it only seemed to increase his desire to pursue me.”
Kate’s surprise slowly melted into a smile.
“I did tell you, did I not? Men enjoy chasing women, not the other way around. He must have secretly liked your attention, and when you withheld it, he became desperate for it.” Her grin took on a sneaky edge.
“Whatever it is that you’re doing, you mustn’t stop. ”
I exhaled sharply. “But perhaps I don’t want him to pursue me.”
“Arabella!” She scoffed. “You cannot change your mind now. Why would you waste your strength pursuing Sir William when Mr. Campbell is so obviously interested? You are running out of time and options.”
I met her gaze. She was right. She was the only person I had told about Freddy’s debts, and she understood how damaging it would be for my family if his forgery and debts were discovered.
Even my friendship with Kate would be endangered by such an outcome.
She wouldn’t be able to associate with me if I was tainted by Freddy’s reputation.
“My husband has worked closely with Mr. Russell before,” she said. “He is quite proactive when it comes to collecting debts on time. It is only a matter of time before he’ll begin calling upon Frederick asking for payment. He may even write to your brother in Dorset directly.”
My heart sank at her mention of Freddy’s creditor.
If it was discovered that Freddy had forged John’s signature, that was only the beginning of the problem.
If Freddy escaped the law, John would still cut him off.
I knew John well enough to suspect that he would punish me as well.
He would deny me opportunities, withhold my pin money, or worse.
I couldn’t bear the thought of being trapped in Dorset forever, living under John’s control like Mama.
Ever since John had inherited, the house no longer felt like home.
A calculated marriage to a man like Mr. Campbell still sounded much better than returning to that place.
“There is something so very strange about Mr. Campbell,” I blurted, interrupting my own thoughts. “He has been acting like an entirely different person ever since Lady Benton’s party.”
Kate brushed a golden curl from her forehead with an intrigued look. “I must see this for myself.”
“You will not believe your eyes.” I shook my head.
“He smiles. Frequently. And he flirts.” My voice lowered involuntarily to a whisper.
My ears warmed at the thought of his flirtatious smile when he had told me that I looked ‘too lovely to be hidden behind doors.’ Where the devil had that come from?
Kate laughed, resting her head against the back of the sofa. “It sounds like he truly does like you.”
“No! I refuse to believe it. He’s toying with me.” I narrowed my eyes. “I know it.”
Kate sighed. “What could he possibly stand to gain from courting you? Besides a beautiful wife, of course.”
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “I don’t know. But I do not trust him.”
“Proceed with caution then.” She shrugged, picking up her teacup again. “But proceed nonetheless. As your friend and ally, I’m afraid I must ask you to do something you might not wish to do.” She raised an eyebrow.
Dread sank through my stomach. “What?”
“Flirt with him in return.”
My eyes widened. “Do you know me at all? I don’t know how to flirt with gentlemen! All I know how to do is make strange comments…or impertinent ones, and act like I don’t care whether he lives or dies on the morrow!”
Kate snorted, nearly dropping her cup. “Perhaps Mr. Campbell likes that about you.”
“He does act entertained, at least,” I muttered. “But I despise the thought of flattering him.” I threw my hands out in front of me. “He is so arrogant and vexing and?—”
“Attractive?” Kate lifted one eyebrow.
I swallowed hard. “He is not bad -looking, I suppose. If one likes dark hair and blue eyes and fitted jackets.”
“Who doesn’t?” Kate whispered with a mischievous smile.
For a woman married to a blond man with brown eyes, she was quite open about her opinions.
In truth, I did find Mr. Campbell attractive.
Very. Even his blasted hands. I remembered how strong they had looked gripping the railing of the balcony in the assembly rooms. I shook the image from my mind.
Kate leaned back with a sigh. “Mr. Campbell is likely just as confused as you are. You went from following him all around Bath to acting cold and disinterested.”
“And he went from cold and disinterested to following me all around Bath.” I stared at the pink wall behind Kate, a sudden daze overcoming me.
Was she right? Was I being foolish for even questioning it?
I had very little time to secure a fortune, and Mr. Campbell was practically handing me one.
I didn’t need to understand the reason. If I let this opportunity pass by because of my pride, then Freddy and our entire family would never recover.
“This is what you wanted, is it not?” Kate gave me a baffled look that confirmed the conclusions I had just drawn in my head.
“Yes.” I looked down at my hands in my lap.
I twisted my fingers together, my heart in my throat.
On the surface, it was what I wanted. But deep inside, different hopes and dreams battled for my attention.
Before I could feel them, I buried them just as I had when I had first learned of Freddy’s disgrace and my new responsibility.
I couldn’t afford to be selfish at a time like this.
I had always planned on marrying eventually, but I had never imagined it would be like this.
I felt like I was appraising a horse rather than examining my heart for any feelings for the man I hoped to marry.
It was strange and unsettling. If I were to be honest with myself… it wasn’t actually what I wanted.
Not at all.
“Did you eventually fall in love with Mr. Ollerton?” The question burst out of my mouth without permission.
Kate blinked twice, as if I had startled her. A light laugh escaped her. “I have always found that to be an interesting concept.”
I frowned. “Love?”
Kate and I had never spoken about love. As far as I knew, she had treated her courtship like a business transaction.
She had set her attention on Mr. Ollerton in London, her mother had arranged their meeting, Kate had employed all her husband-catching tactics and showcased her accomplishments, and then Mr. Ollerton had negotiated with her father regarding her dowry.
“ Falling in love,” she clarified. “Falling sounds quite out of my control. Quite dangerous.” She grimaced.
“And quite painful. I have developed a fondness for Mr. Ollerton, to be sure. It is slow and steady and comfortable. That sounds much better to me than falling .” Her lips turned upward, but there was a distance in her gaze as she spoke.
“We are building a life together that suits society’s expectations. ”
“But he is in London, and you are…here. Do you miss him?”
Kate looked down. “I suppose I should. I do worry for him when he is in poor health. But I enjoy my freedom, and he enjoys his. If he ever misses me, I expect he will call me back to London.”
I nodded slowly, feeling suddenly guilty for even bringing up the subject.
Most of the time, Kate seemed truly happy with her decision.
But there were moments when I wondered if she was hiding the truth from me.
Since the moment I had confided in her about my plight, she had been eager to help me secure a wealthy match.
Perhaps she wanted company in her decision to marry for money rather than love—perhaps it would help her not feel so alone.
Either way, I was grateful for her help.
She might have had a choice in her reasons for marrying, but unfortunately I did not.
I studied her downcast eyes. “Well, I am glad you are here. I couldn’t do this without you.”
She smiled. “Let us hope Mr. Campbell calls upon you again.”
I reflected on his teasing smile and warm blue eyes. If I wasn’t careful, I would find myself hoping for the same thing…but for the wrong reasons entirely. My cheeks tingled with heat. Before I could think of him again, I stirred yet another sugar cube into my tea.