Chapter 12
ARABELLA
T he more I drank the mineral water, the more I tolerated it.
I took a small sip from my cup as I exited the Pump Room with Kate.
The streets were crowded, as usual, even at such an early hour.
Morning light peeked through the clouds, warming the air just enough to make my spencer jacket uncomfortably hot.
Kate had been drinking the waters for the last week and had claimed that they settled her stomach.
My stomach hadn’t required settling until my meeting with Mr. Campbell two days before, but ever since, it had been fluttering with nerves and uncertainty.
I hadn’t heard from him since our picnic, but Kate assured me that a short delay was nothing to fret about.
I hadn’t confessed to her that I had actually enjoyed myself that afternoon.
That was, perhaps, the most unsettling part.
I had become quite fixated on the moment Mr. Campbell had wiped the ice cream from my chin, and how intently he had looked at me while doing so.
Never had I felt so vulnerable from a simple look.
The warmth in his eyes combined with the soft curve of his lips had made me rather breathless, and I had remained so for nearly two days—at least whenever the memory came to mind.
Thankfully Aunt Julia was afraid of bees.
It had given me the opportunity to escape and think through what had just occurred on that rug in Mr. Campbell’s garden.
I had felt attracted to him.
I had felt safe and comfortable…and it was entirely impermissible.
In order to maintain control over the courtship and my desired outcome, I would need to maintain control over my heart.
And no matter how much it pained me to admit it, Mr. Campbell was intriguing.
Not only that, but I was beginning to find him agreeable.
The combination of those two things—with a dash of attraction—was what caused an unsuspecting lady to fall madly in love.
Thankfully, I was not unsuspecting. I was very suspicious indeed.
Now that I understood the great possibility of developing an attachment to Mr. Campbell, I would tread even more carefully.
With my arm linked through Kate’s, we walked toward the Abbey.
I continued to sip my mineral water as I observed the grand architecture surrounding us.
A sense of calm rushed over my shoulders, and my stomach began to settle.
Perhaps the water did have healing abilities.
But then a voice, deep and quiet, came from my left.
“Mrs. Ollerton, how do you do?”
I didn’t recognize the face of the man beside me at first, but I felt Kate stiffen at my side.
“Mr. Russell, good morning.” Kate exchanged a polite bow with the man and I quickly followed suit.
My heart climbed to my throat. I had only heard of Freddy’s creditor, but I had never seen his face.
Mr. Russell was tall with one deep wrinkle between his eyebrows.
His hair, light brown mixed with gray, curled forward along the edges of his face.
He doffed his hat, and though his expression was polite, it unsettled my stomach all over again.
Kate was silent for a moment, but the pressure to maintain her manners seemed to prevail. “Might I make known to you my dear friend, Miss Arabella Sharp.”
I noted a shift in Mr. Russell’s eyes at the sound of my name. “Sharp? Are you a relative of Mr. Frederick Sharp?”
I felt my pulse quicken in my neck, but nodded with as much calmness as I could muster. “Frederick is my brother.”
Mr. Russell’s head inclined slightly, his brows lifting. “Is that so? I could not have hoped for a more timely encounter. I have been trying to contact your brother for some days now with no reply.”
A chill settled low in my chest. “Ah.” I managed a small laugh. “Frederick is quite busy. I hardly know where to find him myself most days. He mentioned something about leaving town yesterday. I’m not certain when he will return.” The lie came out too quickly.
Mr. Russell’s gaze lingered on my face. “That is disappointing.”
I gave him an oblivious look. “Why is that?”
He looked down at the ground with a faint chuckle. “I would not wish to burden you with the details of his business with me. But I find myself at present engaged in a matter of some inconvenience concerning your brother. I should like to resolve the matter swiftly.”
My arm tightened around Kate’s. I frowned in confusion. “Oh. I was not aware he was of such consequence to you.”
“On the contrary.” Mr. Russell adjusted his hat. “He has made himself very much so.”
I maintained my look of concern, but fear crept through my chest. Could Mr. Russell see that I was not as ignorant as I appeared?
Perhaps he was trying to discern what I knew about Freddy’s loan and the note he had forged from John.
Dread dropped through my stomach. Had he somehow discovered the forgery?
No—I stopped myself. If he had proof, then he would have already involved the law.
That didn’t mean he didn’t have suspicions, though.
I put on a gentle smile. “My brother has a talent for attracting notice, I fear. Though I assure you, it is rarely of any lasting importance.”
“Of course, and I have no wish to distress you. Perhaps you might advise your brother, when next you are in communication with him, that I should be most eager to conclude our business.”
“I would be glad to do so.” I smiled warmly in the hopes of softening that line between his brows, but he continued to bear it as he turned away.
“Thank you. Good day, Miss Sharp.” His eyes lingered on my face as he lowered his head. “And Mrs. Ollerton.”
“Good day, sir.” My voice wavered slightly.
I held my chin high as he walked away, but my stomach continued sinking.
I didn’t dare take another sip of my water for fear of vomiting.
Freddy could no longer leave his room if he was to avoid being confronted by Mr. Russell.
I would have to warn him, but at the moment, all I could do was stare at Mr. Russell’s retreating form.
How much did he know? How much time did we have?
My heart hammered rapidly. “Do you think he knows about the forgery?” I whispered.
Kate scowled in Mr. Russell’s direction. “Surely not. But he must be eager to receive his payment.”
“What if he does know?” Panic clutched my chest.
Kate took my hand gently, her green eyes flooding with concern.
“It would be no small matter if he discovered that. You would be aware of it immediately. As would Frederick.” She paused, glancing from side to side.
“I was speaking with Mrs. Northbrook, whose husband is a barrister. The law against forgery, particularly when it comes to bank notes, is stricter than I previously imagined. I didn’t wish to apply additional pressure to your situation, but social ruin is the least of your concerns.
So is exile or imprisonment.” She swallowed.
“If Frederick is caught, he would likely face execution.”
My head spun. I hadn’t known that was possible. “I do not feel well,” I muttered, putting a hand to my forehead. I felt suddenly faint, my stomach in knots. My warm spencer jacket was not helping the situation.
Kate pulled me into the shaded alley between two buildings, her eyes darting behind us. “You cannot show it. Not now.”
“What?”
“Mr. Campbell is approaching.” Kate’s frantic gaze made me aware of the urgency of the situation. I didn’t have time to question how close he was before I heard his voice from behind me.
“Miss Sharp, are you all right?” The deep, rich tone did little to calm my nerves. I turned slowly, willing myself to appear confident.
Mr. Campbell stood halfway in the sun, halfway in the shade.
The genuine concern in his features made me realize how indisposed I must have appeared.
A trickle of sweat escaped my brow, running downward toward my ear.
My spencer jacket stuck to my back, and my pulse still raced from my encounter with Mr. Russell.
“I am well. Perfectly well.” My voice came out slightly breathless. “It’s quite hot today.”
Mr. Campbell stepped farther into the shade, and Kate released me at the same moment. I shot her a look of dismay, but Mr. Campbell was already touching both my arms, holding me steady. “You look like you might faint.”
“No.” I laughed. “I feel much better already.”
“You’re pale.”
“So are you.” I looked up at his face. In truth, he was slightly flushed.
I was overly aware of his hands on my arms, and I didn’t want them to move.
He could hold me steady as long as he wanted.
Perhaps we would draw the attention of a gossipmonger and he would marry me to defend my honor.
That would solve my problems quite quickly.
“Who was that man?” Mr. Campbell asked, brow furrowed.
I still felt lightheaded, but my senses were returning one by one. “Who?”
“The one you were just speaking to.”
I couldn’t give Mr. Campbell even the slightest hint about Freddy’s debt, so I shrugged. “His name is Mr. Russell. We just became acquainted.”
Mr. Campbell’s jaw tightened. “You seemed upset by him.”
“Why were you watching me?” I asked in an accusatory voice.
“I happened to be nearby.”
I blinked fast, my head swimming. “ Or you were contriving to be where I was.”
His mouth twisted in a small smile, his eyes still boring into mine. “Would that flatter or frighten you?”
I found myself trapped by his gaze, and for some reason, my pulse had still not returned to normal. A breath of wind rustled his hair, tunneling down the alley toward us. “A little of both, I suppose.”
The smile on his lips grew only slightly, but I noticed.
I had forgotten that Kate still stood nearby, so I snapped my gaze away from Mr. Campbell’s mouth.
Why had I been looking there in the first place?
I took a step back, causing his hands to fall away from my arms. I realized that I still held my cup of water, but it quaked in my grip.
I cleared my throat. “I thank you for your concern, Mr. Campbell, but I was not upset by Mr. Russell.”
“He is not another of your suitors, is he?” Mr. Campbell asked.
I scoffed. “No! No, of course not.” I nearly shuddered at the thought.
Mr. Campbell must have been jesting, because he smiled again. “Good. I should like to be your only one.”
My heart jumped, and I didn’t miss the way Kate’s eyes flew open wide. I had no idea how to respond, so I resorted to my usual tone of flippancy. “You might take up that concern with the other gentlemen of Bath. I have no control over their pursuit of me.”
Mr. Campbell didn’t appear deterred by my answer but only amused as usual. A low laugh escaped him. “I shall bear that in mind.”
Hopefully Kate approved of my efforts to encourage a challenging chase for Mr. Campbell.
I was never certain if I had taken the endeavor too far.
If he thought there was competition, then maybe he would progress the courtship a little faster.
That was precisely what I needed now that Mr. Russell was in search of Freddy.
Kate’s warning about execution made my stomach heave.
“Will you be attending the Beresfords’ dinner party this evening?” Mr. Campbell asked.
A wave of relief rolled through me. Had he been invited too?
I had been debating sending my regrets to the Beresfords and remaining at home for the evening, but that was what the tired, weak Arabella would do.
I had to be resilient if I was going to manage to obtain a husband in the next few weeks. “I will. Are you planning to attend?”
“It does sound much more attractive now. I will be there.”
A flutter rustled inside my stomach. I wanted to blame the bitter mineral water for the sensation, but the cause was more likely to be the flirtatious tone in Mr. Campbell’s voice. “I will see you there, then.”
“Until tonight, Miss Sharp.” The pause after my name was filled with such an intent look that I forgot how to reply. All I did was nod and watch him leave, my mind racing and spinning with all that had occurred in such a short span of time.
Kate’s voice sliced through the air. “You cannot tell me you do not want to kiss that man.”
I whirled to face her, surprised at the devilish grin on her face. “Kate!”
“I saw it in your eyes.” She fanned her face with one hand. “I daresay I saw the same thing in his.”
I scowled down at the cobblestones beside my feet. “I suppose I should hope for that, though I have a difficult time believing it.”
“That he will kiss you?”
“No! That his pursuit of me is genuine.” I didn’t dare imagine how I would react to a kiss from Mr. Campbell. It was better for me not to imagine it at all.
“What else could it be? I have no doubt that you will be engaged before Mr. Russell causes any trouble.”
I bit my lower lip. I didn’t have time to fret about Mr. Campbell at the moment.
I needed to warn Freddy and instruct him to remain home at all hours.
He would not be joining us at the Beresfords’ that evening, that much was certain.
My need to secure a proposal had never been greater.
I couldn’t afford to be swept up by notions of romance with Mr. Campbell.
It would only cloud my judgment, and I needed my wits about me if I was going to secure him in time.
Not only did Freddy’s reputation depend on it, but so might his life.