Chapter 29
ARABELLA
D ear Kate,
Are you faring well in London with Mr. Ollerton?
You must tell me everything, even how boringly pleasant the weather is, for I am in desperate need of a friend and a distraction.
I hope my letters are reaching you, as I have used the very last of my coins to send them, and without so much as a single reply.
I will forgive you this once, for I know you must be quite occupied.
Although perhaps not as occupied as I have been.
Sir William has called often enough now that Mrs. Wickerton and others in Bath have taken notice.
We danced thrice at the assembly rooms last week, which has led me and many others in town to believe he will soon make an offer.
The only ease I feel at the prospect is that I most likely won’t have to ensnare him in order to be one step closer to sealing a happier fate for Freddy.
I know you must be curious about Mr. Campbell, but I have nothing to report but that we have kept our distance from one another since I bid him farewell in Sydney Gardens.
You ought to be here to advise me on how to properly accept a proposal, though I suspect you would only laugh at my inability to be charming.
Even despite my shortcomings, Sir William already looks at me with great admiration, and I have done little more than speak politely and allow him to hand me refreshments.
Perhaps that has always been the secret to securing a man with a fortune.
Please write as soon as you can.
Yours affectionately,
Arabella
I stamped the letter with a wax seal before taking it, along with the last of my coins, down to Milsom Street with Hannah.
We walked along the crowded street, dodging horses, carriages, and even horse droppings. The day Clark had laughed at his own misfortune of stepping in the manure should have been the day I realized he wasn’t Colin.
My heart stung each time I thought of him.
I had hoped time would put distance between us, but it seemed to draw him closer to my heart instead.
The gossip about Colin’s mysterious twin brother had been circulating throughout town, and while it had been a welcome distraction from any talk of my courtship with Sir William, I felt unable to escape the memory of Clark and the time we had spent together.
Regrettable as it was, I would cherish it always, even if it kept my heart from ever truly healing.
It had taken all of my strength, but I hadn’t wavered in my determination to move forward in my courtship with Sir William. There was not yet an official understanding between us, but I was confident that he would make his intentions known soon enough.
Poor Freddy had been losing his mind confined to our rooms, and Aunt Julia had tried to drag him out on more than one occasion. I took comfort in knowing that soon he might be free and the matter could be put to rest. Sir William would make a very suitable husband. I told myself that daily.
And suitable was all I could afford.
Each time I ventured away from our rooms above Newbury’s, I dreaded the possibility of passing Clark on the street.
I had already seen him at the assembly rooms, and at the Pump Room, and even through the windows while he and Colin sat in the Roman Baths.
I had been taking tea with Sir William there one day, and I had been forced to look straight ahead and pretend I hadn’t seen Clark observing our interaction.
I lowered my bonnet on my forehead as I exited the post office with Hannah. It wouldn’t make me unrecognizable, but it did make me feel better. We walked for several seconds before a pair of shiny black boots stopped me in my tracks. They weren’t Clark’s boots. They weren’t Colin’s either.
I looked up slowly, my heart climbing to my throat. Mr. Russell stood in front of my path as if he had been waiting for me. Had he seen me enter the post office? Fear gripped my shoulders, but I managed to stand still and keep a nonchalant expression.
“Miss Sharp, how fortuitous. I was just on my way to call upon you.” His gray-speckled hair curled forward beneath his hat. His eyes were not overly menacing, but I had already painted him as my enemy. There would always seem to be a dangerous gleam in his gaze.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “How may I be of assistance?”
“I wished to inform you on behalf of your brother that the matter between us is settled. He should have no reason to make a hasty return to Bath.”
“Settled?” I lifted my eyebrows in gentle surprise, though my heart galloped with shock. “Would you provide further details?”
Mr. Russell chuckled under his breath. “An anonymous donor has repaid his debt in full, which will conclude my business with young Frederick.” His countenance was suddenly much more pleasant, and I wondered if it had ever been anything but.
“I trust you will relay this information to him as well as your elder brother?”
I took far too long to nod my agreement. “Y-yes. Of course.” I must have looked unwell again, because Mr. Russell cast me a look of concern as he bowed in farewell.
“Capital. I wish you a good day, Miss Sharp.”
I managed a small curtsy before he passed on the outside of the pavement.
My entire body seized, and I couldn’t take another step.
My grip loosened on my parasol, and it rolled off the edge of my shoulder.
Hannah stooped to pick it up before I could gather my composure.
Her face came into view, eyes round with concern.
She extended the parasol, and my hand shook as I took it from her.
“The debt is paid,” I muttered. My own voice sounded distant and muffled.
A loud carriage rolled past, shaking me from my confusion.
Surely I hadn’t heard Mr. Russell correctly.
An anonymous donor had paid Freddy’s debt?
Who could have done it? I pressed a hand to my chest, willing my heart to slow.
It was already jumping to all sorts of conclusions, and a fresh spark of hope was burning inside me.
I took a deep breath, but the fire in my chest only grew stronger.
“Is that what you heard?” I whirled to face Hannah. “Did he say the debt was repaid by an anonymous donor?”
Hannah nodded slowly. “I believe so, miss.”
The poor girl didn’t even know what debt I was referring to, but she had still confirmed that I hadn’t misheard Mr. Russell. It must have been Clark who paid him, but how? Who else could it have been?
A wild desire to find him overtook me. Tears burned the back of my eyes, and all the weight I had been carrying for weeks now cascaded down my shoulders and back, melting into a puddle at my feet.
The Circus was only a five minutes’ walk from where I stood.
I wagered it would take less than three minutes if I ran.
I took a steadying breath. No. Running was not necessary. But with how brisk my walking was, I might as well have been. Hannah struggled to keep pace with me, for her legs were much shorter than mine, and I was out of breath by the time I stood in front of the steps of the townhouse marked No. 6 .
I hesitated for a brief moment as my senses came pouring back. Was I really going to knock on that door? I hadn’t taken any time to plan what I would say, but I lunged up the steps and knocked anyway.
A few seconds passed before the door opened, a rigid, frowning butler standing behind it. He welcomed Hannah and me inside the entrance hall. I glanced at the portraits on the wall, my eyes settling on the one that had always been covered with a sheet. I finally understood why.
It was a portrait of Colin and Clark as young boys—it was obvious in their large blue eyes and dark hair. My gaze focused on the one who I knew to be Clark. The gentle playfulness of his disposition contrasted with the more serious expression on his brother’s face.
My study of Clark’s young features was interrupted by the sound of boots on the marble floor.
I looked away from the portrait, my heart leaping.
I was blinded for a moment by the sunlight streaming through the front window, but then Clark stepped into view. I didn’t have to study him closely to know it was him. His expression told me instantly—the raw emotion that spread across his features.
“Arabella.” He walked closer. His shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows, his waistcoat missing the top few buttons.
His mussed hair fell over his forehead, and his hands were fisted at his sides.
I saw his throat shift with a swallow. “How are you? Are you well?” He seemed uncertain of where to look, as if it physically pained him to meet my gaze.
Finally, his eyes found mine, cautious and slow.
I studied his face again, my own confusion doubling.
Why did he seem to have no idea why I was there?
I took a tentative step forward, leaving Hannah with my parasol and bonnet near the door.
“May I speak with you privately?” I asked in a quiet voice.
I hadn’t realized that I was still shaking. My legs quaked beneath me.
“Of course.” He gestured toward the drawing room, and I followed him there. I didn’t stop walking until I reached the center of the room and heard Clark close the door softly behind us.
I interlocked my hands in front of me, taking a deep breath before turning around. “How did you do it?”
His brow twitched in confusion. “What?”
“I was walking just now and was stopped by Mr. Russell. He told me the debt had been repaid, but he didn’t disclose who had done it. He said they wished to remain anonymous.” I caught my breath. “I knew it had to be you.”
Clark’s eyes rounded as my words seemed to sink in. “It wasn’t me.”
“Please don’t lie.”
He strode forward, shaking his head. “I haven’t been in contact with Mr. Russell at all. I met with several other creditors in the hopes of obtaining a loan, but I was unsuccessful.” His eyes traced over my face. “I would gladly take the credit for being your hero, but I’m afraid I cannot.”