Chapter Fifteen #3
“Lord Lampton,” Arabella’s uncle sputtered even as his gaze widened, sweeping over the group of gentlemen who had arrived. “Your Grace. Mr. Windover. Lieutenant Lancaster.”
Linus let the title stand uncorrected. Given half a chance, he would gladly summon every ounce of lieutenant he had beneath his veneer of decorum.
Mrs. Hampton dropped a hurried curtsey. “A pleasure, sirs.”
“Are these the guests you were looking for?” Adam’s impatience colored his question.
“They couldn’t possibly be,” Lord Lampton said. “Well-mannered guests would never question their host’s graciousness.”
The Hamptons eyed each other with growing concern. Arabella’s gaze fell on Linus and lingered there. He offered what silent reassurance he could.
“If we have given the impression of questioning your graciousness, Lord Lampton, it was unintentional,” Mr. Hampton said.
The earl was unmoved. “You accused me of begrudging your niece the doctor’s care she needed and further insisted that her only value in my household is as a laborer. You have called into question my adherence to the gentlemen’s code and cast aspersions on my mother’s ability as a hostess.”
Lampton did not mention the heavy hints at Arabella’s pursuit of an advantageous match.
Mrs. Hampton’s solicitous expression grew almost desperate. “We were simply having a family discussion. We hadn’t meant to insult you.”
“Perhaps it was I whom you meant to ‘insult,’” Adam said.
Mr. and Mrs. Hampton’s faces blanched.
“You have implied that I would allow my family to remain the guests of a host and hostess whose humanity cannot be relied upon. No one questions with impunity my devotion to my family’s well-being and happiness.”
Harry jumped in. “Personally, I’m excited. I’ve not served as a second in one of the Dangerous Duke’s duels in ages.”
“Being the well-mannered host I am, I will offer you an escape,” Lampton said. “Your carriage will be at the front portico in a few minutes.”
“I’ll see to it myself,” Harry offered, “though I would far rather have met for pistols at dawn.” He turned crisply and walked toward the front of the house with enough determination to erase any doubt that he meant to make certain the Hamptons’ conveyance was not delayed by even a second.
Mr. Hampton’s gaze slid slowly from his host to Adam. Linus heard him swallow.
“Take the escape Lampton has offered you,” Adam said. “I am not so generous as he.”
“Dear.” Mr. Hampton offered his arm to his wife. “Perhaps we had best return home.”
“Excellent,” the earl answered before she could. “I will accompany you to the entryway.”
He walked with the Hamptons, giving the impression of a guard overseeing the movement of prisoners rather than a host seeing off his guests.
For his part, Adam appeared reluctantly impressed.
Though Linus had no doubt Lampton and Adam would continue to grate on each other, he felt certain they’d gained a bit of mutual respect.
Adam turned his full attention to Arabella. “I am sorry we did not arrive sooner to spare you this ordeal, Miss Hampton. Linus rallied the troops as quickly as he could manage.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Linus met Adam’s eye. He received a quick nod before Adam turned and walked back in the direction of the drawing room.
Arabella took a shaky breath.
He eyed her more closely. “You are crying.”
She swiped at her cheek with her fingers. “These past weeks have spoiled me. I am no longer immune to their unkindness.”
He set his hands gently on her arms. “This vitriol is not new, then?”
She shook her head. “I’m not usually so overset by it. I’m simply so tired. I don’t feel well and—and I don’t have the strength just now to—to—” Tears choked her voice.
Linus’s heart broke at the sight of her suffering. He did not doubt that she had endured tirades worse than this one. But illness and worry and upheaval took a toll on a person. She was struggling under that weight.
There, in the quiet stillness of the corridor, he put his arms around Arabella and held her tenderly.
She tucked herself into his embrace. A contentment he’d not felt in some time, perhaps ever, settled over him.
She was a salve to his loneliness, to his aching uncertainty.
Did she find solace in his embrace in particular?
Or was she simply reaching out to the nearest person willing to offer her a respite?
He wasn’t certain he was ready to face the answer to that question. Not yet.
Neither could he ignore her aunt’s words regarding him. Whispers had begun, rumors wondering about his connection to Arabella, about his intentions. Had Arabella heard them as well? Was she upset?
Linus did not wish to cause difficulties for either of them. He would offer her this embrace, this comfort, but then he needed to maintain a purely friendly degree of interaction. Both their reputations required it. Both their futures as well.
As Arabella had said, “Life is far more difficult when one is forced onto a path not of one’s choosing.” He would not bring her more difficulties; life had given her plenty already.