Chapter 10
“I think this is going to be a fun evening,” Lady Hartwood declared as she slipped on her coat. “I can’t wait to hear these singers. I’ve heard that their voices are just absolutely delightful.”
“Do all of us need to come with you, Mother?” Helena asked as she stood beside Alastair, not looking happy about leaving the house.
“Oh, stop it, Helena. You’re too old to sulk. It will do you good to get out and spend more time with other people.”
Helena rolled her eyes and scowled. Alastair could understand her frustration; they’d been planning to attend the theater together to watch one of their favorite shows for the third time.
Helena adored it, and Alastair had to admit that he found it entertaining.
Now they’d been dragged to a musicale instead, and they were going to have to spend time listening to a soprano who had seen better days before she started entertaining people around London.
He knew he was being harsh, but Alastair recalled the last time he went to a musicale his mother arranged. It hadn’t left a good impression.
“Oh, would you two stop sulking like children?” the dowager duchess scolded as she went to the front door and opened it. “Anyone would think you’d been told to eat everything on your plate.”
“I was nine last time that happened,” Alastair reminded her.
“And you’re still behaving as you did twenty years ago. Now come on, or we’re going to be late.”
Lady Hartwood seemed to be in something of a hurry, and Alastair wondered why she was eager for them to leave. Normally, she would usher them out, but she was seconds away from physically dragging them out.
The only reason Alastair had even agreed to this was because Arabella had mentioned she was going to be at the musicale as well.
She liked music, and she was happy to listen to someone singing badly.
Alastair couldn’t see the fascination, but at least he would have someone to talk to.
Helena would be happy to see her, too; his sister had become good friends with Arabella very quickly.
He just didn’t want to spend time with his mother, not after her threat. Even though Alastair didn’t truly think Lady Hartwood would start rumors to ruin someone else, the threat was still there, and she didn’t approve at all of the courtship.
He was upset that she’d chosen to be this opposing. Part of him wanted to tell her the truth and what arrangement he had with Arabella, but that would just make things worse. Lady Hartwood wouldn’t see his point of view, saying that Arabella should be left to fend for herself.
She’d made up her mind, and changing it was going to be practically impossible.
It didn’t take long to get to the music hall, and Alastair found himself looking around the lobby as soon as he entered.
Was Arabella here already? Would she be happy to see him?
That last one he dismissed immediately. Of course Arabella wasn’t going to be happy to see that he was present as well.
She played her part well, but she was clearly not impressed about having to do so.
The only time Alastair saw her truly relax was with Helena.
For some reason, that hurt. Alastair was struggling as to why.
“Rosamund!” Lady Hartwood said suddenly, her face lighting up. “It’s delightful to see you again! It’s been too long!”
Helena groaned, and Alastair’s heart sank as Miss Rosamund Linton approached them, her maid just behind her. Miss Linton smiled and curtsied, her expression pleased.
“Your Grace. It’s lovely to see you again.” She glanced at Alastair and blushed. “Your Grace.”
“Miss Linton.”
Alastair glanced at Helena, who looked equally bemused. His sister raised her eyebrows at him, indicating that she had sensed what was going on. Alastair sighed. He wasn’t interested in conversing with Miss Linton, but it seemed that his mother had different ideas.
“I hope you can join us when we go into the musicale,” Lady Hartwood said brightly. “Perhaps you can sit with my son.”
“I’d be happy to,” Miss Linton replied, glancing at Alastair again and biting her lip, giving him a pretty smile.
Alastair didn’t smile back. He glared at his mother, who gave him a sharp look, indicating that he needed to behave himself. Helena tugged on his arm, getting his attention.
“Alastair, would you mind helping me to my seat now? My leg is starting to hurt.”
“Of course.” Alastair allowed his sister to hold onto him. “If you’ll excuse me, Mother? I have to tend to Helena.”
Lady Hartwood didn’t look impressed, but she didn’t say anything as he led Helena away, Helena emphasizing her limp a little more.
“This was a trap,” she whispered out the corner of her mouth. “She was going to have you spend time with Miss Linton this evening.”
“It looks that way,” Alastair muttered back. He resisted the urge to look over his shoulder. “She’s not going to be happy until she gets her own way.”
“Well, this is going to make the evening more unbearable.” Helena eased down onto a chair with a heavy sigh. “I didn’t want to be here, and only because you said you’d come with me that I agreed. I would rather be at the theater.”
“I’m the same. We’re just going to have to cope this evening.”
Even as he said it, Alastair doubted that he could. He didn’t like being cornered like this, and his mother was intent on making sure he forgot about Arabella. Miss Linton was clearly interested, and she looked like she would happily keep his attention all evening. Alastair didn’t want that.
Why didn’t they say no and just go to the theater anyway? He was the duke, for goodness’ sake. He didn’t need to follow what his mother said. And yet there was a part of him that couldn’t walk away from the woman who birthed him. There was still a bit of obligation.
He cast an eye around the room, hoping that he could see someone who could distract them. Then his spirits lifted at the sight of Arabella. She was across the room, dressed in a pale blue gown with her hair piled up on her head.
Her profile was elegant and graceful, and she looked even lovelier than he remembered. Alastair couldn’t take his eyes off her. She appeared to be talking to someone, not paying much attention to her surroundings, but with the crowd Alastair couldn’t see who she was talking to.
He could sense that it was a conversation she didn’t want, though. There was a tension to her that suggested she wasn’t happy.
“You’ve seen her, haven’t you?” Helena sounded amused. “I knew you would eventually.”
“Who?”
But his sister simply gave him a wink and glanced back at their mother, who was talking animatedly to Miss Linton.
“How about I divert whoever she’s talking to, and you can make the most of her being free?”
“What?”
Helena rolled her eyes.
“I’ll distract whoever Lady Arabella’s talking to. You want to be around her, don’t you?”
Alastair wanted to protest, but he decided against it. He wasn’t about to draw attention to them with Helena’s teasing words. Sighing, he nodded, which made Helena’s eyes glint mischievously.
“Then let’s go and talk to her. Mother can’t cause a scene in a crowded room, can she?” She stood up. “I want to see how she’ll react seeing you with the woman you are actually courting instead of the woman of her choice.”
Alastair ignored that. He didn’t want to think about what Lady Hartwood would think seeing him with Arabella instead of Miss Linton. She would cause a scene once they returned home, but he wouldn’t be listening. It was preferable just to let it happen.
If his mother did try something further, Alastair wouldn’t let it manifest.
They crossed the room together, and as they approached Arabella the crowd shifted, and Alastair saw who she was talking to. It was Sebastian, wearing his usual charming smile as he spoke. Alastair slowed, wondering what was going on.
This wasn’t the first time that his cousin had gotten to Arabella first and was talking to her as if she had his undivided attention.
He was smiling and appeared to be regaling her with a wild story.
However, Arabella’s posture was different.
She was smiling pleasantly and nodding along, but Alastair could see that her jaw was clenched, and her hands were tightly clasped together to the point her knuckles were white.
What did she have against Sebastian? Alastair felt a flash of satisfaction knowing that she didn’t seem to care for his cousin much but, at the same time, he wondered what Sebastian might’ve done to insult her. He seemed to want to get to know her, and Arabella kept pushing back.
“Lord Vaughn,” Helena said pleasantly as they joined the pair. Sebastian turned, looking surprised that they were being interrupted.
“Helena! I thought you were going to be at the theater tonight.”
“We got brought here by Mother. Something about keeping her company, I think.” Helena rolled her eyes before taking Sebastian’s arm. “Why don’t you come and see her? I know she would be delighted to see you.”
Before he could respond, she’d started dragging him away, limping heavily with Sebastian almost bent double. Alastair fought back a laugh, only to hear a giggle behind him. He turned, and saw Arabella watching the scene with her hand near her mouth, trying to hide the giggle.
“I don’t know why that’s so funny,” she whimpered, still trying to compose herself.
“At least he’s away from you,” Alastair remarked. “You didn’t look particularly happy.”
“Not really.” Arabella wrinkled her nose. “I know he’s related to you, but I can’t see what anyone sees in him. He’s… well, he’s…”
“Pretentious?” Alastair finished for her. “Frustrating, annoying, can’t take no for an answer and keeps going anyway?”
Her face went a little red as she blushed. Alastair was struck by a sudden thought about how pretty she looked when she was embarrassed.
“I don’t want to put it so strongly,” she mumbled. “He is a relative to you, and I don’t want to be so rude.”
Alastair chuckled.