Chapter 19
Arabella stood at the edge of the room, looking around at the small group that had arrived for Helena’s dinner party. It was very pleasant, warm and inviting. She found herself smiling, feeling happier than she had been in a while.
She was worried that people were going to look at her and start whispering.
Her father’s demise was well-known to everyone, and it was definitely a talking point.
But then she was spoken to with the same reverence as Helena and with warmth that she hadn’t experienced for a while.
She fell into conversation easily, enjoying her time with Helena’s friends.
They were good people, and it was relaxing.
Alastair was there as well, talking to Edmund for the most part.
He kept looking at her, giving her a smile that made Arabella’s heart skip several times.
They’d spoken in the beginning, but then Helena had swept Arabella away.
She wished that she could have a moment with him.
Just a little bit, so she could enjoy his company.
But that hadn’t happened yet. And Arabella could feel herself itching to be with Alastair.
There was something really wrong with her if she was wanting that. She had something she needed to focus on, not this fake courtship. And yet…
“Arabella!” Helena hurried over, clutching onto Arabella’s hands as she squealed. “You won’t believe this!”
“Slow down, Helena!” Arabella laughed. “What’s going on?”
“Edmund asked if he could court me!” The younger woman’s eyes were sparkling. “He says he likes me and wants to be with me romantically. Of course I said yes!”
Arabella caught sight of Edmund and Alastair approaching, both of them smiling. Her gaze lingered on Alastair’s a second more, wondering what it would be like to have the courtship genuine instead of what they arranged. She pushed her concerns aside and hugged Helena.
“I’m so happy for you! That’s brilliant!”
“What’s going on?” Lady Hartwood approached them, her expression bemused. “I’ve not seen you this excited in a while, Helena. What have you done?”
For a brief second, Helena faltered. But then Edmund grasped her hand and gave her a comforting smile before turning to Lady Hartwood.
“I asked your daughter if she would do me the honor of allowing me to court her. And she said yes.”
Lady Hartwood’s eyes widened, clearly shocked by the declaration. For a moment, Arabella thought she was going to refuse and tell them it wasn’t going to happen. But then she smiled, her eyes warm as she beamed.
“That’s wonderful!”
“Mother?” Helena stuttered.
“You two would be a good match. I’m surprised you didn’t do it sooner than this, given the way this man has been around you for a long time.” The dowager duchess’ smile was warm as she clasped Helena’s hands. “I think it’s delightful news.”
Helena looked as if she’d been hit over the head. Edmund appeared to be equally bewildered. But he recovered quickly first and smiled, relief written all over his face.
“That’s perfect, Your Grace. I’ll do whatever I can to make your daughter happy.”
As the three began to talk with a lot of animation, Helena getting over the shock that her mother approved, Arabella found herself drifting away from them. She felt like an outsider, watching her friend get approval from the woman who refused to give her any.
The tension between them might’ve eased a little bit, but Arabella knew Lady Hartwood wasn’t interested in talking to her or even getting to know her properly. She was gracious and kept her distance.
It made her feel a pang of resentment. It was just not fair that she would be treated differently, and it was through no fault of her own.
Even if it was simply a fake courtship, Arabella had hoped that she would be treated with some respect.
However, because everyone believed her father died by his own hand, she was tarnished with his final reputation.
That was horrible, and Arabella hated it.
She looked across the room and caught sight of Alastair, who was talking to a woman a little older than him and a gentleman with graying dark hair who looked like he was the happiest man in the room.
The woman had a slightly distended stomach, indicating her pregnancy.
She was flushed and bright-eyed, leaning against her husband as they talked to Alastair, who seemed to be happily engaged in their conversation.
Then he glanced over at her, and their eyes met. Arabella was sure something flashed across the room between them. Alastair gave her a smile and raised his glass, his expression warm.
Arabella felt her stomach flutter, and she swallowed down the whimper she wanted to let out.
What was wrong with her? Every time she behaved like this, it felt as if she’d taken a leave of her senses.
No gentleman had done this to her before, and yet Alastair seemed to be making her forget everything else.
She wondered what he would say if she said this courtship was beginning to feel a little too real.
It was a little surprising that, over time, the two of them were starting to act as if they were really courting each other.
Arabella knew that should scare her and she should put some distance between them.
And yet it settled in her, and it felt right. It was nice, like the most natural thing in the world.
“It’s good news about Helena, isn’t it?”
Arabella jumped. Lord Vaughn had appeared at her side, and she hadn’t even noticed him appear. She managed a tiny smile and nodded. “Yes, it is. She deserves some happiness, and I know Edmund will be good for her.”
“I swear that man has been in love with her for a long time, but he’s never said anything about it.” Vaughn smirked and gestured at himself. “I notice these things. It comes from playing cards a lot. You get to read people really well.”
“Really?”
Arabella didn’t know how to react to that.
She just knew that was a slightly worrisome statement.
Did that mean Vaughn suspected something with her and Alastair?
He said he only told Edmund about it, but his cousin as well?
While they were related, Alastair hadn’t said anything about being particularly close to him.
“Anyway, what about you?” Vaughn asked suddenly.
“I beg your pardon?”
“When are you and my dear cousin going to announce your engagement? It’s been a while since you two started courting each other, so I would naturally assume that an engagement is on the horizon for you.”
Now Arabella could feel the panic building. How was she supposed to respond to that? She glanced at Alastair, but he had turned away again. How could she get his attention when she was cornered like this? How did she answer Vaughn?
She fumbled for what to say.
“I think that’s something we should discuss ourselves,” she said vaguely.
“I would’ve thought you’d talked about it already.”
“We do things at our own pace. We’re taking our time.” She absently sipped at her drink. “After all, there’s no rush, is there?”
“I see.” Vaughn gave her a slight smile, as if he knew a secret she didn’t. “Or is it because you’re never going to be married because you were never engaged in the first place?”
Arabella was caught so off-guard that she spluttered and choked on her drink.
Coughing, she managed to put the glass down and fumbled for her handkerchief.
Vaughn looked amused at her reaction. Alastair looked over, frowning as Arabella began to dab at herself while still coughing.
She held up a hand to indicate she was fine, feeling her face getting warm with her exertion.
“What…” She managed to get her words out, her eyes watering. “What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t think that someone wouldn’t have noticed that you two weren’t actually a couple? It’s painfully obvious to me that the two of you aren’t together. Although why you would pretend to be is anyone’s guess, considering Alastair’s possible hand in your father’s death.”
She stared at him. “What do you mean by that?”
“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.” He sipped his drink, his eyes never leaving hers.
“You know, you’re not a good match for him at all.
You and him… it’s never going to last. Even if you follow through with the fake courtship and marry him, you’re going to be miserable for the rest of your life. ”
He sounded so sure of himself, but Arabella didn’t like how he said it. She straightened up.
“I think that’s for me to decide, isn’t it? That’s nobody’s business.”
“And you won’t consider any other options?”
“Options?”
“Well, I think you and I would be a far better match.” His eyes glinted and his gaze drifted over her face. “Don’t you think? Why don’t you walk away from my cousin and court me instead? Only with us, it would be genuine, and I would treat you as you deserve.”
For a moment, Arabella wondered if she’d heard him correctly. He’d gone so fast from saying he knew the courtship was fake to offering courtship himself that she felt like she was spinning. Then everything snapped into focus. She gritted her teeth as her annoyance built.
“Do you think I care to be moved around from pillar to post?” she demanded. “That I’m a prize to be fought over?”
“Isn’t that the point of courtship?”
“Not when it comes to me, Lord Vaughn.” She turned away. “If you’ll excuse me? I think this conversation is over.”
She knew she was being abrupt, but she was about to tell him off for suggesting such a thing, especially when she was, to the public eye, meant to be with Alastair. Vaughn had to know it was bad etiquette to ask such a thing, and yet he didn’t seem to care. If anything, he seemed to be smug.
Alastair saw her approaching, and he excused himself to join her.
“Are you all right?” He looked concerned, touching her elbow. “What did Sebastian want?”
Arabella took a deep breath. How did she tell him this? She didn’t want a fight, especially over her. But she couldn’t keep it back; she needed to talk to someone. “He wants to court me himself.”
Alastair blinked. “What?”
“That’s what he said to me.”
“Why on earth would he do that?”
“Maybe because he knows that our courtship isn’t real,” Arabella muttered. “He said he knows. You didn’t tell him, did you?”
“No, of course not. I wasn’t about to declare to everyone in my family what I was doing. Helena and Edmund are the only two people who know on my side, and Clara on yours.”
Arabella pursed his lips, wanting to believe him, but Vaughn’s remark toward her had left her shaken. She felt like she was being put in an impossible position. And from the way he was staring at her across the room, Vaughn knew it as well.
“I’ll talk to him.” Alastair gently squeezed her arm, his tone gentle. “I’ll make sure he backs off. He’s giving me some information, so I can’t get too angry at him.”
“Maybe you should. Perhaps he knows that he has something for you and can use it to his advantage to do what he wants.”
“I suppose.” Alastair sighed. “Just stay close to me, then. I’ll look after you. And I’ve got something for you that I think we should be discussing later.”
“Really?” Arabella straightened up. “What have you found out?”
“I’ll tell you after dinner…”
“Why don’t you tell me now? Surely, you can say what you’ve found?”
He hesitated, and Arabella could tell that he was weakening. Finally, he shook his head and took her hand, his fingers warm through their gloves. “Come with me. We’ll need to talk in private.”
“Do you think we’ll be able to talk in private?”
He gave her a pointed look. “Arabella, you’re the one who wanted to talk to me right now. If anyone thinks anything else, that’s not my fault.”
Arabella felt her face getting warm and allowed Alastair to lead her toward the door, passing Helena and Edmund as they talked to Lady Hartwood. The dowager duchess glanced at Arabella, gave her a slight nod, and then turned back to her daughter, showing her approval and happiness toward Helena.
It was clear she was still seeing Arabella as an interloper and not appropriate, even though Alastair said she’d been given a verbal scolding for how she behaved.
Arabella had a feeling something very drastic was going to have to happen.
As they entered the foyer, she spotted a man stepping through the front door, shaking off the light rain from his coat. He was tall and thin, his dark hair thick and curly under his hat and a trimmed beard on his jaw. There was something about him that made Arabella’s skin prickle.
“Can I help you?” Alastair asked.
“Are you the Duke of Hartwood?”
“I am.” Gently pushing Arabella behind him, Alastair faced the approaching man. “And who are you?”
“I work for Lord Maddox, the local magistrate for the area.”
“I know who Lord Maddox is.” Arabella could see Alastair tensing. “Why are you here?”
“Because Lord Maddox wishes to see you. Right now.”
Arabella was confused. What was going on? Why would the local magistrate want to see Alastair? Was this the news he’d been waiting for? From the look on his face, he wasn’t expecting this.
“Why would he want to see me instead of making an appointment?” he asked. “Why not come himself?”
“Because he wants to talk to you about the death of Viscount Fairleigh. His death has been moved from accidental to murder.”
Arabella gasped. Alastair looked equally stunned.
“What? I never heard anything about this.”
“We have reason to believe now that Viscount Fairleigh was murdered. And your name has come up plenty of times.” The officiant stepped to one side. “We can do this now and quietly, Your Grace, but I have my orders to bring you in today.”
It felt like the world was on a tilt, and Arabella stumbled, bumping into Alastair. He spun around and caught her, his arms immediately going around her. They stared at each other, and Arabella tried to find something, anything, in his eyes that said he didn’t know what was going on.
But now she didn’t think she could believe anything.