Chapter 23
Alastair felt like everything was crashing down around him. He was still reeling from Arabella making him write out a suicide note to match the handwriting, and that she was in his house after forcing him out of hers. Now she had evidence that Sebastian had written the note.
“I can’t believe this,” Helena whispered. She was pale. “Sebastian… why would he do that? I don’t understand.”
“He was there that night as well,” Alastair murmured.
“What?” Arabella moved toward him. “What do you mean, he was there?”
“He was at the table with your father and I. He plays regularly, and that night he was on our table. Your father lost to me, though, Sebastian choosing to be quite picky with his choices and folding more than he usually did.”
“Why would he do that?” Helena asked. “I’ve never seen him back down from any sort of betting. He’s incredibly good at it.”
“It’s probably because he’s that good that he knows when to back down,” Clara said grimly. “I’ve seen it before. Those who are aware of when to sit back and watch are the most dangerous because they don’t lose much, if at all. And that’s very rare.”
Alastair agreed with that statement. Sebastian was very smart when it came to a game of cards. And he always seemed to be the friendly one, making it look like he was on everyone’s side while he was picking out the easy targets for later on. He’d likely been doing that the night Fairleigh died.
Arabella was looking as confused as Alastair felt.
“Why would Sebastian write a suicide note for Pa?”
Clara made a slight strange noise in her throat, which made Arabella jump. Helena looked just as uncomfortable, looking anywhere but at it. Alastair gave her a solemn look.
“It’s very likely that he had something to do with his death,” he said quietly.
The words were there, but they weren’t sinking in. Arabella shook her head.
“No. That can’t be right. Why would he hurt Pa? They didn’t know each other well, as far as I know. And…”
“And he’s a friend of your brother’s now,” Alastair finished.
She pressed her lips together and nodded.
“Did that happen before or after your father died?”
“I… I’m not sure.” She frowned. “I believe they became friends after Pa was killed. Philip didn’t say anything about it.
” Then she scowled, snatching the letter from Alastair’s hand.
“I wish he’d told me about this months ago.
Then we wouldn’t be going through this. He might’ve been found out a lot sooner. ”
“Wait a minute.” Helena held up a hand. “Did you say Philip didn’t let you know about this until recently?”
“No. He said he didn’t want to upset me further.” Alastair saw Arabella begin to shake. “Does this mean he was complicit? That my brother… he might’ve…”
Alastair didn’t want to think about it, even though it would make sense. But he shook his head.
“I don’t think your brother had anything to do with it. From what I’ve seen of him, he seems to be in complete denial that your father’s died at all, and he’s been wrapped up in his own world. I don’t believe he was involved.”
“But he’s friends with your cousin!”
“Does that indicate Sebastian Vaughn is planning something?” Clara asked. “Regarding Arabella and Philip? And he wanted Viscount Fairleigh out of the way?”
Alastair pressed his fingers to his temples. He was getting a headache with everything hitting him. He was still trying to comprehend that Sebastian might’ve had a hand in Fairleigh’s death. Was he the one who killed him? That left him cold.
“Do you think Sebastian was the one who withdrew money from our trust funds?” Arabella straightened up. “He’s fair-haired, and I’m sure if we give a more detailed description to the bank clerk then he could confirm it.”
“There are plenty of fair-haired gentlemen in London, Arabella,” Alastair pointed out.
“But given his connection to Pa, it would seem likely. He would’ve gotten information about the trust fund somehow, and he stole the money.”
“Why would he do that?” Helena looked from Alastair to Arabella. “Why do that?”
“It’s likely that Fairleigh owed him money, and he didn’t have any in his regular account,” Alastair said grimly. “He must’ve found out about it.”
“He wasn’t supposed to access it, though,” Clara protested.
“Evidently, he can, and he did.”
Alastair was feeling lightheaded, knowing that his cousin had something to do with Arabella’s predicament.
He’d carried on as if nothing was wrong, never said a word.
Given how much he could implicate himself, it would be understandable, but why would he do it at all?
Why would he kill Fairleigh when the man owed him?
Something wasn’t quite right, and he couldn’t place it.
“We need to find out how much Viscount Fairleigh owed Sebastian,” Helena said defiantly. “And we need to find the missing money to give back to Arabella.”
“How are you going to do that?” Clara asked. “I can’t see how we can find that out unless we ask Lord Vaughn himself.”
“I have an idea. But I’ve got to check something first.” Helena headed toward the door. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Helena?” Alastair started after her. “Where are you going?”
But his little sister simply shot him a quick wink and left the room. Alastair had a feeling Helena was going to do something he would talk her out of doing and wished that he could chase after her to dissuade her.
Arabella was there, though, and he needed to focus on her.
Right now, she looked close to tears. She wrapped her arms around her middle, hunched over with her eyes on the floor.
Clara cleared her throat and moved over to the window, opening it and looking out into the garden.
She pointedly didn’t look at them. Alastair understood what she was trying to do.
He wrapped his arms around Arabella and held her close.
“It’s going to be all right,” he whispered, resting his chin on the top of her head. “We’re going to figure this out.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.” She leaned her head on his chest, and he could feel her cheek brushing against his shirt. “Sebastian was… he’s your cousin, and he’s Philip’s friend. I thought he was my brother’s friend, but clearly, he doesn’t care at all.”
“I can’t answer for him, but I’m sure there’s something going on that we need to find out.”
“There has to be. I can’t see your cousin killing Pa over nothing.”
If he was honest, Alastair couldn’t either. Sebastian always did something for a reason, and he wouldn’t have killed Fairleigh just because he wanted to. That was far too cold-blooded, and Alastair didn’t want to think that of Sebastian. If he was, then he’d severely underestimated his cousin.
He wondered what his mother was going to say. Lady Hartwood was fond of Sebastian, so to hear he’d done something as abhorrent as this would break her heart.
“It’s making my skin crawl.” Arabella shivered. “With him saying that I should stop our false courtship and be with him instead…”
“Wait, what did you say?” Alastair looked down at her. “Did you just say he wanted you to be with him instead?”
She nodded.
“He said he was a better choice than you, that you weren’t suitable at all. And he wouldn’t use me as a way to get out of a courtship you actually deserved.”
“What did you say to that?”
“I didn’t. I just walked away. It was so outrageous that I couldn’t think of anything to say.”
Alastair let that sink in. He was shocked that Sebastian could even suggest that, and even more surprised that his cousin knew the courtship with Arabella was false. He hadn’t said anything to him, so how had he figured it out?
He felt as if he didn’t know his cousin at all anymore.
“Do you think he might’ve been the one who got the magistrate to take you away?” Arabella asked quietly.
“What makes you say that?”
“If he wants me to himself and you out of the way, that would be the best way to do it.”
Alastair considered that. He didn’t want to believe it, but with this revelation of Sebastian writing the suicide note, he had to take this as a possibility. But to have him arrested to get him out of the way was ridiculous, even for them.
There had to be something deeper than that.
“We need to keep an open mind on that,” he said.
Arabella huffed, her shoulders slumping. “I wish I could. Now I feel like I’m narrowing in on him.”
“He could come up with all manner of excuses. I know him; taking accountability when he could get out of it is something he would do.”
“I’m not sounding mad, am I? I don’t want you to think I’m beginning to point fingers…”
“No, of course not.” He rubbed her back. “I wouldn’t think that of you. You’re being pulled in all directions, and you’re struggling. But I know that you’re steadfast in your opinion over your father’s death, and you’re following your instincts.”
She gave a wry smile. “It sounds like you’re contradicting yourself.”
“Nothing of the sort. I just know that you’re in a mess, but you’re doing what you can. And you listen to what’s in your head.”
“I did tell you in the beginning that something wasn’t right.” She glanced away. “I was just looking at the wrong person. I thought it was you.”
“And if I were in your position, I’d think the same thing.” He brushed his fingers across her jaw, his thumb brushing against her lips. “I don’t blame you for anything, Arabella. I mean it.”
The words he wanted to say hovered on his lips, but he stopped himself.
Now was not the time to confess his feelings, to say that he loved her.
It was probably the most inappropriate time.
Arabella was still reeling from the fact someone she knew could’ve killed her father, and Alastair himself was trying to get his head around it.
Sebastian needed to answer questions before he and Arabella could discuss things between them.
If she did reciprocate. It would be embarrassing if she didn’t, and Alastair didn’t want to feel like a fool. Not more than he already did.
He wondered when he found himself thinking like a lovesick fool. Arabella had changed his attitude on quite a few things without him realizing it.
“Arabella…” He paused, wondering if he should say something, even a little bit. “I…”
She turned her eyes up to him, and he found himself falling into the deep beautiful color. They were wide and innocent, and they snagged him to the spot.
It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her right now. Alastair didn’t care that Clara was present; he just wanted to do it, even if it was the most inappropriate thing to do right that second.
The door to the study opened, making Arabella jump away from him suddenly, and Helena came rushing in, her limp more pronounced in her exhaustion. Alastair hurried to her.
“You need to slow down,” he scolded gently as he led her over to a chair. “You’re going to end up hurting yourself further.”
“Oh, stop it. I’m not an invalid. I’m just a little wobbly on my feet, that’s all.” Helena’s face was flushed as she sat up. “I just had to speak to the kitchen maid, Beatrice. Apparently, she’s going out with Sebastian’s valet.”
Alastair blinked. “What? I didn’t realize.”
“That’s because it’s not our business. I was only aware of it when I listened to my maid Gladys talking about it. I thought it might prove a useful way to get information.”
Alastair groaned.
“You’re not going to do something stupid, are you?”
“I’m fine! I wish you’d trust me a little.” Helena gave Arabella a sly smile. “Has he been groveling to you? Begging for your forgiveness?”
Arabella laughed, the tension easing in the room. “Not as much as I would’ve liked.”
Clara let out a loud laugh that made everyone jump. Helena giggled, putting a hand over her mouth, but the giggles still came through. Alastair threw up his hands.
“Honestly, what have I gotten myself into? How did I end up in the same room as three women teasing me?”
Helena shoved his arm. “You love it, and you’re very much aware of it.”
“I don’t know about that.”
Alastair caught sight of Arabella, who was still laughing, and found himself admiring her. She looked a lot more relaxed since she entered the house, the worry fading away and making her look better. He wanted to pull her to him and kiss that smile; it looked adorable.
He stopped himself, though, aware that his hands were tingling from the urge to reach for her.
“We’ve got a bit of time until we get any information, unless we find out something ourselves?” Helena said, giving Alastair a hopeful look. But Alastair frowned and shook his head.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Why not? If he’s done something wrong…”
“We don’t know if he has. And if we go accusing him now, despite what we think, he’ll be able to cover his back and make sure it looks like he’s innocent.”
Alastair had experienced that before when he and Sebastian were children.
If his cousin had done something, he would go out of his way to get out of trouble.
Most of the time, he was caught and punished anyway, but he got more and more sly as he grew up.
Alastair didn’t want to think what he was like now.
“I think we need to have a moment to calm down,” Clara declared, moving away from the window. “Shall I go and ask if we should have some tea?”
“I’ve already told the housekeeper to bring it in here,” Helena said, giving Clara a smile. “We can take it in here, just in case Mother comes back. I don’t think she’d be too impressed to see you two here, so this is the safest place.”
“Mother’s not going to be back for several hours,” Alastair pointed out.
“With her, you can never be so sure.”
She did have a point, and Alastair wished he didn’t have to hide Arabella more than he already had. Now he was coming to terms with how he felt, he definitely didn’t want to hide her. There was nothing to be ashamed of.
The woman he loved was in his life, and that was something to be proud of.