Chapter 27
Alastair didn’t want to go to the engagement ball between Sebastian and Arabella, especially when he saw Sebastian smirking at him as he personally handed over the invitation.
But he wouldn’t be able to confront his cousin publicly otherwise, and despite his scandalous arrest, he was related to the supposed groom, so it made sense.
Although Alastair had his own thoughts on the matter. Sebastian wanted him to be there so he could goad his cousin at the fact he’d managed to snatch Arabella out from under his nose.
He never thought this would happen. Sebastian had shown a curious interest in Arabella but nothing that made it obsessive. To think that he’d wanted to marry Arabella months before, and he’d even attempted to do a deal with Viscount Fairleigh to do it…
He would do anything to get what he wanted. Sebastian had been like that for years, doing anything he could go get whatever he wanted. He was like a spoiled brat when it came to that. And now he wanted Arabella, but she didn’t want him.
That was the only thing keeping Alastair going, knowing that she didn’t want anything to do with Sebastian.
He’d managed to have someone Sebastian wanted, but now he was suffering for it.
It was almost certain, in his mind, that Sebastian was the one who alerted the magistrate to the death of the viscount and who might be responsible.
It would be ideal to get him out of the way so Sebastian could swoop in.
If he could actually prove it and not have conjecture, that would be helpful. But there was more than enough for him to confront Sebastian with.
Arabella was worried about doing it so publicly, especially when most of the ton were going to be there, but Alastair thought it was best to do this because even if Sebastian refuted it and denied anything, the opinion of everyone around them would start looking at him differently.
His cousin had managed it before with other people, and it was very effective.
Alastair had witnessed this over the years.
Sebastian liked the sound of his own voice, and when he was vindictive, he was very good at making his lies clear to everyone.
Alastair just never expected to be on that side of him, though.
That was going to change.
He stood off to the side of the room, watching as Arabella danced awkwardly with Sebastian.
It was evident to him that she didn’t want to be there, and she kept stumbling over her own feet.
Sebastian looked happy, beaming as he danced with her, brushing his hand over hers and giving her a look that said he was besotted by her.
Arabella, however, could barely look him in the eye, and Alastair could see that she was fighting back the urge to scowl.
“They’re a good pairing, aren’t they?”
Alastair turned. Fairleigh had appeared beside him, looking pleased as he watched his sister and his friend. Alastair shook his head.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
“Don’t I? We’ll have our debts wiped out, and Arabella gets herself a husband, something that she should’ve been looking for all this time.”
“And you didn’t think her courting me was going to come to that?”
Fairleigh sighed as if he was talking to a child. “Forgive me, Your Grace, but with your current situation, I don’t think it’s appropriate for my sister to marry someone accused of murder. Especially when the victim is our father.”
“I was falsely accused,” Alastair pointed out. “And Arabella and I love each other.”
“Do you think that’s going to change anything?”
“How do you think your debts were dwindling over the last few weeks? Didn’t you notice that they were fading and getting smaller?” Alastair felt a flash of heat as his anger rose. “That was me. I was helping you, and there was no word of thanks from you.”
Fairleigh shrugged. “That I had no knowledge about.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t notice. Then again, given how ineffectual you are, I guess I shouldn’t be shocked.”
Alastair knew he was pushing it, but he was fed up with the man. Fairleigh’s nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing.
“What makes you think you can talk to me like that?”
“Since you took the woman I love away and forced her to get engaged to a man she despises because you’re too greedy and thinking about yourself. Arabella isn’t a commodity.”
“I wasn’t treating her like that.”
“I beg to differ.” Alastair pointed at Arabella across the room. “Look at her. Does she look happy? Does she appear to be delighted to become Vaughn’s wife? If you cared about her, you’d want to see her smile and not like she’s going to the gallows.”
Fairleigh’s jaw tightened. “She’ll become happy. She’ll understand eventually.”
Alastair snorted. “If you think that, you don’t know your sister at all.” Then he caught sight of Edmund waving at him from the doorway. “Now, if you’ll excuse me? I’ve got more important things to concentrate on.”
He walked away, leaving the young viscount fuming. The man was really pushing his patience, and Alastair wasn’t about to lose it. Not just yet.
Edmund gave him a bemused look as they met by the door.
“What was that about?”
“I think he was coming to gloat.” Alastair scowled. “That man is just… I don’t know how he and Arabella are related.”
“Well, you can worry about that later. Captain Marsden is here with six of his men.”
It took a moment for Alastair to remember who Captain Marsden was.
He was the guard in command at the magistrate’s office.
When he’d gone to talk about the situation earlier, Captain Marsden had offered some of his men to help.
The magistrate himself wasn’t prepared to accuse someone so openly, but then he was reminded of how he arrested Alastair, which made him agree.
Now they were going to turn it on Sebastian.
“Where are they now?”
“They’re outside at the moment. I’ve let the footmen on the door know that when they enter, they need to step back.
The butler is aware of it as well.” Edmund shook his head.
“What surprised me is they were all eager to do it and step away for us to get to Sebastian. I think they’re just as annoyed with him as we are. ”
Alastair wouldn’t be surprised. Sebastian did tend to put everyone’s hackles up. “Let them in, and I’ll start confronting him in a moment. Captain Marsden knows when to come in.”
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Edmund looked worried. “What if this backfires on us?”
“I’m not going to think about that right now. Just get them in.”
Alastair watched as the dancing stopped, and the dancers clapped the small orchestra playing.
Sebastian took Arabella’s hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers, but Arabella visibly flinched and tried to pull away.
Alastair saw his cousin tighten his hand around hers, keeping her in place, and the rage started again.
He clearly saw Arabella in distress, but Sebastian didn’t care. It was all about him.
And he’d even killed her father to get what he wanted.
Suddenly, Sebastian turned away and took a glass from a passing footman’s tray. He held it up and raised his voice.
“I think we should engage in a toast,” he declared, the voices in the room fading away.
“This is certainly the happiest day of my life. And the only day that will be even better is when I marry Lady Arabella Fairleigh.” A murmur of agreement floated around the room.
“I think we can all agree that this is a long time coming, and I know that Lady Arabella is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
He took Arabella’s hand, but she pulled away roughly, glaring at him.
“I will never marry you,” she said loudly, her voice echoing around the room. “I will object all the way to the altar. No one will marry us if I do that.”
The tension in the air started to tighten. Sebastian’s smile stayed in place, but his eyes hardened.
“You’ll understand eventually,” he said.
“Understand what? That I can be treated like I’m a prize that can be passed around without my consent? I told you and my brother that I wanted nothing to do with you. It’s like you’ve gone deaf!”
This wasn’t how it was meant to go. Alastair had arranged with Arabella when they were going to start their plan, but it looked like her temper had gotten the better of her. He couldn’t blame her, not with Sebastian talking so smugly.
“Arabella!” Fairleigh hurried over, speaking to her in a hissed voice. “You need to stop! You’re making a fool of yourself!”
“No, I’m making a fool of you because you’re too weak to say that you won’t treat me like a commodity.
I’m not a prized cow to be auctioned off to the first person who can pay off our debts immediately after the wedding!
” Fairleigh flinched. “If you think he’s a perfect match then why don’t you marry him! ”
There was an audible gasp, and Alastair had to fight back the urge to laugh. Then Helena was at Arabella’s side, Clara on her other side, flanking her as they led her away. Sebastian tried to grab at her, but Clara slapped his hand away.
“Get back here!” he cried. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Interesting, Alastair mused as he watched his cousin flail. He was normally so contained and in control. Now it looked like the mask was slipping. Whether it was intentional or not, Arabella had started something.
And he could use that to your advantage.
“Arabella!” Sebastian started after her, only to realize that they were walking toward Alastair. His eyes narrowed. “What do you think you’re doing? You’re humiliating us!”
“You did that all yourself,” Alastair replied, squeezing Arabella’s hand before tugging her behind him. “When you had me falsely arrested for her father’s death. You didn’t like the fact I was coming close to the truth, did you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was trying to find out what happened to the old viscount, and then I discovered you were there that night as well. And Fairleigh owed you a lot of money.”
Sebastian shrugged. “He owed everyone money. He was bad at playing cards.”