Chapter 27 #2
“But I was willing to forgive his debt without anything in return. I would’ve told him that. You decided to get Arabella involved as a condition for wiping out the debt. How long have you been obsessed with her?”
Fairleigh looked confused, turning to stare at Sebastian. “Lord Vaughn? What’s he talking about?”
“He knows nothing!” Sebastian snapped. “I never said that to him. And I’m not obsessed with Lady Arabella.”
“Then why would you go to her brother and make the same agreement when she was courting me? Even if the scandal around my arrest cleared up, you were still breaking our courtship. That’s not something we take lightly, is it?”
Sebastian snorted. “You think you’d be able to marry her with that suspicion hanging over your head? I’m the far better choice.”
“How so? Because looking at you right now, I don’t see it.” Alastair paused. “Especially when you’re the one who killed Viscount Fairleigh in the first place. I’d say you’re an even worse choice for Lady Arabella.”
The ballroom was silent, everyone looking stunned at the confrontation.
Even those who thrived on gossip and scandal were looking confused as to what was happening.
Sebastian’s face had gone pale, and he looked close to collapse.
He then realized that they had witnessed, and he spun around, his eyes wide.
“My cousin is mad!” he cried. “He doesn’t know what he’s saying!”
“I think I do. There was a witness to what happened that night. Mr. Lloyd, you remember? You bribed him to keep quiet, and then you knocked his pregnant wife over in the street with your carriage when you heard I was looking into the death to remind him to keep quiet.”
Alastair heard a gasp of shock to his right, but he ignored it. “He was scared before, but you hurt his wife, and he wasn’t going to have that. He told us everything. And he’s talking to the magistrate right now about what happened.”
He looked over his shoulder at Edmund and nodded. Edmund stepped out of the room and made a signal with his hand. A moment later, Captain Marsden and six of his soldiers strode in, moving to stand in a line behind Alastair. Sebastian’s face went from white to red and then gray.
“What’s going on?”
“You’re under arrest, Lord Vaughn.” Captain Marsden stepped toward him. “For the murder of Viscount Fairleigh.”
“But… I… I didn’t…” Sebastian spluttered, and then the words came tumbling out. “I didn’t kill him! It was an accident! We were fighting, yes, but he lost his balance when I pushed him. He went over the wall on his own!”
“Is that how you’re going to claim it?” Alastair jumped when he heard Arabella’s voice. “You killed him! Even if you didn’t, you didn’t come clean as to what happened!”
“Nobody would’ve believed me it was an accident! I just wanted to not be seen as guilty.”
“So you covered it up and made yourself look even worse.”
Sebastian stepped toward her, his hand reaching to her for help.
“I love you, Arabella. You’re the only one I want.
Fairleigh said that he wouldn’t allow it, and he wouldn’t exchange you for money.
I wanted him to see that I was a good choice for you, and he refused to listen. It was an accident, but…”
His voice trailed off, and Alastair felt Arabella stiffen behind him. He squeezed her hand. “But what?” he demanded.
Sebastian sighed heavily. “I suppose it was the best thing for him. If he refuses what I want, then he doesn’t deserve to live.”
A whimper came from somewhere in the room.
Sebastian’s mask had completely slipped.
He didn’t care that he’d just openly admitted to it, and how he felt about the death.
Arabella audibly swallowed, while Alastair let it sink in.
His cousin might not have meant the death to happen, but he had no remorse over it. He was just upset that he got caught.
“I think it’s about time we left,” Captain Marsden said, signaling his men. “Lord Vaughn, come with us. The magistrate wants to talk to you about the death of Viscount Fairleigh, along with theft and fraud.”
“What?” Sebastian stiffened. “Theft and fraud?”
“Stealing money from the Fairleigh family. You’ll be explained it all in detail.”
For a moment, Alastair thought that Sebastian was going to protest and deny it all. Instead, his head bowed and his shoulders slumped. He knew when he was beaten.
As he was escorted out, Alastair turned to Arabella, who looked like she’d been hit over the head as well. “Are you all right?”
“I… I didn’t think it would happen like that. I thought he’d deny it all, especially in front of an audience.”
“I think even Sebastian can tell that he doesn’t care anymore,” Helena remarked.
She looked over at Fairleigh, who looked rather confused as he stared after the departing guards.
“I do feel a little sympathy for him, though. Having this come out and realizing he almost married his sister off to their father’s killer. ”
Alastair didn’t remark on it. He didn’t have very kind things to say about the man right now. He was more focused on Arabella.
“What do you need right now?” he asked.
“A quiet place,” she said immediately. “Somewhere that I’m not being looked at like a fish in a pond.”
Clara nodded and pointed toward the door. “Why don’t you take Arabella outside and walk with her in the garden, Alastair?” she suggested. “Helena and I can sort things out in here.”
“Are you sure?” Alastair asked.
“It’s the least we can do.” Arabella’s friend gave him a smile. “Don’t worry about this. Focus on Arabella.”
And that was what Alastair planned to do.