Chapter 29
“What’s the matter with you?” Edmund asked when he caught sight of Alastair by the mirror. “You’ve been fidgeting about with that for a while now.”
“I just want to make sure that I’m looking presentable, that’s all.”
“You always do. Do you think you’ve got mud on your nose, or something?”
Alastair shot him a look.
“I was planning on proposing the night you proposed to Helena. But I wasn’t about to overshadow her joy, so I decided to wait.”
Edmund’s eyes widened. “You were planning… does Arabella know?”
“I was so close to telling her, but then you two interrupted us.” Alastair held up a hand. “I’m not blaming you for it, but there is a reason for my nerves. I don’t want it to go wrong.”
Edmund chuckled. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
But Alastair wasn’t listening to him properly. He was more concerned about what was going to happen when he proposed to Arabella. That night, standing by the fishpond, had been the most romantic spot at the time, and he’d wanted to blurt it all out.
Then Edmund had gotten in there with his own proposal, and Alastair wasn’t about to overshadow his sister’s moment. She was so happy, beaming and looking more in love than before whenever she looked at Edmund. He didn’t want to take that away from her.
He just had to be patient and wait a little longer.
However, waiting longer than he wanted was annoying, and Alastair had been on edge ever since.
Arabella had noticed, and tried to figure out what was wrong, but he’d assured her things were fine.
He claimed to be waiting for news about what was going to happen to Sebastian.
That much was true; Alastair didn’t want his cousin to be released and then come straight back to harass them. Sebastian would be furious, and he would want what he believed was his regardless of the situation. Arabella didn’t need that stress.
He just hoped that he could calm down before she came by today with Clara and Fairleigh. It wouldn’t do to fumble over his words again.
Who knew that proposing to someone was going to be a daunting task despite what he wanted?
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Alastair!” Lady Hartwood entered the foyer, shaking her head at Alastair fiddling about with his cravat. “Would you stop it? You’re going to make your clothes fade away to nothing with the amount of times you’ve been playing with your collar.”
“I’m fine, Mother.” Chastised, Alastair lowered his twitching hands.
His mother smiled and patted his arm. “You don’t need to worry about anything. I’m sure you’ll get exactly what you want, sooner than you think.”
“What does that mean?”
But Lady Hartwood simply gave him a knowing smile and a wink before walking to the morning room. Edmund watched her go in slight amusement. “What’s going on with her? She seems to be in better spirits lately.”
“Well, Helena’s engagement to you certainly has something to do with that.”
“And your impending proposal to Arabella as well.”
Alastair frowned. “I never told her about it. You’re the only one who does know.”
His friend shrugged. “It’s intuition. Women have a lot of it, don’t they?”
“Don’t men as well?”
“Only when we’re in trouble,” Edmund chuckled. “And I certainly don’t want to get to that point where I intuitively know I’m going to be in the dog house.”
Despite himself, Alastair laughed. He could see that happening with Edmund. Helena was very good at sniffing out something wrong, and she would be able to see right through Edmund if he tried anything. His friend knew that as well.
He and Helena were going to have a very interesting marriage.
Turning back to the mirror, Alastair checked his reflection. Nothing seemed to be out of place, but he felt as if something was. He adjusted his jacket and dusted the sleeves. He wanted to look perfect for Arabella. She’d seen him at his worst, but that was not something he wanted to repeat.
His spirits lifted as he thought about her.
Since the ball, they’d spent practically every day together.
One of the days Arabella spent with Lady Hartwood.
Alastair was told to leave them be. At the end of it, when he was nervous about what was going on, the two women seemed to get along so well it was like they’d known each other for years.
Then Lady Hartwood commented about how clever, quick-witted, and knowledgeable Arabella was.
Alastair was pleased that his mother had actually made an effort, and she’d seen that Arabella was actually a good person.
He hoped that the two of them would keep their friendship going. It would be easier to handle when his mother and future wife weren’t at each other’s throats.
A knock at the door made him jump. Edmund shook his head with a smile. “Honestly, you’re like a frightened animal.”
Alastair glared at him, turning to the door as the butler opened it. A man who looked to be a messenger appeared in the doorway and held out a letter, which the butler took, before departing. Alastair approached as his butler read the address.
“It’s for you, Your Grace.” The servant held it out. “It looks to be from the magistrate’s office.”
“Thank you.”
Alastair took the letter and read it quickly. And it told him what he had hoped for. A weight lifted off his shoulders, and he felt his whole body sag.
“What is it?” Edmund appeared at his side. “What does he say?”
“Sebastian’s going to be charged with the accidental death of Viscount Fairleigh, and with the theft and fraud. He doesn’t see him getting the death penalty, but there’s a chance he’ll be transported to a penal colony.”
“So he’ll be leaving?”
“If he’s convicted, then yes.” Alastair lowered the letter. His head was now pounding. “If he’s found innocent, which is doubtful, he’ll be advised to leave England anyway. He’s not likely to have any friends around here.”
Edmund frowned. “Do you think he’ll take it?”
“If he’s given an incentive, I hope so.”
Alastair made a mental note to set some money aside to push toward Sebastian as a way to get him to leave. Maybe he could go to the Americas and start afresh from everything.
Much as Alastair would rather Sebastian suffer the consequences of his actions, part of him was still feeling some familial loyalty. That made him uncomfortable, especially when Sebastian’s feelings about him weren’t the same if he was willing to frame Alastair for the death.
Maybe, in a few days, things would be better, and he wouldn’t feel like this.
The butler was about to close the door when he stopped and opened it again. “Viscount Fairleigh is here, Your Grace,” he said.
Shoving the letter into his pocket, Alastair stepped out onto the front steps.
Fairleigh had jumped out of the carriage and was helping Arabella out.
She looked lovely in pale yellow, her hair pinned up on her head and away from her face.
She caught sight of him, and her face broke into a smile.
Alastair’s heart warmed at the sight. He wanted to pick her up and spin her around, but he stopped himself.
Fairleigh also helped Clara Whitby out of the carriage and escorted both ladies toward Alastair and Edmund. The young Viscount was unable to look him in the eye, glancing everywhere except at Alastair. Arabella beamed at him, reaching him first.
“I’ve missed you,” she said.
Alastair grasped her hands and squeezed her fingers, feeling the warmth from her touch through her gloves.
“And I you.”
Edmund rolled his eyes. “You two saw each other just yesterday. It’s like you haven’t seen each other for years.”
Arabella blushed, while Clara laughed.
Fairleigh cleared his throat. “Do you mind if I have a moment in private with you, Your Grace? It’s important.”
“Of course.” Alastair stepped aside. “Edmund will take you into the morning room. Mother and Helena are in there. I’ll be with you shortly.”
Arabella kept her eyes on him as she stepped past him, holding onto his hand until the last minute.
Alastair watched her go, Clara flanking her with Edmund walking on ahead.
It was hard to believe that it was just a few months ago when he didn’t believe in love, and he didn’t want anything to do with marriage and a wife.
Now it was all he thought about, and he wasn’t scared about it.
Arabella had changed his mind on quite a few things.
He turned to Fairleigh, who was handing his coat and hat to a footman. “Come with me. We can talk in the study.”
The younger man followed him, and they remained silent until they were in the study. Alastair shut the door and watched as Fairleigh paced before him, rubbing his hands over his face. He looked distressed.
“I just wanted to apologize for my part in all of this, Your Grace.”
Alastair frowned. “What was your part?”
“Forcing Arabella into this. But Seb… Lord Vaughn… he was blackmailing me.” Fairleigh lifted his head, his expression distraught.
“I had debts of my own, and he knew I was close to getting attacked for it. I wouldn’t be able to withstand any of it, and Arabella would’ve been in more disgrace.
He said that he could deal with all of that, but I had to agree to his marriage to Arabella in return. That was all he wanted.”
Alastair folded his arms. “And you thought that was a good deal, did you?”
“I was desperate, and he made it sound like I didn’t have any other choice.
I wasn’t aware of you helping us out or of what Arabella had done to get us out of a bad place.
” Fairleigh swallowed. “And I swear that I had no idea of Lord Vaughn’s role in our father’s death.
If I had, I wouldn’t have had anything to do with him. ”
“I believe you,” Alastair murmured.
The viscount looked pained as he turned away.
“I know I’ve got a lot to do to apologize to my sister, and to you.
I feel like a fool for being taken in by him.
And I almost lost my sister to him.” His shoulders tensed.
“Pa would never forgive me for doing that to my sister. Arabella was important to him, and he would’ve wanted me to look after her.
And I was so wrapped up in myself that I didn’t do that. ”
Alastair could hear the tension in his voice, the strain.
Fairleigh was clearly remorseful about what he did, and it was a struggle for him to come out with this.
But that made him admire the man, just a little bit.
It was difficult to admit that he was in the wrong after something as big as this. At least he was taking accountability.
Arabella would want her brother around, whether she would fully admit it or not.
“Do you want your sister to be happy?” Alastair asked.
“What?” Fairleigh turned to him. “What do you mean?”
“What’s more important? Her happiness or getting rid of your debts?”
Fairleigh flinched. “Both of them are important. But I would never use Arabella again to get that to happen. That’s just abhorrent, and I can’t believe I did that.”
At least he was learning his lesson. Alastair nodded and turned away.
“I forgive you for what you did,” he said, opening the door. “I believe you had nothing to do with this beyond being put in an impossible position, but I hope you apologize to Arabella as well. She deserves that too.”
“I’ve already done that, and she said she does forgive me.” Fairleigh sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just hope that I can get things back to normal. Having this hanging over my head…”
“We can talk about that later. I’m sure I can figure out what you need to do.” Alastair paused. “I’ve got something important to do first, and I hope there’s no objection to it?”
The viscount stared at him as realization dawned. “You… do you mean…?”
“I love Arabella, and I want her to be my wife. I would love nothing better than to marry her.”
“I…” Fairleigh shook himself. “I guess I should’ve expected that, but at the same time…”
“We’ll talk later, Fairleigh. I’m sure we’ll come to an understanding.”
While he’d been waiting, Alastair had come to a decision to help Fairleigh with his debts. He could afford to do it and not end up bankrupt himself. And he wasn’t about to do that in exchange for Arabella’s hand. He wanted to do it to give them peace of mind, to take the weight off their shoulders.
Anything to make Arabella’s life better after what had been going on.
The ladies and Edmund were sitting around the morning room, Lady Hartwood pouring out the tea as Helena and Edmund sat beside each other, holding hands.
Arabella and Clara were listening to the dowager duchess’ story, both of them giggling as she regaled them about her time when she was their age.
Alastair didn’t think he’d seen his mother so lighthearted before. It was nice to watch.
“There you are!” Lady Hartwood caught sight of him. “I was beginning to think you two had gotten lost!”
“Nothing of the kind.” Alastair glanced at Fairleigh, who sat on a stool near his sister. “I was just asking the viscount about something important.”
“Oh?”
He could feel all eyes on him as he turned to Arabella, who was watching him curiously. He held out a hand, which she took, and allowed him to pull her upright.
“Arabella, I love you. You know that already, but I feel like I need to say it again and again. Just because it makes me happy seeing you smile when I say it.” Alastair took a deep breath.
“I want to keep saying that for the rest of my life. To you. So, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
There was a gasp, but he didn’t look around to see who’d done it. Arabella’s eyes were like saucers as she stared at him. Then she beamed and jumped into his arms.
“Yes!” She hugged him tightly. “I will!”
It took everything not to kiss her deeply right then and there. Alastair caught sight of Lady Hartwood over Arabella’s shoulder. His mother was looking at him with a smile that made her eyes twinkle. And that warmed his heart.
For the first time in a long time, his mother was proud of him.