Page 19 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
“I – I need another few moments.”
For the first time since he had walked into the room, Arthur looked back at Captain Harrington, wondering if his friend had, as yet, looked away from the window to take note of the proceedings. He had done, Arthur saw, though he was shooting a rather dark look back at Arthur. Could it be that he was simply fatigued? Or had he hoped to call upon Arthur when no-one else was present… or when Isabella herself might be his only company?” Arthur let his gaze go to his sister as though somehow, she might be taking note of his thoughts but she was busy whispering something to Miss Townsend. The young lady did not look in the least bit more contented or joyous and Arthur frowned, only to look again at Lord Townsend as he came to the end of the contract.
“Everything seems to be in order,” Lord Townsend remarked, his hand reaching for the quill. “Very soon, we shall have the wedding between yourself and my daughter, Miss Abigail Townsend, and all shall be quite well.”
Without so much as a look to Miss Townsend, Arthur noted, Lord Townsend dipped the quill in the ink and then signed the contract. His eyes caught how her shoulders dropped and how she lowered her head, though not a single word of complaint came from her lips. His gut twisted, concern threading through his veins as he looked back at her a little more steadily, ignoring Lord Townsend’s triumphant exclamation as he completed his signing.
“Miss Townsend, might you join us?”
The lady’s head lifted and she looked back into his eyes without flinching, surprise in her green eyes. “My lord?”
“Might you join me for a moment?” he asked again, going across the room towards her and holding out one hand. “If you would?”
Her hand reaching for his was a little tentative and when he grasped it, he felt how she trembled. It did not come from fear, he hoped,but he was glad, at least, that she walked with him across the room without hesitation.
“I want to ask you whether or not you are in agreement with this,” he said, keeping his voice as quiet as he could so as not to be overheard by everyone in the room. “This involves you and your opinion should be sought.”
Her eyes flared but before she could speak, her father rose and set one hand on her shoulder. “Of course she agrees! What other choice does she have?”
Miss Townsend’s cheeks flooded with color and her eyes closed.
“Lord Townsend, if you please.” His voice firm, Arthur realized that he was still holding Miss Townsend’s hand and, with that realization, he squeezed her fingers gently, hoping for a response. Opening her eyes, Miss Townsend offered him a small smile, and then nodded.
“Yes, of course. I consent.”
“I told you,” Lord Townsend boomed, ignoring the way his daughter winced. “Now, let us proceed, Lord Crestwood.”
Arthur bent his head forward and looked straight into Miss Townsend’s eyes. A hint of vanilla rose to assail his senses and he caught his breath, his heart kicking hard in his chest. “You recall and understand all I spoke with you about before?” he asked, as she nodded. “Then are you still quite contented for all of this to take place?” Knowing that she would be entering a marriage where he could not and would not offer her any sort of affection, Arthur held her gaze steadily, ignoring the sudden thundering of his heart until, finally, she nodded.
“I agree to it all,” she whispered, though there came a glistening into her eyes that concerned Arthur greatly. “There is nothing I do not consent to.”
Despite the way his heart turned over, despite the way his stomach clenched and his concern grew to furious heights, Arthur nodded, released her hand and went to sign the contract. Miss Townsend made her way back to sit by Isabella and Arthur dipped his quill into the ink and, without giving himself time to think, scratched his name onto the bottom of the contract.
It was done. He was engaged to Miss Townsend and in a little over a month, would find himself a married man.
The room erupted in cheers and Arthur turned, making his way directly across the room so he might pick up his brandy. Throwing it back, he swallowed it in one gulp, letting fire erupt in his chest and chase away all the emotions which threatened to overwhelm him. Ever since the war, he had done an excellent job of pushing down everything he felt, of hiding what his true emotions were. It was easier to live a life without them,where he was staid and severe rather than letting his emotions affect him.
Captain Harrington came to join him. “My congratulations.”
Arthur managed a wry smile. “I am uncertain as to whether you are truly pleased for me or if you are somewhat concerned.”
“Might I not be both?” Captain Harrington’s gaze travelled across the room rather than looking back at Arthur. “To my mind, a marriage ought not to be a business transaction. Rather it ought to be solemnly deliberated, with the hearts, minds and affections of those involved truly and carefully considered.”
With a curt nod acknowledging, at least, that his friend had his own perspective on such thing, Arthur too looked across the room and saw how Isabella smiled, though her gaze was not on him. Rather, she was smiling at Captain Harrington.
“You do not have any difficulties such as I, however,” he grunted, as the Captain’s attention snapped back to him. “Your face is not marred nor marked as mine is.”
“That means nothing, as you know I have said to you many a time,” came the reply. “A man’s appearance does not have any bearing on his character. Character is what is important, my friend. I do hope you will treat Miss Townsend with all the respect, affection and consideration she deserves.”
Arthur drew himself up. “I will be entirely respectful.”
“Ah, but will you be affectionate? Will you be considerate?” The Captain tilted his head. “She will be married to a gentleman she barely knows, settled into a new estate and a new home and without her own sister by her side. Your mother and sister will, no doubt, make her feel very welcome but what about when they depart? No doubt your sister will marry soon and your mother will take the Dower House. You cannot truly think that Miss Townsend – who will soon be Lady Crestwood – will be contented with sitting in your manor house without company and affection?”
A vision of Miss Townsend sitting alone, tears on her cheeks, rose in Arthur’s mind but he dismissed it quickly enough. “She may well have had a child by then.”
The Captain immediately scoffed at this, shaking his head as though Arthur was a child who needed to be guided away from his foolish considerations. “Do not think that a child will make up for the lack of affection from her husband!” he exclaimed, setting one hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “Permit yourself to be free with your affections and you might find yourself all the happier, my friend.”
Before Arthur could say anything in response, before he could find a few words to throw back at him, Captain Harrington moved away fromhim directly and walked towards both Miss Townsend and Isabella. He greeted them both and then took Miss Townsend’s hand in his, bowing over it and clearly offering her his congratulations.
