Page 2 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
Arthur closed his eyes and let out a long breath. What his mother was saying made sense and yet, he did not want to accept it. Not even for a moment. This was his security and even though he hated the whispering darkness, the lingering shadows, he could not think of a future where he stepped back into society. That would mean revealing his face to them all, to show them the red scars which still laced his cheeks, and brought an ugliness to his once handsome features. They would see a gentleman cowed and broken by the vileness of war, rejected by his betrothed and now burdened by all he had endured. He was no longer the happy,carefree, contented gentleman who had once been a part of society. Instead, he barely recognized himself.
“Please, Crestwood.” Leaning forward, his mother set one hand over his though Arthur had to fight against himself not to withdraw it. “At the very least, tell me you will consider it.”
“I will.” The response came quickly and Arthur caught the look of relief which spread across his mother’s face. Whether he had said it because he genuinely would do so or if it had come merely because of his desire to have his mother drop the conversation at hand, Arthur did not know but all the same, he felt a great deal of relief when Lady Crestwood rose to her feet.
“Thank you, my son.” Reaching out, his mother settled her hand against his cheek – the one which bore all the scars – and Arthur instinctively jerked away. His mother, her gaze soft, bent low and looked into his eyes, keeping her hand firmly where it was. “There is nothing wrong with these scars, Crestwood,” she said, softly. “You have borne a great deal of pain, carried an impossibly heavy burden and have yet endured. These marks are only an outward mark of the weight you continue to carry, I know, but they are not something to be ashamed of. Hold your head high, my son, for you have done more than many a gentleman might and have prevailed through it all.”
With a smile, she rose and walked away, leaving Arthur to look back into the fire and letting the silence begin to curl around him again. Despite his desire to forget all that his mother had said, it would not leave him and even though he had no wish to think on making his way to London, the idea settled so heavily upon his mind, he could not think of anything else.
Was it time for the Beast of Crestwood to return to society?
Chapter One
“I think it is a marvelous idea!”
Arthur rolled his eyes. “You do not have to show so much enthusiasm, my friend. And Isabella does not require so much encouragement!”
“I already think it is a wonderful idea,” his sister retorted, throwing Arthur a slightly narrowed look which then blossomed into a smile. “You know very well that I am eager to go to London.”
“You must make your debut,” Captain Harrington murmured, to which Isabella nodded though Arthur did not miss the way her gaze lingered on the Captain’s for a short while. “It is the requirement of every young lady.”
Arthur silently wondered whether he could suggest that Isabella marry Captain Harrington only to shake his head to himself. After all, Captain Harrington was an excellent fellow, having fought alongside Arthur himself, and they had retained a good friendship in the years thereafter but, at the same time, Arthur knew it would not be fair of him to make that idea known. After all, his sister deserved the opportunity to go to London to make her debut, just as every other young lady of thetondid. He could not deny her that simply for his own benefit.
“I am aware you have very little desire to go to London, brother.”
Arthur lifted his eyes to Isabella’s. “That is not something worth considering, my dear. You are my responsibility and your debut is clearly important to you.”
“It is.” A flash of excitement flew into Isabella’s eyes. “I do so very much want to see London and to be a part of the balls and soirees that are enjoyed there! I think it would be a most enjoyable experience.”
Arthur nodded slowly, feeling his own sense of dread begin to curl up within him as he looked into his sister’s eyes and saw the anticipation in her expression. He felt nothing but the opposite. “I am sure that for you, it will be quite wonderful.”
“Whereas for you, it will be nothing but a burden.” Isabella’s expression softened. “I know what society calls you and I am sorry for it.”
Noting the way that Captain Harrington’s eyes roved from Isabella back towards him, Arthur let out a huff of breath. “I choose to ignore such things.”
“Why?” Lord Harrington asked, looking to Isabella again. “What is being said?”
Scowling, Arthur flung one hand up towards his scarred face. “It is said that I am the Beast of Crestwood Hall,” he stated, as matter of factly as he could. “I once made my way through society without a care in theworld, whereas now I have retreated and hidden myself away. No doubt someone has either seen my face as it is now or has listened to Lady Clara and decided that yes, this is what I should now be known as.”
“Though it is quite ridiculous, is it not?” Isabella asked, tossing her head so that her light brown curls bounced. “I have never heard anything so foolish. My brother is no beast!”
“I would quite agree.” With a frown pulling at his eyebrows, Captain Harrington nodded in Arthur’s direction. “I do hope you will not permit these rumours to stand? After all, such nonsense ought to be treated as such! You should certainly return to London and prove to them all that you are no beast! After all, it is not as though the war has changed your character.”
Lines ripped across Arthur’s forehead. “Has it not?”
Silence grew between the three of them but much to Arthur’s surprise, there came a small smile to the Captain’s face, one that spoke of sympathy and understanding.
“Certainly, it has changed us as men and for you, it also has changed your appearance but that does not mean that the kindness you showed me, the consideration to your fellow soldiers and your sense of responsibility and duty has altered. Indeed, I think those qualities remain within you. To my mind, Lady Clara failed to see that, failed to give even a moment of consideration to it. She looked only on the outward appearance and thought solely of herself. There is no shame in bearing the scars you do. Verily, it is the shame of Lady Clara, as well as society at large, that their disdain for you lingers.”
The heavy frown on Arthur’s forehead began to fade as he looked back at his friend, considering. The Captain and he had shared many an adventureanddark times and while he valued his friendship a great deal, there were still things he had not told him about. He had not spoken of his dark memories, of his fear of returning to London and what might be said of him there.
Perhaps I should.
“I do not want to place any burden on your shoulders, brother.” With a smile in his direction, Isabella rose to her feet, walked across the room and, opening a drawer, took out a set of cards. “Now, shall we play some whist?”
“A capital idea!”
Again, Arthur noticed, Isabella’s smile lingered – as did her gaze – on the Captain’s face though he himself could not tell what the Captain thought of Isabella’s company. They had grown to know one another very well over the last two years for the Captain lived nearby and had, initially, visited to make certain Arthur’s recovery was continuing but, thereafter, had come as both a friend of Arthur’s and a friend of the family. Arthurwas not certain what the man felt as regards Isabella for the Captain had never once spoken of any affection for her, but might there be something there? Something that he himself had never before seen?
