Page 20 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
A heat passed right through Arthur and he looked away, a little surprised at the response such a thing had brought him.
“It will be a beautiful wedding!” he heard Isabella say as he poured himself a second brandy. “There will be a good deal to prepare! You know that I should be glad to help with anything that you might wish to task me with, Abigail. After all, we are to be sisters!”
“Oh yes, there must be ribbons and bouquets everywhere, with perhaps – ”
“I think a quiet, simple affair would be in order, do you not think?”
Arthur looked around the room as he spoke, having interrupted his own mother as she had joined in with Isabella’s fervency.
“We do not require anything auspicious, certainly,” he continued, having no desire for theton’s interest to be on him all the more. “A quiet wedding ceremony, with only a handful of guests will suffice.”
From the expression on both Isabella and his mother’s face, Arthur quickly realized that his thoughts on the matter were not welcome. Isabella was frowning, her arms folded across her chest and his mother had closed her eyes as though she were embarrassed by him.
“Why should you not want to celebrate your marriage to Miss Townsend by a grand wedding?” Captain Harrington was the first to speak, though his tone remained easy rather than forceful or angry. “It is a very pleasant occasion, is it not? A joyous one, in fact!”
Arthur shrugged, now a little nonplussed given the strong reaction he had received from his own kin. His eyes went to Miss Townsend who, he saw, had sunk back down into her chair rather than remain standing with Captain Harrington and Isabella. “It is not something I would enjoy,” he answered, a flush creeping up his neck. “A grand affair is not required.”
“And what of what your bride would enjoy?” His mother’s sharp, demanding tone had the heat in Arthur’s chest rising up all the more quickly. “The day of your wedding does involvetwopersons, Crestwood and only one of them is you.”
“Please, do not worry!” Lord Townsend threw up his hands and chuckled, his face wreathed in smiles – and why should he not be, Arthur considered, given that all of his debts were about to be removed from him? “My daughter will be more than contented with a quiet marriage, with only direct family present.”
Lady Townsend lifted her chin. “I hardly think that –”
“This does not concern you, however,” her husband interrupted, his smile becoming a little fixed now as the air grew thick with tension. “It is just as the Earl of Crestwood wants.”
A sudden, overwhelming shame burned right through Arthur’s chest and he closed his eyes, realizing just how distinctly selfish he had been. In stating that a banal wedding was all that was required, he had not given a single moment’s consideration to Miss Townsend. Captain Harrington had spoken up against him, as had his mother and yet Lord Townsend was the only one who had agreed with Arthur. Miss Townsend was sitting quietly, clearly expecting the decision to be made for her and without her contribution.
Was that the sort of gentleman he wished to be? The sort ofhusbandhe wanted to become? The sort who ignored his wife in all things, who never once thought of her happiness or sought out her thoughts on any subject? With a sigh, Arthur lifted his head and looked directly at Miss Townsend. Though he hated the idea of having a large wedding filled with guests, he would give himself up to it if that was what Miss Townsend desired.
“Miss Townsend.”
Waiting until she lifted her head and looked at him, he offered her a small if not rather tight smile. “Might I ask what it is thatyoudesire?”
The way her eyes rounded made his heart lift. Clearly, she had not expected him to think of her in this way, had not expected him to ask her about her thoughts and now that he was doing so, she was clearly surprised.
“My daughter will – ”
“Lord Townsend, if you please.” Drawing himself up, Arthur threw out one hand, silencing Lord Townsend as he spoke. “What is it thatyouare thinking of, Miss Townsend? What sort of wedding do you desire?”
She swallowed hard and then rose to her feet, her cheeks coloring a little. “I should like to be surrounded by my friends, my family and our neighbours,” she said, her voice a little shaky though her gaze was steady. “We will have it at my father’s estate, I presume, and though it is a time of celebration, it is also a time for me to say farewell to all that I have known and loved since the very day I was born.” Her chin wobbled but she took in a deep breath and continued. “I should be glad to have your thoughts, Lady Isabella, and yours also, Lady Crestwood, when it comes to decorations and the like. I know my own mother will be delighted to be of assistance also.”
Arthur realized, in that one moment, that his wedding was not even just about himself and his bride, as his mother had said. It was about two families coming together even in this, in planning the day and all that would come with it. The light in Isabella’s eyes, the hopeful smile on hismother’s face and the way Lady Townsend blinked her glassy eyes told him that he could not refuse.
“Then I shall leave it all to you,” he said, inclining his head. “I shall do as I am instructed and shall be contented in everything.”
There came a squeal of delight from Isabella and his mother and Lady Townsend both thanked him profusely. But Arthur could only look to his betrothed, seeking out her response to what he had said – and her soft, quiet smile brought a thrill to his heart that he had never experienced before.
It both terrified and delighted him in equal measure.
Chapter Ten
Abigail? Might I speak with you?”
Looking up from her embroidery, Abigail quickly set it aside as her mother came into the drawing room. “Yes, of course.”
The moment she sat down, Abigail could see that her mother was upset about something though she refrained from asking any questions. Whatever troubled her mother, Abigail was more than inclined to simply permit her to speak of it when she chose to. Given all that had taken place of late, Abigail had her own thoughts, her own considerations weighing heavily on her and at this present moment, she had no desire to listen to more.
Besides which, she had to admit to a great deal of hurt and some bitterness within her own heart directed solely towards her mother. After all, Lady Townsend had been the one who had suggested the match with Lord Crestwood in the first place and Abigail was yet to conquer the shock and surprise which had come with that revelation.
