Page 37 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
“Oh!” His eyes widened. “You are speaking about Isabella?”
“I am, though I did promise I would do so in confidence – though quite how I was to ask you without mentioning her name, I could not quite understand!”
“What is it that you want to know?”
Miss Townsend took in a deep breath and then stopped walking, turning to face him. “What if your sister does not wish to be courted by any gentleman from London? What if her thoughts are already settled on the Captain?”
It did not take even a moment for Arthur to give her his answer. “Then I should be quite contented. All they need to do is ask me.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” Miss Townsend clapped her hands together, her face alight with a sudden, fierce joy that had Arthur smiling back at her. “She will be so glad to know of your thoughts.”
Arthur’s smile faded. “I am a little disappointed that she did not think she could ask me of such a thing herself?”
Miss Townsend smiled and reached out to slip her hand through his arm again. “You are trying to change into a warmer, more open soul, are you not? It will take time for your sister to see that, though I am certain she would be nervous all the same! I believe that Captain Harrington and she are already very much in love. It would only be right to see them happy.”
The mention of love had Arthur’s heart quickening though he looked straight ahead rather than letting his gaze go to Miss Townsend. He had once thought himself close to falling in love with Lady Clara only for his heart to be broken when she had torn herself from him. With Miss Townsend, his heart was already eager to draw close to her and whilesome of the sensations and the emotions within his heart were familiar, they were growing rapidly. The fact that he was choosing now not to push them back, not to hide them away meant that he felt every single thing when it came to being in Miss Townsend’s company – but did that mean that he might fall in love with her too?
“Oh, that is the quadrille!” Miss Townsend beamed up at him, her eyes bright. “Shall we make our way to the floor?”
“We shall.” Putting his thoughts to the side for the moment Arthur led Miss Townsend out to the center of the ballroom, ready to step into their dance together. This was meant to be a joyous evening, spent with friends and family, and he was not about to let his thoughts shatter even a small part of that.
***
“The waltz!” Arthur looked all around, hearing the waltz announced and eager to go and find Miss Townsend so he might walk out with her for it. “Has anyone seen Miss Townsend?”
“I think she left.”
Surprised, Arthur turned around to look into Lady Clara’s face. “Left?”
“Yes, she was feeling a little unwell. I believe her mother went with her.”
“Oh.” Surprised at how heavy his heart suddenly became at this, Arthur looked away for a moment, rubbing at his chin. “I should go to her.” He made to step away and again, Lady Clara caught his arm.
“She said she would return in a few minutes, I do not think you need to be overly concerned,” she said, with a warm smile. “Though, since we have opportunity, should we not stand up together? It would make me very happy indeed to be dancing with you.”
Arthur made to let fly a harsh retort, to tell her that the only person he wished to waltz with was Miss Townsend, only foranotherhand to grasp his other arm.
“Oh, that would be most wonderful!”
Groaning inwardly, Arthur lifted his chin. “It would be, Lady Templeton, but alas, I am to dance with Miss Townsend.”
“Ah, but she is not here! She is gone to lie down for a short while. No doubt she did not want to disturb you during the house party ball.” Lady Templeton tilted her head. “It would bring me great happiness to see you dancing with Lady Clara. After all, there has been a good deal of pain and strife between you both. How wonderful it would be to have that finally healed – and for thetonto see that there is no further bitterness or animosity between you.”
“It would be truly wonderful.”
Arthur shook his head. “Alas, I cannot. I – ”
“Please,Crestwood.” Lady Clara looked up at him, her eyes pleading with his. “It would mean an end to everything.” Her gaze slid to her mother and Arthur understood precisely what she meant. Lady Templeton would no longer pressure her, would no longer attempt to push the two of them together once this dance had taken place. To Lady Clara’s mind, it seemed, it would bring an end to the entire thing and that, Arthur considered, might then make the dance worth doing.
If Abigail is not here, would it not be wise to step out with Lady Clara? It would mean an end to her mother’s incessant demands and I am certain Abigail will understand.He smiled to himself, dropping his head.She is a very good, understanding sort of creature.
“You are smiling, Lord Crestwood.”
“I am thinking of Miss Townsend, Miss Templeton,” Arthur replied, swiftly, taking the gleam from her eye. “Very well, Lady Clara, we can step out together. However,” he continued, seeing her bright smile and the clasping of Lady Templeton’s hands, “this shall not be repeated. I am not going to pretend that there is no hurt nor pain between us still, Lady Clara. Though I will say that there has come some healing of late, that is solely thanks to Miss Townsend and not because of any improvement between us. I will dance with you so that, as you say, thetonnotices it and will see an end to the difficulty and tension between us – but that is the only reason I shall do so. I do not dance with you because I truly wish to or because I have any genuine desire to do so. I step out with you so that there can be an end to any whispered suggestions of ill feeling between us. That is all.”
Lady Templeton’s smile had become a little fixed and Lady Clara herself looked rather disappointed. However, when he offered his arm, she did take it though she did not smile, sharing a glance with her mother before he led her out.
The waltz began and Arthur started the dance, taking Lady Clara in his arms and thinking silently to himself how different it was when he had danced the very same waltz with Miss Townsend. Even though Lady Clara had once been a part of his life, had once had a place in his heart, he felt nothing now. There was no desire to pull her closer, no eagerness to wrap his arm around her waist a little more as there had been with Miss Townsend. He did not want to look deeply into her eyes, did not want to gaze down at her with affection growing in his heart. All he wanted was for this dance to be over.
