Page 40 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
Lord Drover?
A memory of Lord Crestwood speaking of Lord Drover had Abigail’s heart quickening suddenly, her eyes flaring as she fought to recall what he had said. Her eyes still lingered on the figure of Lord Crestwood, though he had stopped running by now, seeing the futility of his endeavors. Wanting to cry out for the carriage to stop, wanting to give herself time to think, to remember, Abigail closed her eyes tightly and leaned her head back against the squabs.
It was all much too painful and much too confusing for her to think concisely. Yes, she decided, it would be best for her to return back to London where, perhaps, she might then begin to make sense of all that had taken place – and allow her heart time to heal.
Chapter Nineteen
“Where has Miss Townsend and her family gone to?”
Arthur strode into the drawing room and, spying his mother, directed his question to her though there was only Isabella and Captain Harrington in the room also. “Why did they leave? They were only due to depart come the morrow.”
Lady Crestwood set down the book she had been holding at once, her eyes rounding. “Gone?”
“They drove away in the carriage only a few minutes ago. I went to their rooms and were told they had already packed to leave early this morning.” Dread filled his heart as he saw his mother shake her head. “You do not know?”
“I do not.”
“Nor do I,” Isabella interjected, though the Captain got to his feet and began to meander slowly across the room, a heavy frown on his face. “Do you mean to say that Abigail has quit this house without so much as a word to you?”
Arthur’s heart twisted fiercely. “Yes, it would seem so.”
“Then something dreadful has occurred, surely.” Captain Harrington rubbed one hand over his chin. “She would not leave without telling you unless there was something untoward.”
“But I do not know what it could be!” Lady Crestwood exclaimed, though Isabella immediately sent a look towards Arthur which told him, in no uncertain terms, that she had every idea of what it could be. “You are to be wed very soon! The wedding day is fast approaching and – ”
“You did not see Lady Clara attempt to throw herself into Crestwood’s arms last night, Mama,” Isabella interrupted, as a flush rose up Arthur’s chest and into his neck. “I will say that Crestwood dealt with it very well – though I am not certain that everyone believed your statement that she needed to rest and was a little overwhelmed after the waltz.”
“What else could I say?” Arthur protested, flinging up his hands. “I did see Miss Townsend thereafter and I should… I should have gone to speak with her at once but then the ball was to come to a close and I was required to make a speech to all of the guests who had come so far to join us and thereafter, she had already retired.”
“You were foolish.” Captain Harrington spoke pointedly but Arthur did not disagree. “If you saw she was upset – confused, even – then you ought to have made it your duty to go to speak with her. The speech could have waited.”
Arthur nodded and letting out a long breath, ran one hand over his face. “I do not understand at all what happened. I was convinced that Miss Townsend had gone to rest and would be unable to join me for the waltz and that was my only reason for stepping out with Lady Clara. I told her firmly that this was only to satisfy the wagging tongues of thetonrather than because I wished to – and then not only did she speak to me in a most direct and unexpected manner, she then attempted to throw herself into my arms and as I took her from the floor, I saw Miss Townsend in the crowd. If she had truly been resting, then why was she in the ballroom?”
“Does it not seem obvious?” Isabella rolled her eyes and let out a frustrated breath. “Brother, it was all Lady Clara’s doing. She clearly wanted to dance with you and was not about to let your betrothed stand in her way.”
“But that makes very little sense,” Arthur protested, quickly. “Lady Clara has always been embarrassed by her mother’s forwardness, has reassured me that she does not want to pursue any connection with me and – ”
“And you have believed her,” Isabella interrupted. “That was your mistake. You ought never to have done so. I believe that she said all of those things, made out as though her mother was the only one with that particular idea because, in truth, shedidwant to draw close to you again and thought that to be one way for such a thing to take place. When you became engaged and when she came to this ball, I believe that, in desperation, she tried to kiss you so as to cause a scandal and force your hand. How glad I am that she did not succeed!”
A buzzing rang in Arthur’s ears and he sat down suddenly, shock racing through him. Could it be as Isabella said? Had he truly been so blind to it all?
“But why should she choose me?” he rasped, looking up at his sister again as though she would have all the answers he required. “There are plenty of other gentlemen who might accept her.”
“Are there?” Lady Crestwood tilted her head and looked up at him, though she had now become a little paler than before. “She is a young lady who has already been engaged. She was then the one who ended the engagement and, thereafter, spoke of you in such cruel, hard terms that she herself has garnered something of a reputation in how she speaks and how she acts. That is something to consider, is it not? What if there is more difficulty in her finding a match than you think?”
It was as though the clouds cleared and, for the first time, Arthur could see exactly what it was that Lady Clara and her mother had been attempting to do. With a groan, he lowered his head to his hands, his heart aching with both regret and anger at his own foolishness, at his ownlack of clarity. He had been so busy being wrapped up in his own feelings, in his own thoughts and confusion as regarded Miss Townsend, he had not given Lady Clara’s motivations any real thought.
“Though I would not disagree with all that has been said thus far, there is another question I should like to ask.” Captain Harrington’s voice was thoughtful, filled with doubt and Arthur looked up at his friend.
“What is it?”
“I do not know Lord Townsend well,” the Captain began slowly, taking out one thought at a time, “but it seems to me as though he is a gentleman who has very little consideration for his daughters.”
Arthur nodded. “Yes, that is so.”
“Which is strange, then, that he would hurry off from this house without questioning it, is it not? I would have thought that, given the sort of fellow he is, he would have told Miss Townsend not to be ridiculous and would not have rushed off at her demands, if that is fair. Do you not think so?”
Slowly, Arthur began to nod, his heart quickening. “I do. Lord Townsend’s debts are still to be cleared given that I have not married his daughter as yet.” His gut twisted fiercely and his breath hitched, silently praying that he would yet have a chance to do so. “He would not want to end this engagement. If Miss Townsend had gone to him with her concerns, you are quite right to suggest that he would have both dismissed them and thereafter, refused to leave early simply because she desired to… which means that he must have been convinced that the connection between myself and Lady Clara was quite real.”
