Page 41 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
“So she must have spoken to him.” Isabella looked from Captain Harrington to Arthur. “Lady Clara, I mean, or mayhap her mother?”
“Would he have listened to them?” Arthur bit his lip as Captain Harrington shook his head. “I do not think that he would have done.”
“Then someone else must have spoken to him.”
In one moment, Arthur’s breath rolled in his chest as one name, one face came to mind. One other person who had been present at the ball, who was, no doubt,stillpresent given that he might not yet have taken his leave and one person who, to Arthur’s mind, had no intention of doing Arthur any sort of kindness.
Lord Drover.
“It could not be, surely?” he murmured, getting to his feet and walking to the door. “Harrington, come with me, would you?”
“Of course.” His friend hurried after him as Isabella got to her feet. “Who is it that you seek?”
“Lord Drover,” Arthur replied, growing angry now. “He is the only one I can think of who would do such a thing as this… though he has never explained to me why he holds such a darkness against me.”
Striding out of the room, Arthur grabbed the first footman he saw and demanded to know whether or not he had seen Lord Drover. It took some time but, eventually, Arthur discovered that Lord Drover’s carriage had been called and the gentleman was already on his way to depart the house.
Without hesitating, Arthur turned on his heel, strode to the front door with Captain Harrington hard on his heels. The door was opened for him and, stalking outside, Arthur glared at the figure of Lord Drover who was descending the stone steps.
“Drover!”
The man turned, then frowned. “If this is your way of bidding your guests farewell, I – ”
“What did you say to Lord Townsend?”
Arthur did not need to wonder whether or not Lord Drover had said anything at all, given the way that the man jerked visibly, though he shrugged thereafter.
“I only told him the truth.”
“And what is that?” Unable to contain himself, Arthur reached and grabbed Lord Drover by the front of his coat, hauling himself closer. “What did you say to him that had him driving Abigail away from my house as fast as he could go?”
Lord Drover scowled and jerked backwards, pulling himself out of Arthur’s grip, though the restraining hand of Captain Harrington held Arthur back from grabbing at the man again. “Lord Townsend was boasting to me last evening about hismanydebts and how you were going to pay them all,” he spat, his eyes as sharp as blades. “After what I witnessed last evening, I took great pleasure in telling Lord Townsendexactlywhat was now going to take place between Lady Clara and yourself. Your reputation will be nothing but dirt now, Crestwood and it is just as you deserve. I wish Lady Clara and you the very worst of futures, one that is filled with darkness and discontent.”
“Whatever are you talking about, man?” Arthur roared, making Lord Drover move back a step. “There is no engagement between myself and Lady Clara! I was tricked by both herself and her mother into dancing with Lady Clara last evening, though I made it perfectly clear to them both that I had no real desire to do so.”
Lord Drover’s dark expression began to clear, his eyes rounding at the edges.
“Shewas the one who threw herself into me! I led her from the ballroom with the explanation that she required rest and a glass of water simply because I was doing my best to save myself from the very situation you are now describing! Do you not understand, Drover? I have no intentions as regards your cousin. I do not want to draw close to heragain. She broke my heart but it has healed and is renewed but not because of her.” Taking in a breath, he let it out again slowly, his hands still curled into tight fists. “Because of Miss Townsend. It is all because of Abigail. Whyevershould you think to tell Lord Townsend such a thing?”
“As I have said,” Lord Drover replied, though there was not as much force behind his words now. “It is because I want you to be drawn low, to have your reputation to be as little as it ought to be.”
“But he has done nothing deserving of such censure!” Captain Harrington stepped closer, his eyes searching Lord Drover’s. “Nothing at all.”
“Why do you want my reputation to be smeared, to be mocked at by theton? I do not understand why you have always had this animosity towards me.” Throwing up his hands, Arthur let them fall helplessly back to his sides. “We were friends back in Eton. We came to London for the Season and it was only after you introduced me to your cousin that… that… ”
Arthur’s hands uncurled, his jaw going slack as he stared at Lord Drover, seeing how the gentleman closed his eyes, his whole body going rigid. Understanding dawned and Arthur could hardly take it in, could barely accept what it was that he now understood.
“This… this is all because of Lady Clara.”
“Why did you have to take her from me?”
Lord Drover opened his eyes and shards spat from them. “I introduced her to you and suddenly, all she could see, all she could think of was you. There was meant to be an understanding between her and me!”
“But you did not tell me such a thing!” Arthur exclaimed, taking a step closer to Lord Drover. “Had you told me that she was your betrothed, then I would never have taken a step near her.”
“Except she was not my betrothed,” Lord Drover retorted, his face flushing hot. “She was meant to be considering me. I – I will not pretend that I did not care for her but thenyoustep into her sphere and any hope I had of taking her as my bride vanished.”
Arthur shook his head, pushing one hand through his hair. “You should have told me.” Recalling everything that Lord Drover had ever said or done, he let out a heavy breath. “You tried to ruin my reputation so that Lady Clara would step away from me but instead, she clung to me, determined to be of support to me.”
