Page 7 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
“She did not greet you?”
“No, Mother, she did not.” His voice a little quieter now, Arthur kept his gaze fixed to the window and the view outside rather than look at her. “There was no connection between us. None whatsoever.”
“I am sorry for that.” Lady Crestwood came towards him and put one hand on his arm, though Arthur jerked back, having no desire for her comfort. “Come now, my son. Do not allow her presence or her disregard to affect you.”
Arthur closed his eyes, blowing out a long breath. “I cannot help but be affected when the lady I was betrothed to ignores me entirely.”
There came a short silence where Lady Crestwood sighed, her shoulders rounding. “That behaviour reflects poorly on Lady Clara rather than on you,” she said softly, though Arthur struggled to accept those words to be true. “Now, I must go to see Isabella and rouse her from her bed! It is much too late for her to still be resting and there will be gentlemen callers very soon, I am sure!”
With a nod, Arthur waited as her footsteps led her across the room, hearing the door open and then close behind her. Once he was alone, he dropped his head forward with a groan, his shoulders rounding and his forehead pressed lightly against the glass pane of the window. This was worse than he had ever imagined it. To be under so much scrutiny was difficult indeed and to have Lady Clara ignore him had made things all the more difficult. Quite what he had expected from her, Arthur was uncertain but it certainly had not been for her to pretend he was not even present!
A scratch came to the door and Arthur turned, calling for the servant to enter. The butler came in at once, a calling card on a tray and, a little surprised, Arthur took it. It was a little earlier for calls and Isabella was not even dressed as yet!
Except it was not someone for Isabella. It was Viscount Townsend, come to call on him.
“He is here now?”
“Yes, my lord.” The butler gestured to the door. “What shall I say to him?”
A little intrigued as to why the gentleman would be calling on him so early, Arthur nodded to himself, turning the card over in his hand. “Tell him he may join me here.”
“At once, my lord. Shall I send for some refreshments?”
“Yes.”
Turning back to the window, Arthur took in a long, slow breath, a little surprised at how unsettled he felt. It was not the first time someone would call on him, he was certain, but there was something about this seeming so urgent that made him a little uneasy. Was the gentlemancoming so he might have a closer look at Arthur’s face? Did he want to spread as many whispers though London as he could? Was he eager to feed his own reputation as a gossip monger here in town?
All of his questions were stolen away as the door opened again and the butler announced Viscount Townsend. Taking in a deep breath, Arthur steadied himself and turned around, just to see Lord Townsend dropping into a bow.
“Forgive the early call, Lord Crestwood,” the man said, before Arthur had a chance even to greet him. “I have something of great urgency I wished to discuss with you and given that your name runs all through London at present, I thought it best to come and speak with you just as soon as I was able.”
“Indeed.” Arthur gestured for the fellow to sit down though he himself chose to remain standing. He had no interest in talking with this gentleman, he decided, given that whatever they spoke of would soon become gossip for thetonto chew upon. “What is it that you wish to speak of?”
Lord Townsend blinked and began to stammer, perhaps a little taken aback by Arthur’s forwardness but Arthur merely held the man’s gaze and waited. He was not about to fall into banal conversation before Lord Townsendfinallyspoke of whatever it was he had come here for. It was best for it all to be dealt with first.
“I – I come to you with a proposal.”
Arthur lifted his eyebrows. “A proposal?”
“Yes, an agreement, if you will,” Lord Townsend continued, quickly. “Let me be blunt, Lord Crestwood. I… I am a gentleman with debts.”
A heavy frown immediately pulled at Arthur’s forehead. “I do not know why that is any concern of mine.”
“Because, I thought you might be able to solve a difficulty of mine while I solve a difficulty of yours.”
A little confused now, Arthur lifted his chin, notched it up and sniffed, barely aware of the maid who scurried in with the tray of refreshments to set between them. “Given that we are barely acquainted, I do not think there is anything that I require from you, good sir.”
“That is not true, however!” Lord Townsend pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed it against his forehead, his round face a little flushed. “My wife spoke with your mother last evening and she made it very clear that you were in London to seek a bride for yourself. My daughter is – ”
Fire burned in Arthur’s chest. “My mother has no business saying anything of the sort! I have no intention of finding a bride this Season.”
“Oh.” Lord Townsend looked a little nonplussed, looking down at his hands for some moments before, taking a breath, getting to his feet and looking back at Arthur directly – and with more courage than Arthur had anticipated.
“You require a bride, however,” the man said, firmly. “It is clear that you will require an heir given that you bear the title and I understand that responsibility, truly, I do.”
“I hardly think – ”
“I have a daughter,” the Viscount continued, before Arthur could finish his sentence. “She is of marriageable age and yet I have not been able to secure her a husband these last few Seasons. It is not because there is anything wrong as regards her character for indeed, she is quiet and soft spoken and very gentle indeed – but I believe it is these qualities which have held her back from some in society. Gentlemen find hertooquiet, find her dull and banal when, I can assure you, she is quite the opposite!”
