Page 55 of An Earl's Scandalous Return
“Yes, about that. How did you enjoy it? You had such adventures that you wrote about. I wondered if you might be staying away forever.”
“No, not forever.” Edward traced a design on the arm of the chair before he took a big swig from his wine, standing to pour himself another. “But I didn’t know how long I would stay away. I’m glad I’m back, however. My father needed me.”
“As did your friends, Edward. We all missed you. You should return to White’s, you know, and your usual pubs and gaming hells. I saw Farthing was happy to see you again, and I know there are others.”
Edward nodded again with a sigh. “You’re right. I want to return to life as it was before I left.” When he sat down again, he noticed Alvin looking at him curiously.
“Is that so?” Alvin breathed out, and with a furrow in his brow, he put his wine to the side. “I was surprised when you left, Edward, hardly without a word.”
“What do you mean?” Edward shifted uncomfortably in his seat and pulled at his cravat, wondering why he had kept it so tight even until the later hours.
“I mean that I’d always thought there had been something between you and Arabella.” Edward’s eyes snapped to his friend’s as Alvin shrugged.
“Oh?”
“Yes. It was just a feeling. She never said anything to me, but after you left, it was as if a sort of light went out inside her. And then, no matter how hard I tried to help her, she would not allow any other suitors to call. Therefore, I made my own assumptions.”
Edward opened his mouth, but no words came out. He felt shame, deep shame for what he’d done. He had made love to Arabella and then told her he was leaving but didn’t leave.
He loved her but was afraid of her and what she could do to his heart again. How could he say any of this to her brother? Even then, the feel of her skin tingled on his fingertips and his mouth. Even if he ran away, he knew that he’d never be able to forget how it had felt to be with her at long last.
Alvin held up a hand.
“You don’t need to say anything yet, old friend. And perhaps I am wrong, but I just wanted you to know that. And I care about my sister’s heart. If you do love her, then do not toy with her. I would be proud to call you my brother.
But Lord knows that I have no real leg to stand on when it comes to telling people the proper way to go about courting and marrying the ones they love. I have courted scandal after all, and who knows what we will come up against when we arrive back in London.”
Alvin chuckled, but Edward leaned forward in his chair with a serious look.
“I am envious of you, Alvin. You had the courage to follow your heart, even if it did court scandal. I thank you for saying that to me. And now, I wish not to discuss me but your secret nuptials.”
He grinned at Alvin’s even brighter smile, and then they didn’t speak of Arabella any longer, and he could revel in his friend’s happiness instead of his own despair.
Chapter 60
“Oh, I will never get this right!” Seraphina complained, missing another step in the dance as they practiced in the ballroom late into the night.
“Yes, you will! Listen, Seraphina, I spent years learning these steps, and you have only had a few days. You must give yourself time, but honestly, you are doing very well!”
Arabella took Seraphina by the hand, and she nodded the beats, starting the dance again. Seraphina concentrated hard, and Arabella did her best to play the role of the gentleman as they moved through the dance, Arabella humming the tune. When they spun around the final time and stood, Seraphina waited with widened eyes.
“You did it!” Arabella cried, and then Seraphina grinned, sunk with relief, and fell into a curtsy.
“Thank you, my good sir.”
Arabella laughed. “Truly, it was wonderful. We can just continue practicing, and I will not allow you to step onto a dance floor until you are perfectly comfortable.”
“Then let us assist you.”
Both of them turned to see Alvin grinning in the doorway, leaning on the edge of it. Arabella swallowed hard when she saw Edward standing behind him, looking rather grim and serious. It was like he’d returned to just how he’d been when Arabella had first approached him about coming with her to Hamfield. He was untouchable, distant, and cold once more.
“Whatever do you mean, brother?” Seraphina asked.
Alvin stepped forward with hands outstretched. “Let us be your partners. I shall help you, and Edward can join Arabella, too, so that you can dance with the sense of other partners in the room.”
Arabella’s heart beat faster, and she tried not to show her fear at such a prospect. Dancing was exactlynotwhat she wished to do with the man. Clobber him, yes, kiss him perhaps, but not dance.
Dancing brought an intimacy she wasn’t yet ready to share with him after he’d made love to her and then lied to her. And even now, as he walked towards her, she could see the stiffness in his body. He had just as much interest in that dance as she did.
