Page 44 of A Lady Igniting Wicked Passions
“Whose name, Father?” Helena asked as she stepped into the room without knocking.
She stopped when she saw that Arabella and Aaron were holding hands. For a moment, she frowned. Then she slowly tilted her head and studied the pair intently.
“What can it mean?” she asked.
“It means that your sister and your betrothed have been having an affair,” Eversden said, throwing himself into a chair and glaring at the supposedly guilty couple.
“I see,” Helena replied, gliding further into the room.
“Helena knew, father. She knew all along,” Arabella said.
Helena’s eyes widened and flicked from Aaron to Arabella rapidly. She licked her lips but by the time she had turned to face her father, her countenance was calm and placid.
“How absurd. How could I possibly know? If I did, I should have spoken immediately.”
“Precisely. I will not have you trying to shirk your responsibility, Arabella,” Eversden said.
Aaron could see the direction in which this encounter was going. Eversden would refuse to believe anything that either he or Arabella said. Helena would deny blackmail and it would make Arabella look as though she were clutching at straws. As though she were making up stories, in order to desperately cast her own actions in a more positive light.
“I am not!” Arabella said. “She tried to blackmail Aaron on behalf of Gove.”
“Ludicrous!” Helena exclaimed. “Fantasy. Pure fantasy.”
Eversden shook his head. “Stop, Arabella. Well, Ashenwood, will you not speak, if only to rein in your…”
“Lover?” Helena put in. “I would say that is what the two of you are. Father, there is a simple solution here. Do not let all the time and money that has gone into our planned marriages be thrown away for the sake of…animal lust. Both marriages should go ahead. I am willing to give His Grace another chance. I see promise in him. And I love him.”
Eversden went to Helena and took her hand, patting it. His wife entered the room, looking from one person to the other in some confusion. Eversden held up a hand to forestall questions.
“Helena makes an excellent suggestion. This is not beyond salvaging,” Eversden said.
Arabella looked from her father to Aaron with her mouth open. She seemed astonished. Aaron merely nodded. This was entirely how he had expected it to happen. Given the chance to try and maintain the status quo, Eversden would clutch at any plan. Helena would offer that plan, keen to keep the shackles on her captives.
There was only one avenue left to them. He glanced to the side where tall windows looked out over Portman Square. The sun was still bright with at least three hours of daylight remaining at this time of year. The square was busy as was the street outside.
“I will not!” Arabella said, hotly.
“You have no choice if you do not wish to be disgraced,” Eversden said. “Obey, girl. I pay for the clothes on your back and the food in your belly. Never mind the horse you seem to love above all else. Perhaps I should just sell Achilles, eh?”
Aaron saw the stricken look on Arabella’s face and was about to say something, when she spoke.
“Very well. Sell him. It will break my heart but I shall take comfort in the arms of the man I have come to love. If you must cut me off then do so. If I am to be disgraced, then I shall be. I will be happy to live like Aunt Victoria.”
It was Lady Eversden who moved, not her husband. She slapped Arabella across the face, a look of shock on her own beautiful features. Arabella froze, a hand lifted to her cheek.
“I do not know what has happened but I will not allow any child of mine to follow that wicked woman into a life of debauchery and wickedness.” Amelia said. “It shall not be!”
“I am sorry to have been the cause of such division within a family. If I could have avoided this, I would have,” Aaron said calmly.
“I’m sure the last thing you wanted was to be caught!” Eversden said. “I’ve a good mind to challenge you.”
“Then I should be forced to refuse. And would likely be stabbed by Arabella in vengeance,” Aaron replied with a smile.
Eversden looked confused and Aaron regretted making light of such a difficult situation. Eversden’s anger was justified. It was dishonourable to make sport of him. He looked away, shaking his head.
“I am sorry that we have not handled this better. I must take matters into my own hands and end the debate once and for all,” Aaron said.
He took Arabella’s hand and led her from the room. Eversden shrieked after them, demanding that they return. Aaron led Arabella through the house to the main doors and flung them open. He led her out into the street and stopped in the middle of the road, causing two cabs moving in opposite directions to halt.
