Page 62 of A Lady Igniting Wicked Passions
“Excellent. So, Arabella will be safe with you,” Aaron said.
“She will. We live in relative seclusion on the coast outside Hove. Unobserved except for a few cows and sheep. But may I ask a question, Aaron?”
“Yes, of course,” Aaron replied.
“What is the nature of the threat?”
Victoria had put her feet to the floor and sat forward, putting his Scotch aside and looking at Aaron with sharp eyes. He felt a reluctance to admit the truth. It was a source of shame for him to acknowledge how badly he had handled his finances and that his father had done even worse.
To also admit to becoming indebted to a criminal was almost more than he could bear. But he needed the help of this woman and her husband. Arabella’s safety depended on it. And to secure that safety he would humble himself before the King himself and in full view of the entire court if need be.
“I take it from your reluctance that money lies at the heart of the problem,” Victoria said. “You men are so prickly about your purses. Julian is the same for all his humble origins.”
“It is,” Aaron replied, breathing a sigh of relief that the truth had been guessed.
“Well, I will not pry or subject you to more embarrassment than you can bear. You can be assured that Arabella will be safe with Julian and me. Now, Arabella, do not argue or protest. It is for the best. Besides, Julian would dearly love to see you again and you have not seen his masterpieces yet.
Some of them were sold in Paris last year and have been exhibited as far away as Berlin of all places. You know how he values your opinion. In fact, I shall write to him this very moment and appraise him of the plans.”
Aaron watched Arabella anxiously as Victoria took her leave. He knew her to be headstrong at times and prone to acting on impulse, especially when high emotion was involved. This was too important to risk her acting recklessly. She looked back at him, breathing hard and with lips pressed tight together. It was the face of someone preparing to fight.
"You are going to fight me on this,” Aaron stated, matter of factly.
“Does it surprise you?” Arabella replied.
“Not at all. But do you see the sense of it?” Aaron countered.
Arabella rose and stalked the length of the room, head shaking from side to side as though in argument with herself.
“There is no alternative!” Aaron said, anger entering his voice.
“I am no shrinking violet. And it is because of me that you face this danger. Had I slapped your face when you kissed me. Or simply resolved not to see you again, then none of this would be happening!” Arabella replied, rounding on him fiercely.
“You ascribe no agency to me in this? It is all your doing? I think not,” Aaron retorted. “It was I that agreed to accept a loan from a dockside blackguard. I that chose to risk all on the eyes of the most beautiful woman I had ever encountered. Had you refused to see me I do not think I could have stayed away.”
Arabella’s eyes were afire, and her cheeks were red. But her lips trembled. Aaron thought that he had never met a woman so magnificent. Fear clearly had her in its grip, but she fought it with all her might, not wanting to show it. At that moment, Aaron loved her beyond life itself. Given the choice, there and then, to die for this woman, he would not hesitate.
Smiling gently, he stepped close and put a hand to her face, fingers caressing her cheek. She melted into him, arms going around him and cheek nestling against his chest. She hugged him ferociously.
“I cannot lose you. I have only just found you.”
“You will not,” Aaron assured her.
“You cannot promise that,” she replied. “You do not know, or you would not be sending me away.”
“I need to be free of the need to protect you.”
Arabella raised her head, tears evaporating behind another flare of anger. He stopped her with a kiss.
“Do you think that when I organized the defence of the Convent of las Carmelitas, I did so with the nuns standing shoulder to shoulder with me and my men? No, they were hidden in the cellars, barricaded in, lest the French overwhelm us.
Which looked a certainty. We could not fight and protect them. And I cannot fight while watching your back. I do not question your courage. A man must be focused when he finds himself in a fight.”
Arabella opened her mouth as though to protest. Then closed it again. She looked exasperated but finally nodded, resting her forehead against his chest.
“If anything happens to you. I…I…I will find this rogue and kill him,” she said with conviction.
Aaron chuckled and Arabella lifted her head again. The look in her eyes cut off his laughter. He nodded sombrely. Then she let out a long slow breath, shaking her head. When she looked up there were tears in her eyes which she blinked back.
