Page 77 of A Duke's Lustful Portrait
“What on earth is—”
Arabella could feel the steady beat of Sebastian’s heart in his chest. He smiled broadly as the Bow Street Runners clambered up the ladder and into the room. She turned to look at the door, where Priscilla leaned against the frame, her arms folded and a smile spreading across her cheeks.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get him to say more,” Sebastian said, the words directed at the constable even while he did not take his eyes off Edward.
“Not to worry, Sir. We got enough. We’ll learn the rest in time, no doubt.”
They marched across the room, roughly grabbing Edward, but he still would not let go of his sword.
“No! I won’t go without a fight. Sebastian!”
“But there’s no need for anyone to fight, Sinclair. It’s over.”
Chapter 37
The following morning, Arabella sat with her legs curled beneath her, the steam rising from the cup of tea in her hands. She stared unseeing into the low fire that crackled into the grate.
“How are you this morning, dear?” Priscilla asked as she entered the room. “The maid tells me you didn’t take any breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry,” Arabella replied.
Priscilla sighed and sat down on the couch next to Arabella. “That was quite a night, wasn’t it?”
Arabella giggled. “Eventful, yes. I still can’t quite believe Father has gone.”
Priscilla patted her knee. “It’s hard to believe any of it happened, but it did, thanks to the du—Sebastian. I have no doubt your father will be in custody for a very long time indeed.”
“One can only hope,” Arabella replied. Finally, she turned to look at her grandmother and smiled. “Were you in on the plan? I saw you.”
Priscilla shook her head. “Not until much later, and even then, I didn’t know what was happening. Not really. I found a note yesterday evening, pushed under my door.”
Arabella couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Sebastian really had thought of everyone.
“What did it say?” she asked.
“That I was to contact the Bow Street Runners and arrange for them to be outside your father’s study at a certain time. But when they arrived, you were already there. So, I directed them to the window. Bit silly, really, though the smash was rather dramatic, wasn’t it?”
“Very,” Arabella said with another small laugh.
Squeezing her knee again, Priscilla said, “You were incredibly brave.”
Arabella sipped her tea, allowing the heat to warm her insides. She hadn’t meant to be brave; she just knew it was time to face her father. Sebastian’s note had given her courage.
She smiled as she thought of him sneaking around the house, depositing notes and instructions before waiting to face Edward. Sebastian still had a lot to answer for, but she knew she would get those answers now, and she was grateful that her father wouldn’t be able to stop them.
“Do you think I’ll be able to see him?”
“Who?” Priscilla asked.
“Father.”
Priscilla raised her eyebrows. “Do you want to?”
“I don’t know,” Arabella replied with a shrug. “I suppose I would like to see he has been justly punished for his crimes. And know that there is no way he could come after us again.”
Priscilla put her arm around her and pulled her into an embrace. “He’ll never come after us again; I promise you that.”
Arabella pulled back, remembering something suddenly. “Oh! Mr Wilson will be here soon! I don’t … I don’t have to go still, do I?”
