Page 52 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
Arabella blushed, cheeks flushed pink.
“There, I knew it, and you like him too. Enjoy a romance, my friend; you deserve some happiness. I’d be wary of Rosalind, though, as I think she likes to think of all men as her conquests. She will have noticed the connection between you and my brother and won’t like it.”
“I still say you are imagining things.”
“Say what you wish, Arabella. I know what I saw. And there’s Robert, by the archery. Robert, over here,” she called.
Arabella felt the now familiar flutter in her stomach at the sight of Robert approaching.
“I’ve just seen the decorated carts. The boys look so professional, leading those pony rides,” commented Robert.
“I believe the reverend and Emma worked with the boys as part of a lesson. It’s the first time I’ve seen Freddy enthusiastic about arithmetic and measuring for a specific reason. He has been resistant to doing his sums in a book, but he saw the point of measuring and adding together to cut the decorations’ ribbon. I was quite proud of him,” confessed Elinor.
“I must go and congratulate him and Henry. I’m later getting here than planned. Mama found me as I was leaving to give me another lecture about my behaviour towards our future sister-in-law,” said Robert.
“Well, I’ll go and take over at the castle. Perhaps she’ll find something to lecture me on,” Elinor said, laughing.
“Oh, no doubt,” said Robert, sharing the joke.
“Though Arabella has persuaded me to stay a little longer at the fair, so I shall go and watch the pony rides. I’ll then go to the Beehive to find my friend Julia and take tea.” And with that, Elinor dashed away.
“You’re in trouble with your mother?” asked Arabella as she found herself alone with Robert, wandering around the stalls and games. A group of children were playing tug of war, and they paused to watch.
“No more than usual. She wants me to be more solicitous to The Duchess of Wyndale.”
“I’m sure you are polite and courteous,” Arabella commented with a hint of humour.
“Since her marriage, the duchess has a sizable fortune, and I hardly recognize the young lady I knew during her first season in London.”
“I just told your sister that The Duchess of Wyndale is the most glamorous and refined lady I’ve ever met. She told meherself that she uses a French dressmaker for all her gowns,” remarked Arabella.
Robert paused, his face forming a determined expression, and she knew he was choosing his words carefully.
“I think you know I was engaged to be married to The Duchess of Wyndale several years ago. She called it off and entered into a relationship with my brother Simon instead.”
“But surely they have only recently become engaged?”
“No, no, this happened when I was twenty-three. The Duchess of Wyndale transferred her affections to Simon, but less than a month later, she jilted him to marry the elderly and very wealthy Duke of Wyndale.”
Arabella nodded, unsure what to say. “That must have caused much anger and pain. You lost your brother as well as your betrothed.”
A look of sadness appeared on Robert’s face. “Simon and I were close as children, but we hardly speak to each other now. I think it is Mama who feels the pain most; she hopes for a reconciliation.”
“Of course she does. But it isn’t easy to forgive something that caused loss and also humiliation in society.”
“I left Montbury and went to live in the London house. This is the first time I’ve returned to stay for any length of time.”
She watched as his gaze moved across the field towards the high tower and battlements of Castle Montbury.
“Now that Simon and Rosalind have re-discovered their love, Mama wants us to be one big happy family,” he added.
“Laudable, but I can see from your face that it is not possible in practice,” commented Arabella.
“Exactly. I agreed to be polite to The Duchess of Wyndale, but no more than that. I refused to dance with her at the soiree, and Mama isn’t at all happy.”
He looked at Arabella as he spoke quietly. “I’ve told Mama that things have changed, and I’m determined to stop hiding who I am.”
“Well done, Your Grace. So many people present a face to the world, which isn’t their real personality,” Arabella reassured him.
