Page 65 of Her Heart's Rightful Earl
‘Can it be so?’ Alexander shook his head in consternation. ‘That she could doubt him, when even I could not?’
‘She has a valid reason for her suspicions. I will allow her to disclose what she chooses to.’ Arabella bowed her head, not wishing to inappropriately betray Lady Wellwood’s confidence. It felt pertinent that Alexander should be aware that he would not have to fight to gain his mother’s belief in the theory against Marcus.
Alexander closed his eyes and nodded just once to indicate that he understood. ‘I shall appeal to Thomas to arrange discretion surrounding my meeting with her.’
‘Very well.’ Arabella made to leave, though with tentative steps that suggested she was reluctant to depart.
‘Before you leave, Arabella–’ Alexander stepped forward, and she turned willingly. ‘I must thank you.’
‘Thank me?’ She smiled, which was a welcome respite.
‘For being my anchor in this storm. You could have shunned me. Worse, you could havereportedme!’
‘I would never do that.’ She shook her head so that her auburn curls that cascaded down from the bun on top of her head bounced about.
‘I know. And that is why I am thanking you.’ Alexander bent to drop a delicate kiss on her nose and guided her to the door, looking both ways with caution before releasing her to the path that would take her home. Safely, he hoped.
Chapter 23
As the cabriolet navigated the rocky track that led to the main road into London, the two sisters gabbled excitedly to one another in the carriage.
‘Will we start at Bond Street?’ Charlotte suggested.
‘Wonderful, yes, let's.’
‘Obviously, the main event is the boutiques, but we simply must visit the confectionery. They had the most marvellous marzipan when I visited with Millicent last month! You simply must try it, Arabella!’
‘Happily!’ Arabella forced a smile on her face.
Her mind, truly, was tortured by visions of Marcus plotting to hunt her down, but instead she must focus on jars of confectionery to treat themselves and swathes of luxurious fabric to adorn themselves with.
She had been reluctant to take this frivolous trip, with so much darkness unravelling back at the Wellwood estate, but Charlotte would absolutely insist upon her revealing what troubled her so if she had declined the invitation. Now that Arabella waspresent, she determined that she ought to try her very best to enter the spirit of it to deflect any further suspicion from her sister.
‘You will have to help me choose a gown for Saturday evening!’ Charlotte squealed excitedly.
‘Saturday?’ Arabella asked, absent-mindedly.
‘The Kellerman ball, of course!’ Charlotte tapped her sister’s hand in mock reprimand.
‘Oh, of course!’
‘Thomas has already reserved his dance with me!’ Charlotte giggled.
‘Oh, you and Thomas!’ Arabella teased with a smile and a light nudge of her elbow. ‘You are both quite smitten with one another, are you not?’
‘Is it so obvious?’ Charlotte blinked playfully.
‘It certainly is!’ Arabella laughed.
‘I do so hope–’ Charlotte began, but the carriage came to an abrupt halt at the turn of the road.
‘Oh!’ Arabella startled as the two ladies were flipped forward slightly and settled themselves back onto their seats.
‘Timpkin?’ Arabella yelled upfront to the coachman. ‘Is everything quite alright?’
The sisters could hear Timpkin shuffling about before he yelled back to them, agitated.
‘There are some men, Lady Spencer …’
