Arabella recoiled as though she was the one standing before a dueling pistol. Could her mother not hear what she had just said?
“How can she hope to compete…”
Seth, surprisingly, appeared to notice the change in his sister. “Mother, how can you be so cruel? If Arabella were not betrothed, half of the gentlemen here would be falling over themselves to ask her to dance. She has no shortcomings, aside from the ones that you and Father have fabricated!” His nostrils flared. “Six times this week, friends have asked if it is true about the betrothal. All have lamented the fact, wishing they had spoken up sooner.”
“I am clearly not the one who is fabricating,” their mother remarked. “She is twenty years of age. She should have been married within a year of coming out into Society. If all these ‘friends’ are so disappointed, why did we hear no whisper of interest?”
Seth stood his ground. “Enough, Mother. You are upsetting my sister. I will not see it; I will not stand for it. I have been quiet in the face of your callous words to her for too long.”
“You forget yourself.” Their mother tilted up her chin. “Youhave made the misstep here, My Boy. Now, I see friends of mine. If you will excuse me.” She marched off with her head held high, evidently not realizing the devastating blow she had just landed upon her daughter.
In her absence, Seth put his hand on Arabella’s shoulder. “Do you want to leave? We can borrow Haskett’s carriage; he will not mind.”
“No, thank you,” Arabella replied quietly. “And… thank you for defending me.”
Seth smiled. “Is that not what brothers are for?”
“Perhaps, though you did not have to conjure lies.” She forced a laugh, though it rang hollow.
Seth, however, seemed entirely serious. “I am not jesting, Sister, nor am I lying. At Lord McIlroy’s gathering on Tuesday, four friends approached me. Acquaintances, in truth, but fine gentlemen. Two more approached me while I was dining at Mivart’s just last night. They are here, if you would like to take revenge upon Dear Haskett?”
“I think not.” She had not been able to glance back into the ballroom, for the sight of Henry smiling at Olivia had made her feel quite sick. She was still trembling slightly.
Seth gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I behaved badly. I am sorry, Sister. Henry did not wish to dance at all, but I encouraged it, thinking it would serve you well.” He paused. “If I have upset you, I apologize.”
“Youhave not upset me.” Arabella sucked in a breath.
I have no right to be upset. He is merely doing as agreed, and it is no less than I have done with Lord Powell.
Seth furrowed his brow. “You must not listen to Mother. I hope you know that?”
“It is hard when she is so very,veryloud.” It was a feeble attempt at humor, but Seth’s laughter brought a faint smile to Arabella’s lips.
“They have asked too much of you, all these years,” Seth carried on. “You have never been anything but dutiful, yet they scorn you for every tiny thing, a single hair out of place, your choice of books, missing a step in a dance, taking too large a sip of your wine. I am sorry I have not defended you sooner. You deserved a brother’s protection and I… failed you.”
Arabella leaned into him. “I should have learned to defend myself. At the very least, I should have learned how to bellow like Mama, so I might drown her out.”
“I asked Haskett to be kind to you,” Seth confessed. “I suppose it was my attempt to be brotherly after so long. I told him that, even if there was no love, he should treat you with respect and care, and forge a friendship if not affection.”
The revelation hit Arabella almost as hard as seeing Henry dance with Olivia. For days, she had hunted for an answer to the questions thumping in her head: Why would Henry do something as sweet as leaving books for her? What did such a gesture mean? Now, she understood. He was obeying her brother’s command.
“You told him about the books, did you not?” Arabella peered up at Seth. “How did you remember the titles?”
Seth stared blankly back. “Books? What books?”
“The gift Henry left for me last week.”
“I know nothing of any gift or any books.” Seth shrugged. “Were they nice books?”
Arabella nodded faintly. “Very nice.”
I cannot fathom this. Just when I think I have the answer… there it goes again.
Perhaps, Henry was just obeying Seth’s instruction more creatively than Seth had intended.
“Personally, I cannot see much merit in Lady Olivia.” Seth gazed out into the ballroom. “She is beautiful, she dances well, she is educated, but one might say that about half the ladies here. You are far rarer than her, for you can make anyone laugh. That is the true test of a lady’s character. Once I find a lady who can make me laugh, I know I will be a happy and willing husband.”
Arabella snorted. “Fortunately, my attire is not the cause of hilarity this evening.”
