As they stopped in the arched doorway of the ballroom, Arabella understood that despite her promise to her sister, she’d done exactly the opposite—committed herself to a man she didn’t love, all for the sake of escaping her unbearable home.
CHAPTER 4
Discomfort practically oozed from Lady Arabella’s pores as they made their way back to the ballroom. Harry’s mind was still swirling. He was engaged.
How in the world did he let this happen? It was fairly obvious that this was some sort of trickery, some preconceived plan on Worcester’s part. How foolish of him not to have noticed.
This wasn’t the first time Harry had fallen for such a scheme, but usually, it was the mamas who orchestrated them, and the daughters simply went along. However, Lady Arabella appeared utterly distraught by her father’s actions and genuinely shocked. It was either that or she was the best actress in the entire realm. Not that it was impossible, but he had a feeling she was as surprised by all of this just as he was.
The dislike she felt for her father was palpable. Indeed, Harry had heard rumors about the Earl of Worcester, though he had never met him before today. It was said that he was a drunkard,someone who had lost his way after the death of his wife. A man who was not well-liked or held in high esteem.
Often, rumors had a habit of growing quite on their own, not matching what one found in reality. Harry had to admit that Lord Worcester—at least from what he had witnessed so far—lived up to his reputation.
“Pardon?” said a voice beside him, and he looked down.
Arabella looked quite dreadful, and he feared she might faint.
“Do you need to sit down? We can go back to the garden,” he suggested with a shrug. “We are engaged now, so nobody will care.”
She shook her head. “No, I fear my father is going to make an announcement,” she gritted out.
Indeed, her father had just approached Lord Hawthorn, their host, and was whispering to him.
Harry closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“I do beg your pardon. I really do. I was not a part of this,” Arabella mumbled.
“I know, I believe you. By Jove, here comes the master of ceremonies to announce the news. Put on a brave face, and we will get through it.”
“Why did you agree to this?” she asked as he looked down at her again in anticipation of the grand announcement. “Why did you agree to marry me? You could’ve simply walked away.”
“And Lady Lawrence would’ve told everyone that she saw me defile you. You would’ve been ruined.”
“And so? You do not know me. For you, it would’ve just been any other day. Tomorrow morning, you would’ve just woken up with another notch in your belt. Something else to brag about even if it didn’t happen.” She shrugged.
It was true. He could have simply refused. He could’ve walked away. Nothing would’ve happened to him. He was a man. More importantly, he was a duke. In the aristocracy, he was one step below the royal family. There was little he couldn’t do.
But Arabella would have been ruined. Not just her, but her family. Harry had gathered that she had sisters—he had seen them earlier. When a young woman’s reputation was ruined, it reflected on her sisters, older or younger, married or single. Everyone in the family, anyone associated with that young lady, could have their entire life ruined by a horrible scandal. And this would’ve been one.
No matter how hard he denied it, if this was Lord Worcester’s plan, the man would have continued to repeat the lie that Harryhad defiled his daughter. And Lady Lawrence? Harry knew the woman. She gossiped as much as she needed the air.
Proposing to Arabella had been the right decision for her family. And for him? Well, he hadn’t been looking to get married anytime soon. Not before certain affairs were settled. However, if word about what he had supposedly done got out and her reputation was ruined, he wouldn’t have been able to look himself in the mirror.
Besides, he hadn’t been able to stop himself from thinking… What would Helen think if she heard that he had ruined a young lady? Even if it wasn’t true? If she knew that he had allowed a young lady to fall into disgrace when he could’ve saved her, she would’ve been so disappointed.
She would’ve looked down on him. He couldn’t bear that.
The bang of the ceremonial staff drew his attention before he could answer Arabella’s question, and he took a deep breath, steadying himself for what he knew was to come.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Lord Hawthorn stepped onto the dance floor and clapped his hands together. “I do apologize for interrupting your entertainment, but it is for the most joyous of reasons. Lord Worcester would like me to share the happy news that his darling daughter, Lady Arabella Hayward, has agreed to marry the Duke of Sheffield!”
For a moment, silence fell over the ballroom, and Harry felt a prickle at the nape of his neck. Several pairs of eyes turned toward him and Arabella, and whispers rose among the crowd.
“Lady Arabella?” someone asked behind him.
“But she is the third daughter. The other two are not even married yet,” someone else pointed out.
“Indeed. And the Duke agreed to marry one of the Hayward sisters, when he could marry another duke’s daughter?” another voice said.
