‘I do not understand you.’ She raised her brows at him. ‘Why should I regret something that would give me no pleasure?’
‘You leave me no choice,’ Ralph muttered. ‘I did as Mama wanted, but I would as lief go to the devil as marry a shrew!’
Arabella made no answer as he stormed from the room. She felt a little sick inside—for the look on his face had been one of hatred and she knew that she had made an enemy. Perhaps she ought not to have said as much, but she had wanted to make it clear that she would never accept an offer from him.
Going upstairs to change out of her green-striped walking gown into a pretty peach muslin, Arabella was reflective. She did not believe that her aunt had put Ralph up to it. She might wish to see her niece married, but Lady Tate could not hold out much hope of a match between Arabella and her son. She must be aware that they had never truly liked each other.
What had Ralph meant when he’d said she would live to repent turning him down? He was sometimes of a surly nature, but she did not think him capable of violence towards her. Yet he had said that her rejection had left him no choice—as if the course he now intended to follow would be her fault.
Arabella was aware of a feeling of unease as she went down to the back parlour to join her aunt for tea. Just what was her cousin hinting at?
Aunt Hester was reading a letter when Arabella entered the sunny room. She looked up and smiled, laying her letter to one side.
‘Here you are, my dear. Ralph called on us earlier—did you see him before he left?’
‘Yes…’ Arabella hesitated and then made up her mind. ‘He asked me to marry him. I refused. I am sorry if that upsets you, Aunt.’
‘I was afraid he meant to do it,’ Lady Tate said. ‘I am sorry, Arabella. I told him not to make a fool of himself. I knew you would see through him, my dear. He is more deeply in debt than I guessed. I have promised to sell a diamond necklace that my grandmother left me, but I have told him that I can do no more. He will simply have to sell what assets he has left.’
Arabella hesitated, then, ‘Perhaps I could spare a thousand or two, Aunt. For your sake I would help him this once.’
‘Oh, no, my dear,’ her aunt said, looking distressed at the idea. ‘Please do not offer. It would be a big mistake. He would only abuse your generosity and you would never be free of him. No, no, Ralph must learn to live within his means. He should look for some form of employment. I suggested that he go into the army or the church, but he was angry. He thinks that I shall sell this house for him, but I shall not.’
‘I do not see my cousin in the army, Aunt.’ Arabella could not picture Ralph as a vicar either, but refrained from saying so. Her cousin had been indulged too much as a boy and had never learned self-discipline. Selfish and thoughtless, he would not heed anyone’s advice. ‘But perhaps if he is driven to it, the church may serve.’
‘It is not to his liking,’ Lady Tate said, ‘but if he has ruined himself he must save what he can. While he continues to live in London and run with those friends of his…Mind you, Sir Montague Forsythe met with a fatal accident recently. I do not know the details but I think his sins had found him out, though Ralph will not say much concerning him. I believe they gambled together and Ralph was hoping that his friend would make him a loan to tide him over, but now it is out of the question.’
Arabella nodded. She had never met Sir Montague Forsythe and did not know what kind of a man he might be, but perhaps he might have been of help to Ralph.
‘Yes, well, perhaps he has other friends that might help him.’
‘I doubt it,’ Lady Tate said. ‘Another of his friends killed himself just before Sir Montague’s accident—possibly he had debt problems too. It has all been kept very quiet so I cannot say.’ She frowned and looked thoughtful. ‘I cannot pretend I am sorry they are gone, for they were a bad influence on Ralph. He had only been involved with them for a few months and I blame them for his excessive gambling. I think there is another—Sir Courtney Welch—but I do not think Ralph truly likes him. He does not speak of him, though I have seen them together.’
‘Well, I dare say my cousin may sell a part of the estate and recover,’ Arabella said. She reached out to touch her aunt’s hand. ‘Do not worry about it for the moment, dearest. I shall tell you what I have already told Ralph—if you should need it, there is always a home with me.’
‘You are such a sweet generous girl,’ her aunt said. ‘But I am determined not to give in to him, Arabella. This house and my jewels are all I have besides my jointure—and I do not intend to let Ralph’s foolishness ruin me completely.’
Arabella nodded, but she could not help recalling the ugly look on her cousin’s face when he’d told her that she had left him no choice…Just what had he meant by that?
Chapter Three
‘Haven’t seen you here for a while,’ Captain Hernshaw said as Charles Hunter walked into White’s that afternoon. ‘Good grief, man, you look awful—what happened to you?’
‘I had a slight accident,’ Charles admitted wryly. His injury had left him with a persistent headache. ‘I ought perhaps to have rested longer, but I had things to do. To be honest, I can’t stand being an invalid. Besides, Mama has decided that she will come up to town for a short visit next week and I have promised to be on hand to escort her to evening affairs.’
‘How is your mama?’ Captain Hernshaw frowned. He knew that Mrs Hunter had been ill for some months but was uncertain as to the cause, though he thought it might be something to do with her daughter, who was, he had heard, staying with cousins somewhere in Scotland.
‘She says she feels a little better,’ Charles said. ‘I think she might have been more sensible to take the air at Brighton or even Bath, but she wants to visit a friend of hers and also her seamstress.’
‘Ah, well, I dare say she knows best. The ladies usually do,’ Captain Hernshaw said and smiled. ‘Harry and Melinda are in town, you know.’
‘I remember your brother’s wife,’ Charles said, his stern features relaxing into a smile. ‘A sweet pretty girl…’ Very like his own sister! The thought struck like the blade of a knife. Melinda reminded him of Sarah, as she had been when he last saw her.
‘Yes, she is,’ Captain Hernshaw agreed. ‘She is enjoying herself very much this visit. A friend of hers is staying with Lady Tate and they go everywhere together.’
‘Ah, I see,’ Charles nodded. ‘Do you care for a game of cards?’
‘I was about to visit my fencing master. I feel in need of some exercise. If you don’t mind my saying so, Hunter, you look as if it would do you good. Why don’t you come along?’ He glanced across the room as a gentleman entered. ‘Besides, the air here has just become somewhat tainted. It is a pity that he cannot be blackballed.’
Charles glanced in the direction of the other’s gaze, seeing the reason for Hernshaw’s distaste. Sir Courtney Welch had just entered the club and was standing looking in their direction, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ he said. ‘The man is a devil—let us go. Did you say your fencing club?’
‘I have been taking lessons from a new master recently—it is amusing to discover one’s own failings at the very least. And better than being invited to join Welch in a hand of whist.’
‘Well, yes, anything must be. A lesson in swordplay from a master is perhaps just what I need,’ Charles agreed with a grin. He had been labouring beneath a dark cloud for too long and a good fight with the swords might put him right. ‘I’m grateful, Hernshaw. I was at a loss to know what to do with myself.’ He nodded distantly to Sir Courtney as they passed.
‘Come to Melinda’s