‘Do you want to discuss settlements?’ Tobias’ voice was just above a whisper; the baby did not stir.
‘I do not know.’
Tobias placed a large hand on his niece’s back. The baby’s lips smacked together and Tobias smiled softly. The adoring look as he gazed at his niece took years off his brother’s face. ‘Tell me everything, Christopher. Explain to me why you do not know, when it is clear to everyone else what the answer is.’
‘She told me she does not want to marry me. I thinkthatis a strong reason not to go ahead with a marriage. But I worry, that at this point, we cannot avoid it. I fear her life will be miserable if she is tied to me when she does not want to be.’
‘I do not believe anyone would be miserable with you, Christopher. You are a good man.’ Christopher’s throat felt thick at this unexpected compliment. He swallowed, trying not to show how much his brother’s words affected him. When he did not respond, Tobias asked, ‘Did she say why she is against the idea?’
Christopher cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the emotion that was wedged there. ‘Because she does not love me. Which is fine, of course. I do not love her either.’
‘Really?’ This was from Edward, who had managed to prise one eye open. ‘You were doing a fine impression of being in love earlier this evening.’
‘Mm,’ agreed Freddie, not even bothering to open his eyes. ‘You were convincing.’
‘You are both supposed to be asleep.’
‘I am wide awake,’ said Edward, his eye falling closed again.
‘Well, you are both wrong. I enjoy her company, that is all. You do not have to be in love with someone for that to happen. She always has something interesting to say and she is very funny. It would be stranger if I did not want to spend time with someone like that.’ He did not add that he loved to look at her too, that she was so beautiful that sometimes it made his chest hurt. That did sound a little like he had deeper feelings for her than friendship and perhaps that was true, but was that enough to change his whole life plan? He doubted she thought so. She had repeatedly told him she did not want him or their arrangement to change and she wouldn’t say that if she had strong feelings for him, would she? He supposed he could ask one of his sisters-in-law. They might be able to give him some advice, but as they did not know her well, it would be as subjective as his thoughts and possibly not helpful.
Opposite him, Tobias’ eyes were beginning to droop, but he still managed to say, ‘Do not be an idiot, Christopher,’ before they closed completely and he too succumbed to sleep.
It was lucky that Christopher was still vibrantly awake. It was up to him to keep an eye on Arabella, to make sure she did not fall from where she was perched, even though Tobias seemed to be holding her tightly enough. He would rest his eyes for one moment, and then he would watch her until the others woke up. It would give him plenty of time to ponder how best to proceed.
Chapter Twenty-six
It didn’t matter how long Sophia stared at herself in the mirror, her reflection provided no answers to the questions tumbling around her mind. The self-imposed ending to her and Christopher’s betrothal was looming and she still had no idea how to end it with the minimum amount of scandal. It had to be doable. Lives could not be ruined because of a simple mistake. Yet, every path she thought of was wrong somehow.
When a knock sounded at her door and her maid told her that Tabitha had come to pay her a visit, she was vastly relieved not to have herself for company any longer. On top of all the worries about her future, the amount of time she had spent reliving the journey home from the Albrighton ball was becoming tiresome. Or rather, remembering it was still as wonderful as it had been the thousand other times she had thought about it, but the doe-like expression she saw on her face in the mirror was downright sickening. She was not some green girl straight out of the nursery. This was her third Season; women in their third Season did not mope after men. It did not matter how handsome they were. It was especially bad to pine after someone with whom you had decided not to fall in love and with whom you were plotting to end your forced betrothal. Christopher would bemortified for her if he knew just how many times she had been thinking of it.
She was so pleased to see her dearest friend that she threw her arms around her and gave her a tight hug.
‘Oh dear,’ said Tabitha into Sophia’s hair. ‘Is it that bad?’
Sophia surprised herself by bursting into huge, messy tears, the sort which came from the pit of her stomach and which were in no way ladylike. To her credit, Tabitha asked no questions, only stroking her back and murmuring soft, soothing words that made no sense.
‘It is all such a mess, Tabitha,’ she said, when she finally got herself under control. Her voice was thick and croaky and she cleared her throat several times. One of her sisters was bound to come in and if they sensed the potential for gossip, they would not leave her alone.
‘Let us sit down, have a lovely drink of tea and some of your cook’s delicious fruit bread. There is not a problem in the world that cannot be solved by eating cake.’
Sophia did not think anything would provide her with the answers she needed, but she allowed herself to be led over to the settee and for Tabitha to hand her a plate with a few slices on it. The warm liquid soothed her throat. She thought she might not be able to manage the cake, due to a lump in her throat which felt like an impenetrable boulder, but the fruit burst on her tongue and she managed to swallow a bite and then another.
‘I am not going to marry him,’ she said, after a few minutes of silence. ‘Lord Christopher, that is.’
Tabitha’s face drained of colour, her own cake falling from her fingers. ‘You are not going to elope with Robert Harber, are you?’ She put her plate down on the table, leaning forward and looking Sophia directly in the eye. Sophia wanted to glance away from the intense stare, but if she was going to be truthful with her friend, she neededto be able to bear the scrutiny. ‘Tell me, Sophia. I mean, I was all for The Plan to marry him until I met him. Oh, he is a dear man, and I am sure he will make someone a lovely husband, but he is completely wrong for you. Please tell me you have made no irrevocable plans with him. Please.’
‘What is wrong with Robert?’ Sophia had only introduced them briefly, and she had not realised Tabitha had formed such a strong opinion of him.
‘There is nothingwrongwith him as such. But…’ Tabitha dropped her gaze to her hands on her lap. ‘Oh, Sophia, I am not sure I should continue. If you truly love Robert, then I will support you, even if I think he is not right for you.’
‘I have not made plans to elope with him, and I have no intention of doing so. But I would like to know why you think he and I are not a good fit.’ If Tabitha could see it, then perhaps she had at least got one thing right in this whole mess.
Tabitha’s shoulders slumped in relief. ‘I am glad to hear it. For though I could see that he was a kind man, who would be a pleasant husband, he was thoroughly interested in his passions and his passions alone. While you stood and smiled as he talked, he never asked a question about you. When I imagined you married to him, I could see your personality slowly being eroded away into his.’
That was a little harsh. Tabitha had barely spoken to him. ‘I like to think I have more backbone than that.’
Tabitha raised an eyebrow and Sophia was momentarily distracted by the thought that everyone seemed able to do that but her. She had tried, because it did look like a useful skill, only to find that she looked ridiculous in the mirror. ‘Why are you looking at me in such a way?’ she asked.
