“That is why I need a wife, Morgan. I need to secure the safety of my good name. I might be called ruthless, but that in business makes things easier and faster. But to be called a rake on top of it, that I cannot afford.”
“Miss Arabella is your shield.”
In her memory, her body is seized again; the unwanted touch of that entertainer was erased. As for Morgan calling Arabella a shield… She is more of a weapon right now, basically trained against him. A chuckle escaped him as he was reminded of her scheme the day of the outing at Gunther’s.
“Gerald, that is not a sound I have heard you make in… forever,” Morgan teased. “And I just noticed that you still haven’t answered a single question regarding Miss Arabella.”
“What exactly do you expect me to say on the matter?”
“I think I wouldn’t be called irrational if I were to inquire how the Sunshine of the Ton reacted to the absurd demand you made.”
“You mean my rational proposal,” Gerald warned.
“No, I am quite sure I did mean to say absurd demand for the simple reason that this was, in fact, an absurd demand, based on both your fathers’ intoxicated judgment. I have heard of many different reasons for a couple to marry, from business deals to sports compatibility, but ‘our genitors had too much brandy and married us off at infancy’ has a unique ring to it, wouldn’t you agree?”
“You are not the least funny,” Gerald said firmly.
“For the love of sanity, please tell me what Miss Arabella had to say on the matter.”
“You mean the Sunshine of the Ton?”
“I told you she is quite popular and well-loved.”
“I noticed,” Gerald scoffed.
“Noticed?” Morgan frowned. “How exactly have you noticed?”
Gerald sighed in irritation, took his brandy, and made his way to the armchairs near the fireplace. Morgan followed him.
“Miss Arabella thought it prudent to get to know each other better before the wedding,” Gerald relented to his friend’s curiosity.
“That will not fare well for you. The girl might well decide to run for the mountains before the wedding if she got to know you better.”
“On the contrary, she had the intention of sending me running up the hills.”
“I am not sure I follow,” Morgan shook his head. “Perhaps you should stop drinking. You might betroth your unborn children to honor your father’s methods.”
“I am perfectly sober,” Gerald hissed. “Miss Arabella proposed we had an outing. At Gunther’s.”
Morgan stood impossibly still, barely blinking.
“Speak, man,” Gerald said impatiently. “I can see you got opinions on the matter.”
“I do, I am just trying to picture you sitting in Gunther’s. You must have suffered.”
“Miss Arabella surely managed to make it amusing.”
“I told you, she is considered a very appreciated member of the ton.”
“Well, I will have you informed that theappreciated member of the ton,” Gerald said with as much sarcasm as his could, “ordered six ices, devoured, spoke with a full mouth, and used her hands as both a fork and a napkin. And wanted to talk about money.”
“Six ices, you say?” Morgan said, in total disbelief. “And she ate all of them?”
“Loudly,” Gerald said over the rim of his glass. “The smacking was quite memorable.”
“Miss Arabella would never. She is-”
“Determined,” filled in. “It was a ruse. To discourage me.”
