That was all that was needed to engage Vera in conversation. After all, Arabella was always on top of gossip, and rating the appearances of various ladies of the town in regard to fashion was something that piqued Vera’s snobbish interests.
By the time they were ready to get on their carriages and move to the opera, Vera had twined her arm around Arabella’s and chuckled at every sharp remark.
When Vera proposed that they should all share a carriage to keep the conversation going, Gerald looked at Arabella with what seemed like approval. And as much as Arabella wanted to consider herself an independent woman, she felt content at getting that look from him.
* * *
The evening continued pleasurably, and they were having refreshments before the opera started. The conversation was light and witty.
“So,” Vera said, looking at them, “it would be interesting to know how the sunshine of the ton met her Duke.”
Arabella kept her smile in place, but inside she was panicking. It didn’t make much of a story to say exactly how the Duke barged in and demanded her hand in marriage, based on a drunkenly produced contract.
“You would be terribly disappointed, Lady Pembleton,” it was the Duke who answered the question. “As most things in my life, meeting Arabella was by design.”
Arabella looked up at him, and he smirked at her. He was going to tell a slightly different story ,and he was asking her to play along.
“Our fathers were friends,” Arabella continued. “They had jokingly arranged the marriage since we were children.”
“It was something that was mentioned in passing by the Viscount,” Gerald added.
“I jokingly suggested we honor this agreement,” Arabella blatantly lied on this part.
“So, we went for a promenade,” Gerald said, glancing down at her with unmistakable mischief. “Though, if I recall correctly, it was not a particularly successful one.”
“Oh?” Arabella asked sweetly. “Was it not?”
“I distinctly remember being married off to an elderly lady.”
Arabella laughed.
“She was merely confused. She mistook you for her late husband.”
“And you so graciously confirmed that confusion.”
For a while, they stayed locked in a heated gaze, remembering that stage of the battle where she was trying her worst and he was taking it in stride.
“That is the most amazing story I have ever heard,” Vera interrupted the moment.
“Indeed,” Emrys agreed with his wife as always. “It shows that traditional ways are optimal. I do admire that both of you explored the option to honor your fathers’ wish.”
Gerald raised his eyebrow at Arabella, remembering exactly how compliant Arabella was in the beginning.
“And you ended up happy after all,” Vera added.
Arabella felt her smile freeze on her lips. But again, it was Gerald who spoke first.
“Yes, Lady Pembleton,” he said with a firm voice, and looked down at Arabella. “Quite happy.”
Arabella smiled and looked down. The amusing part of their little deception was over. What remained was the uncomfortable awareness of what they truly were to one another.
Thankfully, they were called to enter the hall because the play was starting, and she forgot herself in the music, though she could still feel him close to her in the private box that the Duke owned.
When the music was over, and the applause had died out, they had joined the current of people descending the gilded stairs. She wrapped her arm around Gerald’s, and he placed his palm on her. His other hand was placed on the small of her back, guiding her and making sure she was safe.
She looked up, and she could tell by the Duke’s face that his business endeavor was ending favorably.
It was something else to see him finally more relaxed and even content. Against all better judgment, Arabella found herself happy to see him be less rigid. It must have been exhausting.
