“You should have no problem at all procuring a pineapple for me.” For a moment, a smile tugged on the corners of her mouth. She hid it by turning toward the pond, but I still noticed. When she faced me again, her expression was serious. “Now, if you don’t mind, I should like to move away from this pond. I hate those filthy little creatures.”
“The ducks?”
She nodded. “Unless they are on my plate, I do not enjoy looking upon them.”
I managed to hide my dismay as we returned to the path. She was obviously pretending to have such ridiculous taste, but I hardly knew how to discern what was true and what was part of this game she was playing. My mission was slowly merging withColin’s—my desire to best Miss Sharp was not only a debt now or a way to obtain clients. It was personal.
Miss Sharp and I both had hidden motives, and we both suspected one another. How could I possibly gain her trust under such circumstances?
Well, she had already given me the answer to that.
If Colin wanted his trick to succeed, we would have to begin our search for a blasted pineapple.
CHAPTER 9
ARABELLA
Iwatched the lump of sugar dissolve slowly into my tea, sinking and disappearing at the bottom of the cup. I could hardly blink, even though the steam was burning my eyes. All I could think of was one question, and it burned hotter than the porcelain cup against my hand.
What on earth had just happened?
Kate was just as confused as I was when I told her about Mr. Campbell’s visit with the daffodils, although far more optimistic about the situation. She sat across from me in the drawing room of her townhouse in the Royal Crescent. The pink furnishings suited her quite well, even if she did look a bit pale beside them. She had told me that she had been feeling unwell, but the moment I sent word about Mr. Campbell’s sudden attention, she had invited me for tea that very afternoon.
“I won’t stay for long. You should be resting.” I studied her pale cheeks again. Even her lips were lighter than usual. She hadn’t told me what was ailing her besides being tired and having a delicate stomach. I imagined living alone in Bath wasquite lonesome, though she acted indifferent to her husband’s absence. Mr. Ollerton remained in London, she had told me, but he wrote letters on occasion.
She took a careful sip from her teacup. “I am feeling much better today. Please, you must tell me every detail.” Her eager gaze met mine over the floral cup before she set it down on the tea table. “I find it all so difficult to believe! I witnessed Mr. Campbell’s coldness toward you on many occasions…especially at Lady Benton’s party. I thought you had given up that night.”
“I had.” I scowled down at my gloved hands. “There is no explanation for his sudden attention. He asked me to dance at the assembly last night as well.”
Kate gasped. “You cannot be serious.”
“I rejected him.” I whispered that detail, knowing the dramatic response it was sure to earn.
Kate leaned forward, her jaw lowering even more. “You did not.”
“I did.” I gulped. “I don’t know what came over me. He seemed far too confident that I would say yes, and I felt a sudden desire to humble him.” I bit my lip. “But it only seemed to increase his desire to pursue me.”
Kate’s surprise slowly melted into a smile. “I did tell you, did I not? Men enjoy chasing women, not the other way around. He must have secretly liked your attention, and when you withheld it, he becamedesperatefor it.” Her grin took on a sneaky edge. “Whatever it is that you’re doing, you mustn’t stop.”
I exhaled sharply. “But perhaps I don’t want him to pursue me.”
“Arabella!” She scoffed. “You cannot change your mind now. Why would you waste your strength pursuing Sir William when Mr. Campbell is so obviously interested? You are running out of timeandoptions.”
I met her gaze. She was right. She was the only person I had told about Freddy’s debts, and she understood how damaging it would be for my family if his forgery and debts were discovered. Even my friendship with Kate would be endangered by such an outcome. She wouldn’t be able to associate with me if I was tainted by Freddy’s reputation.
“My husband has worked closely with Mr. Russell before,” she said. “He is quite proactive when it comes to collecting debts on time. It is only a matter of time before he’ll begin calling upon Frederick asking for payment. He may even write to your brother in Dorset directly.”
My heart sank at her mention of Freddy’s creditor. If it was discovered that Freddy had forged John’s signature, that was only the beginning of the problem. If Freddy escaped the law, John would still cut him off. I knew John well enough to suspect that he would punish me as well. He would deny me opportunities, withhold my pin money, or worse. I couldn’t bear the thought of being trapped in Dorset forever, living under John’s control like Mama. Ever since John had inherited, the house no longer felt like home. A calculated marriage to a man like Mr. Campbell still sounded much better than returning to that place.
“There is something so very strange about Mr. Campbell,” I blurted, interrupting my own thoughts. “He has been acting like an entirely different person ever since Lady Benton’s party.”
Kate brushed a golden curl from her forehead with an intrigued look. “I must see this for myself.”
“You will not believe your eyes.” I shook my head. “He smiles. Frequently. And he flirts.” My voice lowered involuntarily to a whisper. My ears warmed at the thought of his flirtatious smile when he had told me that I looked ‘too lovely to be hidden behind doors.’ Where the devil had that come from?
Kate laughed, resting her head against the back of the sofa. “It sounds like he truly does like you.”
“No! I refuse to believe it. He’s toying with me.” I narrowed my eyes. “I know it.”
