“Miss Sharp, are you all right?” The deep, rich tone did little to calm my nerves. I turned slowly, willing myself to appear confident.
Mr. Campbell stood halfway in the sun, halfway in the shade. The genuine concern in his features made me realize how indisposed I must have appeared. A trickle of sweat escaped my brow, running downward toward my ear. My spencer jacket stuck to my back, and my pulse still raced from my encounter with Mr. Russell.
“I am well. Perfectly well.” My voice came out slightly breathless. “It’s quite hot today.”
Mr. Campbell stepped farther into the shade, and Kate released me at the same moment. I shot her a look of dismay, but Mr. Campbell was already touching both my arms, holding me steady. “You look like you might faint.”
“No.” I laughed. “I feel much better already.”
“You’re pale.”
“So are you.” I looked up at his face. In truth, he was slightly flushed. I was overly aware of his hands on my arms, and I didn’t want them to move. He could hold me steady as long as he wanted. Perhaps we would draw the attention of a gossipmonger and he would marry me to defend my honor. That would solve my problems quite quickly.
“Who was that man?” Mr. Campbell asked, brow furrowed.
I still felt lightheaded, but my senses were returning one by one. “Who?”
“The one you were just speaking to.”
I couldn’t give Mr. Campbell even the slightest hint about Freddy’s debt, so I shrugged. “His name is Mr. Russell. We just became acquainted.”
Mr. Campbell’s jaw tightened. “You seemed upset by him.”
“Why were you watching me?” I asked in an accusatory voice.
“I happened to be nearby.”
I blinked fast, my head swimming. “Oryou were contriving to be where I was.”
His mouth twisted in a small smile, his eyes still boring into mine. “Would that flatter or frighten you?”
I found myself trapped by his gaze, and for some reason, my pulse had still not returned to normal. A breath of wind rustled his hair, tunneling down the alley toward us. “A little of both, I suppose.”
The smile on his lips grew only slightly, but I noticed. I had forgotten that Kate still stood nearby, so I snapped my gaze away from Mr. Campbell’s mouth. Why had I been looking there in the first place? I took a step back, causing his hands to fall away from my arms. I realized that I still held my cup of water, but it quaked in my grip. I cleared my throat. “I thank you for your concern, Mr. Campbell, but I was not upset by Mr. Russell.”
“He is not another of your suitors, is he?” Mr. Campbell asked.
I scoffed. “No! No, of course not.” I nearly shuddered at the thought.
Mr. Campbell must have been jesting, because he smiled again. “Good. I should like to be your only one.”
My heart jumped, and I didn’t miss the way Kate’s eyes flew open wide. I had no idea how to respond, so I resorted to my usual tone of flippancy. “You might take up that concern with the other gentlemen of Bath. I have no control over their pursuit of me.”
Mr. Campbell didn’t appear deterred by my answer but only amused as usual. A low laugh escaped him. “I shall bear that in mind.”
Hopefully Kate approved of my efforts to encourage a challenging chase for Mr. Campbell. I was never certain if I had taken the endeavor too far. If he thought there was competition, then maybe he would progress the courtship a little faster. That was precisely what I needed now that Mr. Russell was in search of Freddy. Kate’s warning about execution made my stomach heave.
“Will you be attending the Beresfords’ dinner party this evening?” Mr. Campbell asked.
A wave of relief rolled through me. Had he been invited too? I had been debating sending my regrets to the Beresfords and remaining at home for the evening, but that was what the tired, weak Arabella would do. I had to be resilient if I was going to manage to obtain a husband in the next few weeks. “I will. Are you planning to attend?”
“It does sound much more attractive now. I will be there.”
A flutter rustled inside my stomach. I wanted to blame the bitter mineral water for the sensation, but the cause was morelikely to be the flirtatious tone in Mr. Campbell’s voice. “I will see you there, then.”
“Until tonight, Miss Sharp.” The pause after my name was filled with such an intent look that I forgot how to reply. All I did was nod and watch him leave, my mind racing and spinning with all that had occurred in such a short span of time.
Kate’s voice sliced through the air. “You cannot tell me you do not want to kiss that man.”
