I hadn’t planned on falling in love with him.
He seemed to have experienced a similar turn of events, leading us both straight into this horrible, disastrous mess. Asheartless as he believed me to be back then, he must have thought me even more heartless now. He didn’t know my motivation behind obtaining a fortune—and he never could.
Freddy still awaited my reply, so I walked with him to the sofa and explained everything from the impersonation to the proposal. He listened in stunned silence. His face gradually darkened a shade. “I’ll call him out.” He seemed prepared to leap off the sofa and begin the duel that very moment.
“Colin or Clark?” I asked weakly.
“Colin, of course.” Freddy stood, pacing in a straight line in front of the sofa. “Surely you must see who your true rival is.Colin.He was the one who forced his brother to impersonate him. Initially, Clark believed your character to be severely lacking, and so he agreed to the scheme.” Freddy collapsed onto the sofa again, a deep furrow in his brow. Slowly, his features softened into despair. He took a deep breath, turning to face me. “You should marry him, Arabella. I can see that you love him.”
“No.” I shook my head fast. I had made a mistake in allowing Freddy to see my tears. I had been acting strong for him, and I needed to continue to do so. “He wouldn’t be able to afford your debt.”
“Have you asked him?”
“Of course not,” I whispered. “Aunt Julia doesn’t even know of the situation. Why would I trust Clark Campbell? At any rate, he’s a solicitor. The two thousand pounds you owe would be far too much.”
Freddy’s jaw tightened. “I will face the consequences of my actions. If you marry Clark before the truth comes out, the two of you can move to the countryside and avoid any connection to me.”
“Stop.” I gave him a scolding look, though fresh tears burned behind my eyes. “I have always looked after you, and I will continue to do so.” I took his hand, but he tugged it away.
“Father encouraged all of us to marry for love.” Freddy’s voice fell. “He wouldn’t have wanted this.”
“He wouldn’t have wanted you to be hanged either.”
Freddy flinched. “Perhaps the forgery can be pardoned if John claims responsibility for the note.”
“You know he won’t.” Despair crept into my voice. “Even if he did, he cannot afford it. I will obtain the money, and you must be the one to deliver it on behalf of John. He must never know that you signed with his name.”
“But how will you obtain the money now?” Freddy put his forehead in his hands. “We are nearly out of time.”
“I will find a way.” I gritted my teeth and untied my bonnet, removing it from my curls. I couldn’t allow my emotions to control me any longer. I had to be strategic, or else see my brother executed. I couldn’t waste another second. The only hope I had was to ask John to extend our time in Bath. I would continue excusing Freddy’s absence to Mr. Russell. If Mama had relayed the news of my courtship to John, then he should see that as reason enough to allow us to remain in town until I was engaged.
I would write them a detailed letter and pretend that I was still courting a wealthy gentleman. And then I would resume my pursuit of Sir William in earnest.
My heart ached as I thought of Clark. Would I ever see him again? I shut him out of my thoughts, closing my eyes tightly. I could not lose focus. If I was to accomplish my plan, I couldn’t be distracted by my heart and all its ridiculous demands. It would betray me just as it had the first time, just as it had tonight when I had been tempted to accept Clark’s proposal.
The single candle flickered weakly on the side table, the fire slowly shrinking. I stared at it, pretending that the flame represented every last shred of affection I had for Clark Campbell.
And then I watched it disappear.
There were few things more unsettling than Aunt Julia’s disapproval.
She didn’t voice it freely, but it was written on every feature of her face. My constant companions on my way to Sydney Gardens were her pursed lips, tense eyebrows, and the occasional flare of her nostrils as she watched me in the dark carriage.
I knew I was treading dangerously by meeting Sir William in such a public place, but it had to be done. Aunt Julia didn’t understand why I had shifted my attention away from Mr. Campbell, but I didn’t have the heart to explain the details to her. Not yet, anyway. She was still oblivious to Freddy’s situation and my fortune-hunting endeavors. If there was one thing I didn’t trust that woman with, it was a secret.
“I did dance with him at the viscount’s ball.” I had been trying to reassure Aunt Julia that Sir William’s interest hadn’t come out of nowhere. “His attention has been reliable thus far.”
Aunt Julia turned her gaze out the window, lips pursed once again. “You will greatly disappoint Mr. Campbell if you are seen meandering about on Sir William’s arm.Andyour reputation will be under great scrutiny. You mustn’t have it assumed that you are courting two men at once.”
I interlocked my gloved fingers in my lap, drawing a deep, shaky breath. I had been trying to avoid my nerves, but Aunt Julia had a way of heightening them. “I am no longer courting Mr. Campbell. If that is not obvious to society yet, it will be soon. I am quite intent on avoiding him altogether.”
“Why will you not tell me what happened?” she snapped. “I have half a mind to send you home to John.”
My heart thudded. “I told you. Mr. Campbell and I agreed that we are not well-suited.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That cannot be all.”
“It is.” I clamped my mouth shut, glancing out my own window. I had been failing miserably at my efforts to not think of Clark. I desperately hoped he wouldn’t be at the gardens that evening. Now that the ruse was over, he wouldn’t have any reason to impersonate his brother. But if he did happen to be there masquerading as Colin, I knew I couldn’t speak to him. We were to become strangers again. It was the only way to untether my heart from him and give it to Sir William instead.
