Her eyes narrowed. “Why on earth would I tell you that?”
I released a slow breath, lifting my hands in surrender. “I understand what you must think of me. I know the harm I have caused your friend, but I assure you, my intentions toward her are genuine. I wish to apologize to her.”
She laughed under her breath, looking down at the grass before raising her eyes back to mine. “I’m afraid I must ask that you stay away from her. You have caused her enough distress already. She was invited here this evening by Sir William.”
A thorn of disappointment twisted into my heart. “Are you the one convincing her that she needs a fortune to be happy?” I hadn’t meant to sound so accusatory, but Mrs. Ollerton was not treating me with any mercy of her own. “I’m afraid I can’trespect your wishes. I am going to find a way to speak with Arabella tonight if she is here.”
She sighed, a frustrated crease appearing in her forehead. “She wishes to be left alone.”
I shook my head, my jaw tight. “Until I know for certain that she does not care for me, I cannot.”
“It doesn’t matter if she cares for you.” Mrs. Ollerton glared at me in the dim light. “She requires a fortune.”
“Why?”
The combative nature of our conversation drew the glances of a few people on the grass. Mrs. Ollerton hesitated for a long moment before taking a deep breath. “If I tell you, will you promise not to approach her this evening or breathe a word of it to anyone?”
I held my breath. How could I make such a promise? Mrs. Ollerton stared at me, waiting for my response. Finally, I nodded. “Very well. I will not approach her, and I won’t repeat a word of our conversation.”
Mrs. Ollerton tossed a curl from the side of her forehead, casting her gaze heavenward. “I should not trust a word you say. But if you truly care for her, you will keep this in the utmost confidence. It may finally help you understand why she refused your proposal.”
My heart pounded, but I nodded again.
“Her younger brother, Frederick, accumulated a devastating gambling debt upon his first week here in Bath. In order to keep the matter a secret, he foolishly obtained a loan from a man by the name of Mr. Russell using a promissory note with the forged signature of his elder brother. As you can imagine, the consequences of forgery are as severe as they come.”
Her voice sent a chill over my shoulders. I had studied enough law to know what the consequences were for forging a bank note.
“Her family could never afford to repay the loan in enough time to avoid discovery.” Mrs. Ollerton’s features were heavy with sorrow. She lowered her voice even more, her faint whisper barely carrying above the music. “Since the moment Arabella learned what had happened, she has been trying to secure a husband with enough money to easily afford the demands of the loan.” She paused to take a breath. “I don’t imagine you have an additional two thousand pounds at your disposal.”
Two thousand?My heart sank.“Why did Mr. Russell agree to loan him such a large sum?”
She shook her head.“The forgery must have been quite convincing, and he must have promised a great deal of interest.”
I took a deep breath, raking a hand over my hair. I had once been young and foolish like Frederick Sharp, but even I couldn’t imagine doing something so reckless.
A gleam of distaste returned to Mrs. Ollerton’s expression. “Perhaps now you understand how precious her time was, and how carelessly you wasted it with your ridiculous sham. Now she must resort to drastic measures.”
Guilt swirled around my stomach. “What do you mean?”
She clamped her mouth shut, shaking her head as she backed away. “I have told you more than I should have already. This is no longer any business of yours. The further you stay away from Arabella, the better.”
Desperation clawed at my skin. How could I help her? What could I do? I didn’t have two thousand pounds—not even close. I thought of the hesitation on Arabella’s face when I had proposed to her, and the tears in her eyes. She carried the burden of Freddy’s life in her hands. How heavy and painful that must have been. It was clear to me now that her words had been meant to drive me away for good.
I had never felt so helpless in my life. My promise to not approach Arabella that evening was already hanging by a thread,but I had to be true to my word to Mrs. Ollerton. Coming between Arabella and Sir William would only do more harm, and I had already wasted so much of her time.
“What can I do to help her?” My voice was weaker than I intended.
Mrs. Ollerton stepped forward, drawing my eyes back to her face. “If you wish to help, then you will do all you can to ensure she marries Sir William.”
I couldn’t imagine a more painful endeavor, but I nodded faintly. All my hopes of speaking to Arabella that evening, of changing her mind, were gone. I struggled to draw a breath as Mrs. Ollerton bid her silent farewell and returned to her circle of acquaintances.
My heart was numb as I found Colin where I had left him, my head still spinning with all that I had just discovered.
“You look pale,” Colin said as I stopped beside him. I knew that was his way of expressing his concern, but I wasn’t in the mood to explain. “Were you thoroughly scolded by Mrs. Ollerton for how you treated her friend?” he asked.
The amusement in his tone was nearly enough to put me over the edge of civility. I doubted throwing a fist into his face in public was the best way to introduce myself to society. I felt his gaze on the side of my face, and I sensed the shift in his expression. Had he finally realized that this wasn’t all a game to me?
I drew a steadying breath as I tried to calm the turmoil in my chest.
