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The smile Arabella gave him then could only be described as…smoldering.

Every thought flew from John's head, rendering him speechless.

Henrietta seemed just as stricken. She blinked a few times in confusion.

But Cecily let out a small sound of delight. "Oh," Cecily breathed. "Oh, that is perfectly lovely. So romantic. Lord Alderton, I think you are wonderful."

"High praise," John managed. Though he was still recovering from Arabella's flirtatious look.

"We shall be at the Pemberton breakfast on Thursday," Cecily said. "I do hope you will both come."

"I expect we shall be there," John said.

Cecily and Henrietta withdrew in a rustle of parasols and poorly concealed excitement.

John watched them go. "They are going to tell everyone that I'm a besotted fool."

"Yes," Arabella said pleasantly. "That was the intention. And well they should after the awful gossip they spread."

He turned to look at her. "You can hardly blame them for having formed the worst impression of me. They did believe I had accosted their friend."

She lifted a shoulder. "Yes, well. Now I have given them something else to believe."

He choked on a huff of laughter. "And it is as simple as that."

"Of course it is." She turned her gaze back to the lawn.

He shook his head slowly. "You sound as though you have done this before."

When she glanced over, her smile held the tiniest hint of sadness. "I have done this for some years now."

"I see." He rocked back on his heels. "Do please remember that for the rest of us it is rather new."

Her smile turned overly sweet. "I shall try to be patient with you, Lord Alderton."

He fought another laugh.

It was perhaps a quarter hour later when Clarissa appeared with a smile. "John! You made it."

John braced himself for a stilted encounter. If there was anyone who ought to feel odd about this current situation, it was his sister. After all, she'd been the one Arabella's rumors had hurt earlier in the Season.

Though he surmised she was at least somewhat aware of Arabella's predicament, as the duchess had been.

And indeed, she approached them now with a brilliant smile. "Lady Arabella. I am so very glad you came."

Arabella's smile was far more restrained. "Lady Stratton."

His sister laughed. "Clarissa, please."

A pause. "Clarissa," Arabella repeated.

"I shall not keep you," Clarissa said. "Kit is calling me over and I suspect he requires my assistance in dealing with Lady Hornby. I just wanted to say that I am happy to see you." She turned to Arabella with a brilliant smile. "Both of you."

She flitted off before either of them could reply. John watched her go with an affectionate smile. It was a blessing, indeed, that his kindhearted sister had found someone who adored her so completely.

Arabella stood very still beside him. "Lord Alderton," she said after a moment. "Why on earth is she being kind to me?"

He bit back a grin. "Because she is Clarissa."