Page 66 of Wickedly Yours
“Please feel free to speak plainly. I am not considered unintelligent, and I grow tired of your innuendo.” Arabella allowed a sneer to cross her lips. She would not be cowed by the likes of Lady Marsh.
Lady Marsh’scomplexion turned to beet. “Rude and impolite.” Her cheeks puffed. “Wedid not approve of this marriage, no matter how dear Nick is to us.”
“You areafraidof my brother,” Arabella snapped, ignoring Lady Marsh’s sharp intake of breath. “That is not at all the same as affection. I assure you my brother knows the difference.”
Lady Marsh sat down her sherry with force, spilling the dark liquid across the table. “Myson is an honorable man,” she sputtered. “And far more thanyoudeserve. You’llruinhim. Keep him from his duty.Destroyevery ounce of decency in him.” The curls around her temples shook with rage. “I can only hope thepoisonthat lies within you does not find its way into Rowan and destroy him.” With a flurry of violet skirts, Lady Marsh stood, facing Arabella as if she was considering tackling her to the floor. “I will do everything in my power to release my son from your clutches.” She turned her back on both Arabella and Petra, her angry footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors as she departed the room.
“Well,” Arabella snapped, “I was going to ask her opinion on the redecoration of our new home, but I suppose I’ll have to do without your mother’s advice.”
“I am sorry for her behavior.” “Petra looked down at her hands for a moment, then continued in a controlled tone. “My mother is less than clear-headed at times and especially where Rowan is concerned. It’s because…” Petra waved her hand as if pushing the words aside. “She behaves badly when thwarted, as you have just witnessed.” Her gaze pierced Arabella. “Rowan never wished to marry Gwendolyn. But hedidwish to marry you.” She raised a golden brow. “Though I’m not at all surewhy.”
Arabella resisted the urge to swat Petra, not appreciating the back handed compliment given all she’d had to endure this evening. “Will you let Rowan know I’ve taken the carriage?”
“I do not think —”
“Then don’t.Thinkthat is. I feel certain your mother does enough thinking for you.”
Petra’s eyes grew hostile. “Not all of it. You are not the only one pretending to be demure, though I’m far better at it.”
Arabella started towards the door. “I find myself feeling rather ill and must return home. Perhaps the duck was too rich. I bid you good evening, Lady Petra.”
Petra nodded. “He will not be pleased.”
Arabella didn’t know if Petra meant Rowan would not be pleased with Lady Marsh’s behavior or her own and decided it didn’t matter.
* * *
“Annulment isa possibility if you can prove she married you under false pretenses or you were to admit you were unable to consummate the marriage.” His father gave him a hopeful look.
Rowan tossed back the scotch, allowing the amber liquid to sear down his throat. The conversation had taken an ugly turn. He was so incredibly furious, Rowan dared not speak.
“Divorce is more difficult,” Lord Marsh continued. “White would use his influence but such a thing could take years. Parliament would approve the action much quicker were you to prove Arabella adulterous. Given her mother’s reputation, inferring the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree is an excellent strategy.”
“She is not,” Rowan flung the words at his father, “adulterous.” Had he known his father’s offer of an after-dinner drink was actually an attempt to browbeat him into discarding his wife, Rowan would have grabbed Arabella and fled the Marsh residence.
His father shot him a speculative look. “How can you possibly be certain? She’s incredibly devious. White—”
“Has no idea what he’s talking about. You assume Iwishto rid myself of Arabella. I thought I made my decision perfectly clear to you when I told you I would wed her.” His voice grew hard. “Imagine how His Grace would feel were you to ask me to discard his sister and in doing so destroy her reputation beyond repair. I thought you bore him some affection.”
Lord Marsh had the grace to look embarrassed. The leather chair squeaked as he sat back, holding the glass of brandy he sipped to his chest.
“I do bear Nick a great deal of affection. He has been an excellent husband to your cousin and he treats your mother and I well.” His entire form deflated. “The very idea isratherpreposterous when said out loud. Your mother has done nothing but harangue me day and night about your marriage. She is convinced you did not marry Arabella of your own free will, that your honor led you to make a decision and in doing so, ruined your life.”
“Honor had absolutely nothing to do with my decision. Do you really think I could be forced to marry against my will?”
“No. I don’t suppose you could be. Forgive me for suggesting such. I promised your mother I would…offer youoptions.”
Rowan’s parents knew the story of Corbett and Arabella’s subsequent rescue, but he’d insisted they not contradict the story that Rowan and Arabella had been secretly courting. It hadn’t mattered, the entiretonstill assumed he’d been forced, coerced or threatened to marry Arabella, his only consolation her enormous dowry. He knew now he should never have told his family the truth, especially his mother. She honestly believed he would have married Gwendolyn if not for Arabella.
“Do you wish to know why Lord White pushes his daughter at Mother so forcefully?” Rowan watched his father over the top of his glass before taking a sip.
His father grew still, and his eyes slid away. “I’m not certain I do.”
“Allow me to enlighten you. What little time yourdearfriend doesn’t spend sowing dissention in our family he spends avoiding the duns beating at his door. White is rapidly bankrupting his estate. I have his markers, Father. All of them. Well overten thousand poundsworth. White’s taste in mistresses is rather expensive. Lady White’s extravagance runs unfettered. He wishes me to marry his daughter so I will forgive his debts.”
“Dear God.” The color leeched from his father’s face. “I’d no idea.”
“Are you more surprised by the amount of your friend’s debt or the fact I have so much capital at my disposal?”
