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Authors: Lady Arden's Redemption
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different than he has done before, my lady?”
“Obviously, being a nobody from Yorkshire, you have never met or heard of my father’s sister. She is an unpleasant, arrogant old woman. I don’t understand how he can be so cruel and unfeeling. I am sure that Aunt Ellen would have been happy to come home with me, after a short visit to Celia at Heronwood.”
“Ah, Miss Denbeigh did receive an offer from Heronwood, then?”
“Yes, it is not officially announced yet, but I left Ellen and Celia happily planning the wedding.”
“So your cousin will be Lady Heronwood?” said Gareth quizzically.
“Oh, you needn’t look so, Captain. Celia apologized for my little verbal caricature, and one thing led to another. They have been very much together, as well you know, since you have been at every social occasion we have been at for the last week or so. Indeed, I am happy for her, though you look skeptical, and even, I suppose, for my aunt. I am just not happy about what this means for me.”
“Lady Arden, let us continue our conversation while we walk. We are attracting far too much attention.” Gareth offered his arm, which Arden at first refused, and then, with a sigh, accepted.
“I suppose you are right,” she said. “I would appreciate it if you could walk me home. I should be grateful for every minute there, given what is to be my fate.”
“So there is no alternative to your awful aunt?”
“None except marriage. And I swear to you, Captain Richmond, that at this moment I am mad enough to accept the first man who offered for me, even if it were you, just to spite my father!” said Arden.
“It is undoubtedly a shame, then, that no one is likely to make an offer, although I will keep your preference for me in mind.”
“You are as rude as always, Captain. You know perfectly well what I meant, and you choose to joke about my desperation. And I would truly have to be desperate,” she added, “to consider you.”
Gareth smiled to himself at the way Arden instantly responded to his provocation. She remained silent for the rest of their walk, however. When they reached the house, Gareth made a slight bow as she went up the steps, but Arden did not even turn to thank him for his rescue. He left, feeling the ever-present mix of anger and admiration that she raised in him. This time the anger was because of her dismissal of him as an eligible suitor even in jest, and the admiration for her magnificent hair and eyes. If I ever did marry the wretched woman, he thought, as he turned away, I could never be an indifferent husband, that is damnably certain!
* * * *
Arden went straight to her room and sat on her bed trying to sort out her reaction to the captain. The suggestion that she would even consider him as a husband was ridiculous, and made to show how desperate she was. After all, with the sparks that flew between them every time they met, they could hardly be considered friends, much less potential husband and wife. That he should insult her, however, by implying—no, stating—that she was unlikely to have the opportunity to spite her father was outside of enough. Yet she was nothing if not honest, and she had to admit to herself, if not to him, that he was right. This Season, at least, ridiculous as it may seem, she had ruined her chances. Not that she wanted any chance she had seen. But here she was, with Celia happily betrothed and herself with no chance of an offer.
But no gentleman would have pointed that out to her. And no gentleman would have made the jest about keeping her in mind if he decided he wanted a wife. But he was no gentleman, just a rough soldier from the Peninsula who was on his way home to run a sheep farm, of all things. Even Aunt Millicent was better than… Than what? she said aloud. Than a nonexistent offer from a man who clearly despises me. There was no alternative to her aunt, and Arden, who was not given to crying, fell back on her bed, angry, helpless and with tears slipping
“Obviously, being a nobody from Yorkshire, you have never met or heard of my father’s sister. She is an unpleasant, arrogant old woman. I don’t understand how he can be so cruel and unfeeling. I am sure that Aunt Ellen would have been happy to come home with me, after a short visit to Celia at Heronwood.”
“Ah, Miss Denbeigh did receive an offer from Heronwood, then?”
“Yes, it is not officially announced yet, but I left Ellen and Celia happily planning the wedding.”
“So your cousin will be Lady Heronwood?” said Gareth quizzically.
“Oh, you needn’t look so, Captain. Celia apologized for my little verbal caricature, and one thing led to another. They have been very much together, as well you know, since you have been at every social occasion we have been at for the last week or so. Indeed, I am happy for her, though you look skeptical, and even, I suppose, for my aunt. I am just not happy about what this means for me.”
“Lady Arden, let us continue our conversation while we walk. We are attracting far too much attention.” Gareth offered his arm, which Arden at first refused, and then, with a sigh, accepted.
“I suppose you are right,” she said. “I would appreciate it if you could walk me home. I should be grateful for every minute there, given what is to be my fate.”
“So there is no alternative to your awful aunt?”
“None except marriage. And I swear to you, Captain Richmond, that at this moment I am mad enough to accept the first man who offered for me, even if it were you, just to spite my father!” said Arden.
“It is undoubtedly a shame, then, that no one is likely to make an offer, although I will keep your preference for me in mind.”
“You are as rude as always, Captain. You know perfectly well what I meant, and you choose to joke about my desperation. And I would truly have to be desperate,” she added, “to consider you.”
Gareth smiled to himself at the way Arden instantly responded to his provocation. She remained silent for the rest of their walk, however. When they reached the house, Gareth made a slight bow as she went up the steps, but Arden did not even turn to thank him for his rescue. He left, feeling the ever-present mix of anger and admiration that she raised in him. This time the anger was because of her dismissal of him as an eligible suitor even in jest, and the admiration for her magnificent hair and eyes. If I ever did marry the wretched woman, he thought, as he turned away, I could never be an indifferent husband, that is damnably certain!
* * * *
Arden went straight to her room and sat on her bed trying to sort out her reaction to the captain. The suggestion that she would even consider him as a husband was ridiculous, and made to show how desperate she was. After all, with the sparks that flew between them every time they met, they could hardly be considered friends, much less potential husband and wife. That he should insult her, however, by implying—no, stating—that she was unlikely to have the opportunity to spite her father was outside of enough. Yet she was nothing if not honest, and she had to admit to herself, if not to him, that he was right. This Season, at least, ridiculous as it may seem, she had ruined her chances. Not that she wanted any chance she had seen. But here she was, with Celia happily betrothed and herself with no chance of an offer.
But no gentleman would have pointed that out to her. And no gentleman would have made the jest about keeping her in mind if he decided he wanted a wife. But he was no gentleman, just a rough soldier from the Peninsula who was on his way home to run a sheep farm, of all things. Even Aunt Millicent was better than… Than what? she said aloud. Than a nonexistent offer from a man who clearly despises me. There was no alternative to her aunt, and Arden, who was not given to crying, fell back on her bed, angry, helpless and with tears slipping
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