Chapter Seven

"So." Arthur waved one hand over the papers in front of him. "These are all of your debts." He eyed Lord Townsend carefully as the man looked at each and every piece of paper, picking them up and scrutinizing them before, finally, nodding. There was not even the smallest hint of embarrassment in the man's face, however, and that gave Arthur cause for concern. After all, a great many of these debts were more than a little mortifying given that they came about from gambling and the like but Lord Townsend appeared to be quite contented that Arthur should have found them out.

"You do not show a great propensity for careful management of your money," Arthur said, plainly, as Lord Townsend frowned. "These debts come from a man who has chosen to sit at the gambling table, chosen to make foolish investments and taken very little care in such things. I do not know why I should be willing to help you in this."

"Oh, but I am not a fool!" Lord Townsend exclaimed, his head lifting as his eyes sharpened. "I will admit that I have made mistakes but I have learned from them! I will not do such things again, I assure you."

Arthur hesitated. Lord Townsend was a gentleman of great boldness given that he had approached him in this first place with this idea and Arthur remained a little uncertain that he could trust the gentleman's word.

But what cause have I to be concerned about such things? I am to gain a wife. Paying Lord Townsend's debts means that his coffers are once again his own responsibility and nothing to do with me.

"I presume that your daughter has no dowry?"

Lord Townsend's eyes flared as a flush rose in his cheeks. "I beg your pardon, Lord Crestwood, but I am a gentleman of honour even with such debts! Of course my daughters have their dowries! I have never taken a single penny from either of them in that regard."

Arthur tilted his head, seeing the flash in Lord Townsend's eyes and deciding that in this, at least, he believed him. "Very good. Though I shall ask a favour of you – no, it shall not be a request but rather written into whatever contract we sign together."

Lord Townsend frowned. "What do you require of me aside from my eldest daughter's hand in marriage?"

"I require your eldest daughter's dowry be added to your younger daughter's dowry," Arthur stated, firmly. "I have no need for Miss Townsend's dowry and, given that I am paying all of your debts, to demand such a thing seems foolish. Therefore, I will insist that your younger daughter's dowry be increased. That should be more than a little helpful when it comes to her securing her own match, as I am certain she shall very soon."

"Because her elder sister is married to an Earl and her dowry substantial," Lord Townsend said slowly, as Arthur nodded. "Very well. I agree to that."

"Good." With a slow nod, Arthur looked down at the debts again and, despite the questions, the concern and the worries in his heart, began to find himself contented with the idea of matrimony. He did not know the lady very well at all and indeed, had only met her on one occasion but the situation was to his liking. "Then I shall instruct my solicitors to bring us a formal contract within a fortnight. My engagement to your daughter can be made known to the ton before then, of course, but I shall do nothing as regards matrimony until the contract is completed and signed. Do I make myself clear?"

The light in Lord Townsend's eyes and the smile on his face left Arthur in no doubt as to how the gentleman felt about the arrangement. "Capital!" Sticking his hand out, he made to shake Arthur's hand only for something to hold Arthur back.

"I must ask," he found himself saying, having had no intention of expressing any concern whatsoever, "what your daughter thinks of this arrangement. Is she agreeable?"

"Of course she is agreeable!" Lord Townsend exclaimed, grabbing Arthur's hand and pumping it up and down. "She is delighted, in fact! She has struggled to catch the attention of any gentlemen of note simply because of her quiet nature but now, her struggles do not have to last any longer. That is an excellent thing, I assure you."

"Indeed." Arthur frowned, his own heart quailing a little as he looked into the gentleman's eyes and found himself wondering if all of that was true. What did it matter, however, if she was not particularly enamoured with the idea? After all, he was simply to be her husband in name only – for after what he had endured with Lady Clara, he was certainly not about to let his heart become affected in any way. This was a formal arrangement, he told himself as Lord Townsend released his hand. Almost a business arrangement between two gentlemen rather than anything involving emotion. That was the best way for him to think of it and surely, he told himself, it would be better for Miss Townsend to marry than to remain a spinster with an impoverished father!

"Come then, let us make our way to the dining room. The dinner gong will sound at any moment."

Lord Townsend nodded eagerly. "They can be the first to hear this happy news! "

"No." Arthur frowned and shook his head, just as Lord Townsend's eyebrows lifted. "No, we are not going to speak of this to anyone as yet. Not until I have had opportunity to speak alone with Miss Townsend."

That had Lord Townsend's smile tumbling to the floor. "You wish to speak with Abigail?" he asked, as Arthur nodded. "Alone?"

"Yes, alone," Arthur stated, firmly. "There are some things I wish to make quite clear and some things I want to hear her opinion on. However, given that you have said just how eager and contented she is for this match, I should like to hear that from her lips also."

"Oh, but there is no need!" the gentleman protested, just as Arthur began to make his way out of the room. "I can assure you that it is so. Given her quiet nature, I should think that – "

"I shall speak with her." Arthur threw those words over his shoulder before marching down the hallway towards the dining room, his brow furrowing as he walked. One thing was for certain; he did not trust Lord Townsend and certainly would not take his word for granted. Recalling what his mother and sister had said as regarded Miss Townsend, Arthur silently resolved that if Miss Townsend had no true desire to wed him, if she had every instinct to push herself back from him, that he would not move forward with their engagement. Even though the situation suited him, he was not the sort of gentleman who would force a situation upon anyone.

It would all depend on her.

"Might I speak with you for a few minutes, Miss Townsend?" Arthur forced a smile as Miss Townsend's eyes flared wide, praying that she was not truly as afraid as the whiteness of her face suggested. "It is important."

Miss Townsend glanced to her father who, of course, nodded and thus, her eyes met his as she murmured her agreement.

"Just to the parlour," Arthur told her, walking out of the room and fully expecting her to follow him. "I will return you to the drawing room thereafter."

"Might I ask what you wish to speak with me about?" Miss Townsend's voice quavered and, as Arthur pushed the door open to the parlor and held it open – for it would be wise not to close it – he caught the way her eyes roved around the room.

Clearly, Miss Townsend was a little afraid.

"You have been appraised of all that your father and I have discussed, I understand." Arthur waited until Miss Townsend nodded before he continued, though her eyes no longer went to his face but rather lingered near the floor instead. "I spoke with your father earlier this evening and an agreement has been reached. "

Miss Townsend caught her breath, her eyes rounding as she looked back at him. Silence crept between them for some minutes until, eventually, she spoke.

"Then, we are engaged?"

"We shall be," he confirmed, "though I should like to know of your thoughts on the matter first, Miss Townsend.

Her eyebrows lifted. "My thoughts?"

Her voice was a little stronger now and Arthur nodded. "Yes, Miss Townsend. Your father has assured me that you are eager and excited about our engagement but I cannot tell if such a thing is the truth. Therefore, I should like to know your opinion." Letting his gaze rove around the room, he caught sight of his reflection and grimaced. "After all, I am aware that the only reason I am agreeing to this is simply because of my scars. The ton are more interested in considering me as a Beast rather than having any interest in pushing their daughters to me." Looking back at her, he lifted an eyebrow. "What do you think of it all, Miss Townsend?"

She licked her lips and dropped her head. "I – I do not think you a beast, if that is what you are asking me."

"That is not really an answer," Arthur replied, aware that his voice sounded like a low growl rather than being pleasant and calm. "What do you think of our potential engagement? Are you truly desirous of such a thing?" When she did not answer him, Arthur let out a hiss of breath and began to pace up and down the room. "Let me make things quite clear, Miss Townsend. I go into this marriage with the sole intention of not allowing any sort of emotion or affection into my heart or into our connection."

Miss Townsend began to blink rapidly but Arthur continued on regardless.

"My mother and sister will reside with us for a time but once I am wed and if we both desire it, Lady Crestwood can make her home in the Dower House, though you may not wish for that to occur since you will require some company."

"You – you do not intend to spend much time with me, then?"

Arthur shook his head. "I have no expectation that anything in my life will change after we are wed, Miss Townsend. Save only for the fact that the bedchamber adjoining mine will be occupied."

Silence grew yet again and Arthur turned to look at Miss Townsend again, clasping his hands behind his back as he watched her. Miss Townsend looked as though she might break down into sobs but he did not permit any pang of regret or sympathy to enter into his heart. It was good for him to be quite clear on his expectations so that Miss Townsend knew precisely what it was she was entering into .

"I must ask you again, Miss Townsend, in knowing all of this, in being aware of what your future will be with me, whether you desire to move forward into engagement."

Miss Townsend closed her eyes and to Arthur's surprise, a tear dripped to her cheek. Despite his resolve to keep all emotion from his heart, he was suddenly pulled in towards her, finding his hand going to hers – though he pulled back almost at once, his own breath hitching as he realized what he had done.

"I do not want you to be pushed into this marriage," he said, coughing a little gruffly so as to cover his own embarrassment. "I will not agree to it unless you are contented."

"I have no other choice." Her voice breaking, Miss Townsend opened her eyes and looked at him, tears only just being kept back. "Yes, Lord Crestwood, I will marry you."

Arthur's frown pulled his brows low. "You do have a choice, Miss Townsend. I am offering you one."

She shook her head. "Please, do not let anything prevent us from moving to engagement, Lord Crestwood," she said, her voice breathy and trembling with emotion. "I do not refuse this. I do not step back from it or seek a way to be free of it. I have said that I will marry you and thus, I shall."

Watching her, Arthur found himself wanting to protest, wanting to ask what it was that was so upsetting for her but finding his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. Confused by his own emotions, by his own uncertainty, Arthur merely nodded and, walking to the door, opened it and held it for her. Miss Townsend walked through it quickly, making her way back to the drawing room without his guidance and as he watched her, Arthur's frown continued to grow. Was he doing the right thing in forcing this engagement upon Miss Townsend? Should he step back from it? Or should he do as she asked and continue on with their engagement, despite her tears?