Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

“ B ella!” Hanna called as she dashed out the front door of Hayward Manor a little later that morning. Her hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her face was aglow as she rushed toward Arabella and wrapped her arms around her. “I missed you so much. I know it has only been two days, but I have missed you so very much, indeed!”

“And I you,” Arabella replied, her voice tender. “I have so much to tell you. But where is Emma?”

“She is down by the lake,” Hanna replied, her tone betraying the trouble she carried in her heart.

“The lake? Why is she not at the house?” Arabella asked, glancing toward the imposing manor.

Hanna nodded toward it. “Father. Since you left, he has been quite impossible.”

Arabella winced. “Impossible? How so?”

“After you and Harry left the wedding breakfast so early, the guests did not linger. They ate and made their excuses, and soon everyone had gone. I believe Father also had a quarrel of some kind with your husband’s uncle, Sir Richard. I saw them talking in the corner, and they did not appear to be having a pleasant conversation. Did Harry not mention it?”

Arabella shook her head. “No. We have not spoken much.”

At this, Hanna smiled knowingly. “I see. Busy with marital duties, I suppose?”

“No,” Arabella said miserably. “Not at all. And I do not think we shall be. Not in that way.”

“What do you mean?” Hanna asked, her curiosity piqued.

Arabella shrugged. “Let us go. I do not wish to speak of this more than once if I can avoid it.”

Hanna took her by the arm, and together they made their way down to the lake. Arabella glanced over her shoulder, looking at the place that had once been her home and her prison.

They found their middle sister, Emma, sitting by the water’s edge. She had taken off her shoes and stockings and was dangling her feet in the cool water, a little wooden pier supporting her slight frame. Arabella smiled, remembering how often they had done this as children. She waved and then rushed to her sister’s side, giving her a side hug, while Hanna settled beside her, removing her own shoes and stockings.

Following their example, Arabella did the same, dipping her toes into the water. A gentle splish splash followed, and the coolness embraced her, bringing a serene smile to her lips.

“I thought you had forgotten about us,” Emma teased. “I know you are very busy with your handsome husband. But tell me, what has it been like? Do you adore him? Does he adore you?”

Hanna glanced at Arabella, concern clouding her expression. “All is not well,” she said quietly.

“It cannot be,” Emma sighed. “I thought at least one of us was bound to be happy. What has happened?”

Arabella sighed, extending her arms behind her to rest her weight on her hands. “Nothing has happened. Though I must confess, I did not tell you the truth about Harry and our arrangement. I did not want to upset you at the time. The truth is, there is no romance between us, and there never will be.”

“Do not say that,” Hanna urged. “It is early days. You have been married only a few days, and you have not known one another for very long either.”

“No, that is not it. Harry made it very clear before we were married that he did not wish to be married and was only doing it to save me from ruin and to free himself from women constantly setting their caps for him. He does not want to be married. He does not believe in romance. Ours is a transactional marriage. If there is any affection… it will be only to produce an heir.”

“He said that?” Hanna asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

“I told you,” Emma interjected. “I told you she was keeping something from us. I know you too well, Arabella. I knew there was something you were not telling us. You have that look in your eyes when you are keeping secrets.”

“I did not want to upset you both. You were so happy about my marriage. But the truth is, now that I am living it, I do not know what life is going to be like. Yesterday, he left me alone all day after promising to show me around the estate. He apologized when he came home, and we toured the estate in the evening, but I still did not see everything, and I still do not know how he pictures our future.”

“But surely you talked on your wedding night?” Hanna asked.

“He said that since we were both tired, we should each retire to our respective chambers and rest. Besides, I have my own chambers, and he has his, and we do not sleep in the same bed and likely never will. Unless… well, unless he wishes for an heir.”

Her sisters said nothing, remaining quiet as they stared out across the lake.

“Perhaps it will change,” Emma suggested gently. “You never know. Or has he been all bad?”

Arabella thought back to their conversation the night before. “No, he has not been all bad. This morning, he promised to find me a violin teacher so I could pick up the violin again. And he makes an effort to ensure our conversations do not turn into arguments, but he is so secretive. He was gone all day yesterday, and he has gone again today. And I cannot help but feel the servants are tiptoeing around me. It is strange.”

“Give it time,” Emma advised. “You have only been there for a couple of days. You must give it time. Please. You are our only hope to get out of this house. Father has been impossible these last two days. He drinks from morning till night, and he is constantly angry. He throws things and screams. And he struck Rowley.”

Arabella gasped. Rowley was their father’s valet and had been working for the family for many years. “He struck him? Goodness gracious.”

“Yes, and Rowley has left.”

“Left?” Arabella stared at Emma in shock.

“He packed his things last night and left. That has only made Father angrier. Arabella, it pains me to hear that your marriage is not a happy one, but for the sake of all of us, you must try to make it work somehow. We cannot stay here forever, and you are our only hope. Alexander has abandoned us.” Venom laced Emma’s voice as she spoke.

“I will find a way,” Arabella promised. “I will find a way somehow. Harry told me we could host a ball at the estate and many people would come. Perhaps we can find a suitable match for one of you.”

Her mind suddenly filled with thoughts of her sisters coming to visit her, of the children her sisters might have playing together. But even as she imagined it, she knew that it was too early. Her sisters would decline her offer, and she would have to make do with the grand estate that was now her home, accepting that it would be filled with nothing but her own thoughts and footsteps as she wandered the many halls alone.