Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

ARABELLA INSISTS

"Lady Arabella," Lady Grace was breathless by the time she reached Arabella's side, one hand frantically waving at her flushed face while she kissed Arabella on both cheeks. "I couldn't believe my luck when I saw you depart from the milliner and I simply had to catch you before you reached home."

"I would have waited, you needn't have run," Arabella returned her friend's enthusiastic greeting.

"Hush now, you know how I like to rile mother." Arabella couldn't resist the laugh that broke free. It was true, her dear friend did indeed like to rile her mother. Being the only daughter among seven sons, she was a tomboy through and through, must to her mother's consternation.

"Did you hear the news about the Duke of Livingston?" Grace looped her arm through Arabella's as they continued their stroll homewards.

"George? No." Arabella tucked a loose strand of hair beneath her bonnet as she gazed across the fields towards George's home, as if she might conjure him by mere thought alone."

"He has a child."

"What?" The shock of her friend's statement rendered Arabella's legs useless and she stood stock still, staring at Lady Grace, her mouth gaping open.

"I heard it from Margaret last night, although to be fair, she didn't know that I was listening."

"Your maid?"

"Yes, I had snuck down to the kitchen for a slice of cooks sponge cake, and I heard them talking in there with Ingrid, one of the kitchen staff from Ingleside Lodge. She was saying that the infant was delivered in the dead of night, the day of Duke Livingston's funeral. Apparently, the current Duke of Livingston has been caring for the infant ever since."

"I honestly cannot believe what you are saying." Arabella could feel her temper start to flare as it always did whenever those she loved were threatened. "There is absolutely no way that the Duke of Livingston has a child, there must be some mistake."

"Maybe," Lady Grace conceded, in full knowledge of Arabella's feelings for the Duke. The sound of a carriage approaching had the two friends turning, Lady Grace's brother offering a friendly wave. "I assume mother sent you?" Lady Grace grinned. "Come for tea tomorrow?" She invited Arabella, who nodded her agreement. Waving goodbye until the carriage had rounded the bend, Arabella dropped her hand and started towards her house.

Could her friend possibly be right? Is this why George hadn't proposed to her yet? Could her dear friend really have been leading a secret double life? Arabella knew for certain that had her brother had any inkling that George was dishonest, he would never have allowed him anywhere near Arabella, nor encouraged their relationship the way he had through the years. No, there was only one explanation. Lady Grace must have misunderstood what her maid had said, that was all.

Dinner in the Fitzgerald household that night was merry, with Colonel Brandon joining them. Arabella felt it odd that everything was carrying on with normalcy while her heart, and her head, were in turmoil. Oh, how she longed for the sanctity of her room so that she might start to sort out her thoughts. Had she been asked what had been served for dinner she would not have been able to answer, too distracted to have tasted anything. It was with relief that dinner finally ended and she was able to escape to the drawing room for coffee and brandy. At least here her reticence wasn't so noticeable.

"I couldn't help but notice you seemed a little distracted during dinner my dear, is everything alright?" Colonel Brandon perched on the settee beside her.

"I'm just tired I guess," the lie slipped easily from her lips.

"I heard an interesting story about our mutual friend today, perhaps you heard the same thing?"

"I did."

"Ah, I see. There are always going to be people who are too reliant on gossip to entertain themselves Arabella, but in my experience, it is seldom an accurate account. Perhaps a visit might help, you could return the jacket your mother had mended."

"You're right," Arabella leant over to kiss her godfather's cheek, "I'll go first thing in the morning." Happier now she had a plan in mind, Arabella turned her full attention to the merriment in the room.