Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

GEORGE REFUSES

George looked up from his desk to see Arabella standing in the doorway, his mended jacket in her hands. So, the grapevine was already hard at work, he should have expected that she would call.

"Arabella," his lips twitched in a smile.

"George, I wanted to drop off your jacket." She placed the bundle on his desk and hesitated. "George, have you been out recently?"

"I have," he sighed, knowing where this was heading.

"So, you're aware that people are talking?"

"I am."

"I see, and that doesn't bother you?" Arabella clearly sounded agitated.

"People will always find something to talk about, Arabella, you know that."

"But this is you, and they're saying…they're saying, well, you know what they're saying."

"I do."

"Well?"

"Well, what? I have no intention of making it into something bigger than it is. Tell me, why did you really come here today, Arabella? Was it to offer help, or to see how much damage would be done to your reputation?"

"What on earth is that supposed to mean?"

"You and I have been friends for a long time, Arabella. I'm afraid that I cannot offer you more than that, and you would be wise to turn even that down." A stab of guilt hit George when he saw her hurt expression.

"I don't understand." She whispered, blinking rapidly.

"The gossip is true, Arabella, I do have an infant here with me, one that I have claimed as my own. I do not expect you to take that on, nor would I ever ask you to."

"Is the baby yours?" Arms crossed over her chest, her chin raised ever so slightly, ready for an argument, George thought she has never looked more beautiful.

"No, Charles is my half-brother, a child that my father left for ruin in the countryside. He deserves more, he deserves what he's entitled to."

"I see, and you have taken that on by yourself?" She asked pointedly.

"I'm his family." George shrugged his shoulders.

"I could-"

"No!" George barked out, interrupting Arabella before she could say what he thought she was going to say. "I refuse to entertain the idea, Arabella, end of discussion. This is my cross to bear, my decision to make, I will not have your reputation tangled up in this as well, do you understand?"

"I do." Staring at him with tears in her eyes, she nodded once before leaving his study. George was filled with the horrid feeling that he had just made a huge mistake.

Rising, he crossed the room in time to see Arabella's back disappear down the hall.

"Arabella, wait." He called, hastening his steps in an attempt to reach her, catching up to her just as she arrived at her carriage. "Please, wait. "

"Why, George? I think you have insulted and refused me enough today, don't you?"

"Arabella, I'm sorry, please, walk with me?" at her slight nod, George hooked his arm through hers and led her down the gravelled drive, always keeping the house in full sight. "I never meant to hurt you; you must know that?"

"Yet you did George, by not even listening to my side. Tell me, if we had already been married, would you have taken in Charles?"

"Yes."

"What of me? Would I have been cast aside?"

"Of course not, why would I- ah, I see. That's different, we would already have been married."

"George," Arabella turned to face him. "I love you; I have loved you for years. I will never stop loving you, regardless of what society thinks. By denying our happiness, you are condemning me to a life as a spinster, for I will not settle George, do you hear me?"

George knew he was being silly, that her words were spoken in truth. She really did love him, had loved him for years, he knew that. Why was he trying to ruin their future happiness? Charles needed his family to be happy if he was to be happy, George only had to look to his parents to know that.

"You could never be a spinster my beautiful, charming, smart Arabella. I would never allow it."

"George," there was a warning in Arabella's voice.

"I've been a fool today, please, say you can forgive me?" George begged his dear friend.

"There is nothing to forgive, you were looking after those you love."

"Marry me? Marry me my darling, let us be a real family, forever?"

"Oh George, yes, of course I will!" Arabella threw her arms around his neck and kissed him; he knew his staff were most likely watching them but found he couldn't find it in himself to care. The woman he loved was going to marry him, wanted to spend her future with him, and with Charles.

In that moment, nothing else mattered.