Chapter 24

A week later, Michael was summoned to see Mr Betez in London. He had been surprised at the request but was able to leave his parents' home with some comfort that his father was finally looking brighter for longer as the days progressed. He was also eating more, which was a relief to both Michael and his mother, as he had lost so much weight they had both worried that he was fading before their eyes.

As he was led into Mr Betez's study, Michael was immediately on the alert at the expression on his employer's face.

"Sit down, Follett, we have a lot to discuss. How is your father?"

Michael did as he was bid. "He is improving, sir, thank you. My family and I are grateful for your allowing me to take so much time off. I know how generous it was of you."

"It is easy to be generous when you can see the potential in a person."

"Thank you."

"A pity you have not achieved that spark of possibility I thought was in you."

"I am sorry to hear that." Michael started to panic, wondering if he was about to be dismissed and if he was, how the heck he could support his parents and himself with no money coming in.

"You should be," Mr Betez responded before huffing out a breath. "I have never liked beating about the bush with anything, so I will come straight to the point. Why the devil are you not marrying my niece?"

Michael opened his mouth as if to speak and then closed it before trying again, but no words would come.

Eventually, Mr Betez opened one of the drawers in his desk, took out a glass and a small decanter, poured Michael a finger of brandy and pushed it across the desk to him. "Let's hope this brings you to your senses, or I might regret all the contrivances I have made these last few months."

Michael gulped the brandy and let it warm his insides before putting the glass on the desk. "You want me to marry your niece?" His voice sounded strained, but it was the best he could do. He was certain he had never felt such shock.

"Of course I do! Why the deuce did you think I sent you over to her?"

"To help the estate?"

"That was an added bonus. I received a communication from Arabella's friend Grace, saying that she was worried about Arabella. When I visited, I completely agreed. I knew she was suffering, but she did not realise what it was; she needed a husband."

"And you thought of me? A lowly steward?"

"Why not? Are you not a good match for her?"

Michael gritted his teeth together but forced the words out. "If you chose someone like me because you think she could not attract anyone higher, then I will draw your cork whether you cast me off without a reference or not. I will not stand by whilst she is insulted."

Mr Betez smiled. "Easy. Of course I did not think of a match for her in that way. I chose the man who I thought was best for her. She has a tendency to act without thinking; she needs someone she can love but who will also counteract her more outrageous moments."

"You need someone boring," Michael said dully.

"I would have said steadfast, but you can consider yourself boring if you wish."

"My father has recently told me that I am."

Laughing, Mr Betez shook his head. "Always admired your father for his straight-talking, but I never could persuade him to come and work for me. Loyal to a fault, and you have the same qualities as he does."

"In the spirit of straight-talking," Michael started. "You do realise that if I were to marry your niece, society would ridicule her for lowering herself."

"Do you care about that?"

"No," Michael answered quickly.

"I should hope not. It is irrelevant anyway. She now claims that she will never marry you even if you beg her."

Leaning back in his seat, Michael was the one to shake his head. "Then why are we having this conversation, sir?"

"Because she is even unhappier than she was when she had her accident, and I refuse to stand by when the pair of you need your heads banging together."

"But if she…"

"Have you no backbone, man? Do you love her?"

"Of course I do! The thought of her haunts me day and night until I think I am going mad!"

"Then it is up to you to do something to convince her that you are worth marrying after all. Just, for goodness sake, do not mention that we have had this conversation, or we will both be in the suds!"

"I have your blessing then?"

"Always did have."

"I cannot believe that you are giving it, but thank you, I appreciate your faith in me. I suppose I had better go and do something about convincing her that I am the one for her after all, although I expect that she will not make it easy."

"Do not return until you have been successful, or you will be demoted to a stable hand."

Michael did not know whether to laugh or run until he could run no more. Instead, he shook Mr Betez's hand and left the house feeling as if he had been hit with something hard, he felt so dazed. Her uncle had been planning this all along.

He supposed he had better go and try to make amends, although how he was going to convince her to reconsider, he had no idea.

***

Arabella had never felt so lost in her life. She had been all bravado in front of her uncle, but with Grace, she had let out her true feelings.

"I am done," she said one evening after they had spent at least an hour going over and over what had happened.

"With what?"

"With all this moping about. I refuse to set myself back again. He did not wish to marry me. Fine, it might hurt, but I can accept it."

"It was more complicated than that," Grace pointed out. "But I am glad that you are not going to go into a decline."

"I would be ashamed of myself if I did," Arabella said. "It is time to appreciate what progress I have made and look forward to what that extra freedom means."

"This sounds interesting." Grace placed her needlework in the basket at her feet. "What exciting adventures are you planning?"

Arabella smiled. "Nothing too exciting. I am still wary of meeting new people, but from tomorrow I am going to start visiting the tenants who need help, or even those who do not, just to say hello and to inform them that I will be running the estate from now on, and that they can approach me directly if they have concerns or problems."

"That is a very good thing."

"I also wish to invite the Bluestockings down for a visit. I know they will not all be able to attend at once, but they can visit whenever they wish. I have been very remiss and have not been the friend to them I should have been. They have been so good at writing regularly over the years, and I did not deserve their patience."

"If they receive an invitation from you, I can guarantee that whatever commitments they have will be postponed, and there will be a trail of carriages leading here."

Arabella laughed. "That would be wonderful. I have missed them all so much."

"And they have missed you, but they understood, mostly, about your need to hide. Julia was the one who struggled with it the most, but as you were always as fiery as she is, I am sure you can understand her frustrations."

"I am not fiery anymore," Arabella said ruefully.

"Oh, I do not know, the old Arabella makes an appearance every now and again. I am sure one day she will be back for good."

"I really hope so."

"Are we to go out tomorrow?"

"You would ride with me?" Arabella knew full well that Grace did not ride horses.

"Tsk, we could go in the curricle," Grace suggested.

The moment the words were out of Grace's mouth, Arabella was shaking her head. "No. I could not. Whenever I see that curricle in the stables, I think of that day. I remember seeing the wheels still turning as it lay on its side. It was the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness. Our curricle has not been used since."

"Then I must decline to accompany you, but I am sure you will do fine on your own."

Arabella had the sneaking suspicion that Grace was trying to push her into changing her mind, but she could not on this point. Just speaking about the vehicle was making her stomach turn ominously, and she was guaranteed to have nightmares about it when she went to bed.

"I am sure I will," she responded before standing. "You will have to excuse me. I am feeling a little overtired, so I think I will retire early."

"Are you feeling unwell? You are looking a little peaky."

"No, not at all. It is purely too much fresh air." She had been walking the parkland, trying to find some sort of peace inside her. It had not worked, but at least she was tired because of the exercise.

"In that case, I will see you in the morning."

"Good night."

When Arabella had left the room, Sullivan entered on the pretext of clearing the teacups away. "All is prepared for tomorrow," he said quietly in case Arabella should return to the room.

"Excellent," Grace responded. "Let us hope it is enough."

"I have faith it will be."

"I doubt any of us will sleep well tonight. It could go so very wrong, and there will be no second chances." Grace knew Arabella well enough to know she would not be easily fooled twice by them.

"I agree, it must work."