Chapter 26

The moment they entered the house, Grace came rushing from the morning room. "Well? Oh, I do not need to ask! Congratulations!"

Arabella was pulled into an embrace so heartfelt that it brought tears to her eyes. "I take it you are happy for me?" she croaked, her voice choked.

"Of course I am!" Grace laughed, cupping Arabella's face in her hands and kissing her. "The last of my girls has found her true love. I could not be happier."

"You always were a romantic." Arabella smiled at her friend, who had supported her in so many ways over the years.

"I will not be such a pushover if you do not look after her," Grace warned Michael.

He glanced at Arabella. "I can see why you bluestockings are so formidable, you were following your leader's example. I give you my solemn vow that I will take care of her now and always."

"Good."

"I object to being spoken about as if I am a helpless waif and stray."

"There is nothing wrong with having someone near who has your best interests at heart," Grace said.

There was a noise from the kitchen, and Mrs Johnson came bustling through, followed by Sullivan. Arabella was astounded. Mrs Johnson had never left the kitchen to come above stairs in years.

"Are we to wish you happy?" Mrs Johnson said. "Sullivan said we should wait, but I said to him, if he wanted to miss the moment the mistress has secured herself a good man, he could kick his heels on his own."

Arabella laughed and nodded. "Yes, we are to marry." Once more, she was embraced, and then Michael was gripped too.

"Oh, lovely, lovely news!"

Sullivan did not go as far as embracing her; he patted her shoulder awkwardly and shook Michael's hand. "I wish you both all the very best. I could not be happier."

"One day, he might even crack a smile," Mrs Johnson said with an arch look at her fellow servant. "He is over the moon, I promise you."

"I know." Arabella smiled at Sullivan, whose cheeks became a little pinker at her fond look. "Let us convene in the kitchen, and then we can all celebrate together."

"That is very kind of you, but we are more than happy to serve the three of you in the drawing room," Sullivan said.

"No, you two have supported me more than any servants should have done over these last years," Arabella said. "I clung to you both in my darkest days, and I want you there for my happiest ones too."

Mrs Johnson wiped her eyes. "You always were a sweet girl. Mr Sullivan, lead the way. We have a wedding to plan!"

Arabella and Michael took up the rear of the group moving into the kitchen. Michael leaned towards Arabella and whispered. "Mrs Johnson has obviously never heard how you curse if she is under the illusion that you are a sweet girl."

Arabella came to a stop. "I was a spoiled, vain child who was lonely, but because I had my fortune, I thought I was better than everyone else. Even with joining the Bluestockings, I considered myself the most beautiful of them, the one most likely to wed when the others had embraced spinsterhood. I was a beast, and I am ashamed of being that way."

"You were not that different from anyone else. Most of us are foolish in our youth."

"It lasted long after my salad days. Do not forget that I was six and twenty when I chased Philip to London," Arabella said. "I was a beastly personality who became a physical beast."

"Now you are being ridiculous!"

"No, let me explain. What happened stripped me of all that I thought I was. It took everything away, and I had to try and work a way out of the blackness. I could have remained bitter for the rest of my days, but when you came in that first day, a smile on your face, it was as if something shifted in my insides. There was a chink of light that had not been there before."

"Oh Arabella, you poor girl, I wish I had been sent here years ago."

"It would not have worked then. I needed to start again, to be shown that I was not a nice person and a fool to think that I was above others. I know now that I can look at those around me and see their goodness for what it is, not that it is a threat to me, which is what it always felt like. It is thanks to you that the change was able to be completed fully. Thank you."

"As you said before, you are a strong woman and you would have got through the darkness eventually, but if I have helped even in the slightest way, then I am honoured."

"I do not want to hide anymore."

"You do know that with me by your side, you will not receive a full welcome in society."

"I do not care about society. I will probably never go back to that nonsense; it did me no good last time, and I will not risk it spoiling what I have now. I was thinking more of our friendships. I have not seen my friends since just after the accident when I threw them out of the house."

Michael laughed. "Good grief, I am afraid of what you will do to me if I should go against your wishes or upset you in any way."

Arabella stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the lips. "The moment you start to kiss me, I will forgive everything."

"That is good to know."

"I do love you so very much."

"That is also good to know."

"I was frightened that I was feeling such deep emotions towards you."

"Never be afraid to give and been given love," Michael said gently.

"With you by my side, I know that fear will be a thing of the past."

"You are far braver than you think, but there is no need to be alone anymore. Now that we have found each other, nothing is going to change that."

"I have truly never been happier."

"Noe I."

"When we are married, can we hold a house party? Perhaps at Christmas? I want to get everyone together, husbands, children, everyone. This house has not had a large gathering in too long."

"You can do whatever makes you happy."

"Excellent. A house party it is then."

"Come on, you two," Grace called from the servants' staircase. "Mrs Johnson is trying to decide how many guests will be at your wedding. So far, I think she has included everyone in the locality."

Arabella groaned. "Should we make a dash to the border?"

"And take away Mrs Johnson's fun? Never!"

"I am supposed to be the one you indulge, not Mrs Johnson!" Arabella was pulling Michael towards the staircase as she spoke.

"Only if your cakes are as good as hers are; otherwise, I am sorry, but she comes first."

"You beast!"

She was pulled into an embrace, his lips crashing down on hers in a possessive yet worshipful way. She caught his hair and returned the kiss with equal passion, not caring that her skin was scarred and her arm and leg did not work properly.

She was loved for who she was, and that was all that mattered.

The End