Her grandmother spoke up. “I would prefer it if we secured the tree today. It would be one less thing for me to worry about.”
Knowing she was outnumbered and outplayed, Arabella directed her comments towards Colin. “If that is the case, I shall see you this afternoon.”
Colin tipped his head in acknowledgement. “I will be looking forward to it.”
Arabella forced a smile to her lips. “As will I.”
* * *
After Colin had departedfrom the drawing room, Arabella turned towards her grandmother with an exasperated look and asked, “How could you invite that audacious man into your home?”
“What would you have me do?” her grandmother asked. “It wasn’t as if I could turn him away.”
“That is precisely what you should have done.”
Her grandmother waved her hand dismissively in front of her. “I wouldn’t dream of doing that to him, especially since I have known him since he was born.”
“Do you not remember what Lord Barrett did to me?” Arabella asked.
“I do, but—”
Arabella spoke over her. “He broke our engagement and tried to ruin me.”
“He did no such thing,” her grandmother asserted. “He left because he felt it was his duty to serve in the Royal Army.”
“Then why did he offer for me in the first place?”
“I cannot say, but I suspect it was because he had feelings for you.”
Arabella huffed. “I thought he did, but I don’t believe he could have treated me so despicably if he had.”
Her grandmother laid a hand on her sleeve. “You don’t know his heart, my dear.”
“That may be true, but I know mine,” Arabella said. “I was utterly devastated when he abandoned me, especially since I would have waited for him.”
“I know, but it is time for you to forgive Colin.”
Arabella reared back, surprised by her grandmother’s outlandish request. “That is not something I am willing to do.”
“You must.”
“Why?”
Her grandmother’s face softened. “You can’t hate him forever.”
“I can try,” Arabella said. “You seem to forget that I am ruined now and am destined to become a spinster.”
“There are worse things.”
“Such as?”
“You could have married Lord Eastwood and been miserable for the rest of your days.”
“At least I would have had the protection of his name.”
Her grandmother dropped her hand to her side. “You don’t mean that.”
Arabella frowned. “You are right,” she admitted, “but I have no prospects now, and my future only looks bleak.”
