“I do trust you, but I fear that I am a lost cause.”
“No one is a lost cause,” her grandmother asserted.
A tray was delivered, and her grandmother poured and extended a cup of tea.
“Thank you,” Arabella said, accepting the offering.
Her grandmother took a long sip of her own tea before asking, “How is your father doing?”
Arabella huffed. “My father seems quite taken by his new wife, but I find Augusta to be rather vexing.”
“How so?”
“Augusta and I were never on friendly terms, but our animosity towards one another has only continued to grow since she has become my stepmother,” Arabella shared. “She was able to convince my father that I would be more comfortable in another area of the townhouse.”
“Are you?”
Arabella shook her head. “No, I find the room to be rather drafty.”
“Then why didn’t you stand up for yourself?”
“It isn’t that easy,” Arabella argued. “My father has fallen under Augusta’s spell and agrees with everything she says.”
“That must be frustrating.”
“It is, especially since my mother has only been dead for six months now,” Arabella said. “How could he have moved on so quickly?”
Her grandmother took a sip of her tea. “It was rather sudden, but I’m afraid it is commonplace for gentlemen to remarry quickly.”
“I can’t help but wonder if he only married Augusta to sire a son.”
“Your father does need an heir.”
Arabella glanced down at her teacup. “I have no doubt that my father is disappointed that I wasn’t born a boy.”
“Your father loves you.”
Arabella sniffed. “I am not entirely sure that is true,” she responded. “He sent me away so he could celebrate Christmas with Augusta.”
“That was my doing,” her grandmother stated. “I asked your father if you could come and keep me company for Christmas.”
“You could have always joined us in Town.”
“I’m afraid my withered bones detest long carriage rides.”
“You are not that old, Grandmother.”
“I wish that were the case, but I can tweak my back just by leaning over wrong.”
Arabella gave her an amused smile. “Regardless, you would have traveled to Town to come to my wedding.”
“I would have, but I correctly assumed that Lord Eastwood would break the engagement.”
“How could you have known that?”
With a knowing look, her grandmother asked, “Did you ever post the banns?”
“No, we did not,” Arabella replied. “Herbert kept prolonging the engagement.”
