Curious, he asked, “How did you come to help him find work in the stables?”
“He told me that he was looking for work, but no one was willing to hire him.”
“Why do you suppose that was?”
“I assumed it was because of his age.”
“But you aren’t sure?”
Arabella frowned. “Why do I feel as if you are interrogating me?”
“I am doing no such thing,” he replied. “I am just trying to make sense of how you know Peter.”
Shifting on the bench, she turned to face him. “My grandmother and I went shopping in the village and Peter darted out in front of our coach,” she explained. “Our driver started yelling at him and I stepped in to help console him.”
“That was kind of you.”
“It was the least I could do,” she said. “After we spoke for a few moments, I gave him some money to go purchase some bread for me.”
“Was it truly for you?”
“No, it was always for Peter,” she remarked. “Once he returned with the bread, I claimed I wasn’t hungry and offered it to him.”
“How did you know he wouldn’t take your money and run?”
“It was a chance I was willing to take, but I had a good feeling about him.”
Colin nodded in approval. “You have a good heart, Bella.”
“You would have done the same thing.”
“I am not sure if that is true,” Colin said. “You are much more observant when it comes to lending aid to others. It has always been that way.”
A black coach became visible in the distance and their carriage moved to the side of the road so it could pass. As it did so, Arabella gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Colin asked.
Arabella turned to watch the coach continue down the road. “That is Lord Eastwood’s coach.”
“How can you be sure?”
“It had his crest.” She turned back around with a sigh. “Why in the blazes is he here?”
Colin chuckled. “Language, dear.”
“I do apologize, but I informed him in a letter that I had no intention of marrying him.”
“Then why is he here?”
“I know not, but I should probably go find out,” she said. “Would it be possible to go ice skating another time?”
“Of course,” Colin replied, instructing the driver to turn the carriage around.
“I do apologize for this.”
“You have no reason to apologize,” he said. “You had no way of knowing that Lord Eastwood would come to call.”
“I must admit that I was looking forward to going ice skating with you.”
