She shook her head. “I suppose it has something to do with my fiancé running off to Gretna Green with another woman.”
Lord Eastwood frowned. “I can explain.”
“You can?” she asked. “Because I can’t quite understand why you would offer for me but choose to elope with Lady Georgiana instead.”
“It is complicated.”
“Thenuncomplicate it,” she remarked dryly.
Lord Eastwood gestured towards the settee. “Would you care to sit and speak about this rationally?”
“I suppose I can agree to that.” She walked over and lowered herself onto the settee. “I do find myself curious as to why you traveled all the way here.”
Lord Eastwood sat down and shifted to face her. “As I mentioned in my note, my father is adamant that you and I should wed.”
“Did he give a reason?”
“He wishes to unite our families through marriage.”
Arabella clasped her hands in her lap. “You must understand that I couldn’t possibly marry you now, given the circumstances.”
“I made a trivial mistake…”
She spoke over him. “A trivial mistake?” she repeated in disbelief. “Is that what you call it?”
“Lady Georgiana and I have always had a special bond, but I assure you that I will be more discreet moving forward,” Lord Eastwood remarked.
Her mouth dropped. “Am I to understand that you would continue to carry on with her once we were married?”
Lord Eastwood shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “It is not uncommon for a man of my station to have a mistress.”
“You are unbelievable,” she said with a shake of her head.
“If you would prefer, I would be willing to wait a few months before I pursue Lady Georgiana again,” he offered.
Arabella abruptly rose. “I think you should go.”
“But we haven’t decided anything yet.”
“I have made my decision,” she stated. “I will not now, not ever, marry you.”
Jumping to his feet, he replied, “But we must!”
“Why is that?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
He winced slightly. “If we don’t wed, then my father won’t give me my allowance,” he admitted. “I will be penniless.”
“I don’t believe that to be true.”
Lord Eastwood put a hand on her arm. “Furthermore, if you don’t marry me, then you will become a spinster.”
“That is not a certainty.”
He lifted his brow. “You have had two broken engagements,” he reminded her. “No sensible man will look at you twice.”
“I understand, but I do believe that being a spinster is a better alternative than marrying you.”
Lord Eastwood gave her a blank stare. “You don’t mean that.”
