Page 53 of Lady Arabella’s Reluctant Hero

Arabella nodded. "I see."

A long silence stretched.

Perhaps it was because Thea didn't ask, but Arabella suddenly found herself saying it aloud, "I'm married."

Thea did not so much as blink. She merely sat there, listening with no judgment.

Arabella liked this about Thea. The more she spent time with her, the more she liked the fact that unlike every other young lady of her acquaintance—Thea did not judge.

She calculated and she reasoned, but she did not judge.

And because of this, Arabella found herself telling Thea the whole tale. All about how she'd been duped into marriage at sixteen and had been paying for it ever since. When she was done, Arabella felt oddly light.

"I see," Thea murmured. Then she pushed her spectacles up her nose and nodded as if she'd finally solved some difficult equation. "So that is why you're ignoring Lord Alderton's feelings for you."

"I…what?" Arabella shook her head. "No, he does not— That is, we are not⁠—"

"I understand." Thea nodded again. "And it makes sense, of course. Not only are you incapable of contemplating marriage at the moment, but you also must find it difficult to believe Lord Alderton's intentions are sincere."

"I—what?" Arabella wished she could come up with a more sensible response. But really. Thea was talking nonsense. "I do not⁠—"

"Of course you find it difficult to trust men after your horrid experience." Under her breath, Thea added, "The duchess and I must ensure he pays for that."

Then she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the writing desk. "But rest assured, Lady Arabella. We will make certain that you are able to marry Lord Alderton. And soon. Mark my words."

Arabella's lips parted, but nothing came out. There were too many protests forming that Arabella didn't know where to begin. "I didn't— I wasn't— I am not marrying Lord Alderton."

"Well, not now, no," Thea agreed. "But after we ensure you are legally able⁠—"

"No, not now and not ever." Arabella's chest rose and fell a little too quickly. She wasn't certain what this mix of emotions was, but it took her several deep breaths before she could speak calmly. "Please. Miss Evermore⁠—"

"I thought you called me Thea now," Thea interrupted.

"Thea, then. I don't know why you've gotten it into your head that Lord Alderton and I—" She cut herself off and tried again. "You know as well as anyone that Lord Alderton and I were merely feigning a courtship because⁠—"

"Oh, yes. I know that." Thea waved a dismissive hand. "But that does not change the fact that you two complement one another. I do not claim to have much understanding of romantic relationships, but even I can see that you two belong together."

She ended this short statement with another sniff and a nudge of her spectacles. As if the matter was decided.

Arabella found herself gaping at the other woman. "Of course I am not— We are not—" She took a deep breath and tried again. "No one believes that I would be a good match for John."

She clamped her mouth shut and pretended she hadn't called him John. Really. Her nerves were rattled, that was all. It meant nothing.

Arabella waited for Thea to agree with her. To nod in that solemn way of hers and admit that she'd misspoken.

Instead, Thea's brows drew together in confusion. "Why do you think that?"

"I—why?" Arabella was inwardly horrified by this entire conversation. Not the least of all because she seemed incapable of forming whole sentences.

"Because I am not— I am not what he needs." The words came out sharper than she'd intended. It was possible she sounded…angry. Which was, rather, in keeping with her point. She lifted her chin and forced herself to continue. "I am not…I am not Eleanor. I am not gentle or kind or maternal."

"No," Thea agreed. "You are most definitely not."

"I am not even very nice. As I'm sure you know." Arabella looked out the window, not entirely sure why she was arguing for her faults, but unable to stop. "I'm certain you recall how badly I treated Clarissa."

"I am not arguing with you, Lady Arabella. Truly, the way you treated Clarissa proved everything you've just said." Thea agreed with no hesitation. "You really were rather horrendous."

Arabella turned to face her. "Thank you for that."