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Maeve’s walking dress was a fine muslin the color of amber and was very fetching on her. As they walked to the beach, Arabella admired it. How much easier it would be if she had been smitten with Maeve upon seeing her at the Martins’ card party!
But she had made her decision to follow her heart, as complicated as it was proving to be.
“Thank you for agreeing on such short notice to go walking together,” Arabella said. “I am looking forward to getting to know you better.”
Maeve laughed. “Are you? I thought you were more inclined to stay close to your old friendships. One in particular, if I may be so bold.”
Arabella was glad that she was short enough to duck her head and hide her blushes under the cover of her bonnet. “It is bold indeed,” she said, her voice hardly above a whisper.
“Then why are you squeaking like a little mouse? I promise, Arabella, your confidences are safe with me.”
The beach was long and there was plenty of room to walk, but it wasn’t private. There were a few dozen people strolling on the sand, a dozen more eating pies and nuts near the vendors’ stalls. A swarm of children shrieked their way up to their knees in the water. Arabella guided Maeve away from the crowd, along a shady cove and past a group of boulders, to a spot of sand where she and Caroline had enjoyed many quiet conversations together.
“We can unroll our stockings here without any concern of the gentlemen seeing us,” Arabella said, and slid off her shoes and stockings. “No one ever comes here.”
“I certainly don’t wish the gentlemen about,” Maeve said cheerfully.
They stood together as the waves lapped at their ankles. Arabella wiggled her toes in the sand and tried to find the courage to say the words that she felt in her heart. They were so loud inside of her that she felt sure Maeve could hear them anyway.
“I fancy Caroline,” Arabella blurted out.
It was only three words, but the enormity of them dizzied her.
Maeve grinned. “I rather thought you did. I love being right. Does she fancy you back?”
“I’m not sure.” She thought about their last kiss. “Perhaps. At least a little.”
“Are you going to do something about it?”
“I’m trying to.”
Arabella explained her suitress plan, which had Maeve doubled over in peals of laughter. Her delight made it easier for Arabella to speak. There was no censure here, just easy acceptance and support.
Arabella hadn’t realized how lovely it would feel to confide in a friend. She had never thought anyone would listen to such ideas without turning their back on her, and it meant more than she could say to know that Maeve was as trustworthy as she had claimed to be.
“I swear, Inverley is the most diverting place I could imagine,” Maeve said, wiping tears from her eyes. “This is wonderful. Well done, Arabella. So what is your next step?”
Arabella kicked her foot into the froth of an oncoming wave, splashing water onto her skirt. “Next step?”
“Well, you’ve established that you wanted more kisses, and you’ve received more kisses. What are you going to do now?”
Arabella slowly exhaled. “I hadn’t thought about it.” Her dreams had revolved around indulging in the moment. Thoughts of the future and where kissing might lead to were frankly rather terrifying.
“Have you talked to her about how you feel, or about what you want?”
“No! I couldn’t.”
“Maybe you should try it. You need to look out for your own heart, after all. Make sure she values you as much as you value her. If you want more than kisses, then you should be open with her.”
“But what if I lose her?” The idea was devastating.
“What kind of relationship do you want? One where you give everything and follow her lead? Or do you want something truly equal, where you are both partners?”
A relationship. Partners. That sounded like heaven.
“I don’t know. I sought to win her affections—but didn’t think through what it would mean apart from the physical side of things.”
“You are more than a suitress. You’re her best friend. Hopefully the two of you will work this out and become lovers. But if you say nothing, how will you ever get there?”
