Sterling Family - A Perfect Groom Part 28

She stopped. What the devil was she doing? Mama and Papa would not want to hear about the weather in Bath.

Taking a breath, she tore the sheet in half and began anew. It proved more difficult than she imagined, for somehow the right words simply would not come. The process was repeated three more times until she was satisfied with what she'd written. Putting aside the quill, she read her efforts.

Dear Mama and Papa, I trust the two of you are well. I know the news of my marriage must have come as quite a shock, being so sudden, as it were. You may have heard tales of my husband, but I know what others do not. Justin is a good man - the best of men, the perfect husband for me. And so I pray you, do not worry. I a.s.sure you, I am the happiest of brides. I look forward to the day when we are all together again and you may see for yourself.

Your loving daughter, Arabella Twice more she reread the letter.

She halted. All at once the words began to waver. She struggled to bring them into focus, but it was no use. She saw them through a watery mist. A terrible ache filled her chest, even as her eyes filled and overflowed. She bent her head, trying to will the tears away. But alas, she blinked. A single teardrop skidded down her cheek and splashed onto the vellum, smearing the ink. She gave a stricken sound, for now the letter was hopelessly ruined*

That was how Justin found her.

He stared, for an instant unable to believe what he was seeing. Her head was bowed low, her shoulders were shaking, and the tiny little sound she made wrenched at his heart.

He approached. She had yet to be aware of his presence, and so he spoke. "Arabella?" he said tentatively.

Her head jerked up. "Justin!" she cried. "I didn't hear you come in!"

He'd startled her, he realized. It took an effort to steady his voice. He'd hurried home, anxious to see her, impatient with even this brief absence. All he wanted was to take her in his arms and kiss her lips. The last thing he'd expected was this.

"What's wrong, Arabella?"

She began to babble. "Why, nothing. Nothing at all. You'll have to forgive me, I fear. I didn't mean to intrude. I was just das.h.i.+ng off a note to*to Mama and Papa."

Justin eyed the pile of torn stationery, then the single sheet that still sat in the center of the desk. Whatever

possessed him, he couldn't say. Reaching out, he picked it up.

"Justin!" she cried. "That letter is private!"

Justin made no answer. Quickly he scanned it. A teardrop stained the ink, a teardrop in the shape of a

heart. Seeing it, he felt his own heart grow cold.

Slowly he s.h.i.+fted his eyes back to Arabella's face. With his thumb he blotted the dampness from her cheek and held it up.

His gaze never left hers. "Blind I am not," he said, his tone very low. "And while

the business of being a husband is new to me, I am quite sure this is not a sign of the happiest of

brides."

She s.n.a.t.c.hed the letter from his grasp and clamped it to her breast. When she would have stepped around him, he caught her arm.

Coolly she faced him, her lips pressed together.

Bemused, confused, and frustrated, he stared at her. "What, have you nothing to say?"

"What would you like me to say?"

"I would like for you to tell me what the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l is wrong!"

"There is no need for such language, Justin."

"The h.e.l.l there isn't!" he exploded. "Why can't you tell me

what's wrong?"

Her gaze flitted away. Her lips trembled. For one awful moment, he was certain she would burst into tears. She bowed her head low, and an empty silence yawned between them.

"It's nothing," she said in a rush, her tone very low.

"Nothing," he repeated. "I return home to find my wife in tears, and you say

it's nothing? G.o.d's blood, I thought something terrible had happened! I

thought*Christ. I don't know what I thought!"

Still she looked away, everywhere but at him. "Please release me, Justin. I should like a bit of privacy to recover myself, if you don't mind."

Her dismissal cut him to the quick. But Justin knew what was wrong. Clearly she was unhappy. Clearly she regretted their marriage. The letter to her parents proclaimed her happiness*yet her behavior told the tale only too well.

His mouth tight, he released her. "Very well, then."

She whirled, clearly anxious to be quit of him.

His voice stopped her just before she reached the door. "We'll leave for the Farthingales' at half-past seven."

He saw the way her back stiffened before she turned back to him. "I prefer to stay at home tonight," she stated with implicit politeness.

Justin was already shaking his head. "I'm afraid that's not an option, my love. You see, I chanced to see Lord Farthingale and several of his friends while I was out. I mentioned we would be in attendance tonight. If we are not, that will surely set tongues to wagging. And I understood you to say that's the very thing you wish to avoid, is it not?"

Clearly she did not appreciate his reminder. She glared her displeasure. "As you wish, then."

Shortly before eight o'clock, their carriage rolled to a halt before the Farthingale mansion. Arabella was staring dully out the window in the opposite direction.

"We've arrived," Justin stated flatly.

A footman opened the door and a.s.sisted her out.

Not a word had pa.s.sed between them in the carriage. The tension was stifling. Justin was cool and distant; he'd said barely a word since the incident in the study.

In all her days, she didn't know when she'd been so miserable. Pride alone stayed her tears, sheer willpower her trepidation.

They had no sooner set foot inside the ballroom than they were immediately surrounded. There were congratulations and well-wishes - but off to the right, someone smirked.

"Aren't you the lucky gent, to succeed with The Unattainable where the others failed, eh, Sterling?"

Oh, and to think she'd been convinced she would never be called The Unattainable again!

Beside her, Justin gave an easy laugh. He made a great show of curling her hand possessively into his elbow and covering it with his. "Ah, but my wife is no ordinary woman. I knew I must get her to the altar as fast as I could - and so I did."

"Why, whatever do you mean, McElroy?" cried a female voice. "There are many of us who wonder how she managed to capture the handsomest man in all England!"

There was an answering snicker from a beauteous blonde dressed in green. "Perhaps the better question is how she will manage to keep him!"

An elegant turbaned head turned in the direction of both women. There came the distinct thump of a cane. "A pity that has escaped your own marriage," proclaimed a familiar voice. "Why, I've heard it said *tis a marvel you and your beloved still manage to recall each other's names. Furthermore, had you been given the privilege of witnessing their first kiss as husband and wife - as I was - I daresay not a soul here would presume to question their devotion to each other."

Arabella blinked. A part of her wanted to applaud the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Carrington. Another part of her wanted to march over to the beauteous little blonde and b.l.o.o.d.y her pretty little nose - hardly a ladylike reaction.

Her gaze slid to Justin's features, only to discover one dark brow hiked in wicked amus.e.m.e.nt. He gave a little salute to the d.u.c.h.ess, then lowered his mouth to her ear. His lips brushed the curve of her cheek as he spoke for her benefit alone. "I would suggest another demonstration is in order, but that was well said, was it not? Besides, who better to have as our staunchest defender than the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Carrington, eh, my love? Now, what say we greet our host and hostess?"

Arabella bit her lip as they walked away. "She's outrageous."

"And revels in it, too," he agreed. "If ever there's a woman to have as your champion, it's the d.u.c.h.ess." He laughed softly. "She wields her cane like a weapon. It's a sight unlike any other. I give you fair warning, Arabella, should you see it come up, leap back and stand clear."

"Her cane?" Arabella queried. "I rather thought it was her tongue she wielded like a weapon."

"That, too, and between them, you understand why few dare challenge such a formidable opponent."

"Well, I like her," Arabella announced.

"Yes, I do believe you two are rather alike," Justin observed.

Justin remained at her side throughout most of the evening. To all appearances, he no doubt presented a thoroughly attentive husband, for he retained a possessive hand at her elbow, bending his head close whenever she spoke, as if he hung upon her every word.

But neither had forgotten the argument that preceded their arrival. She sensed it with everything she possessed, and it made her ache inside. She longed for the closeness that had marked their week in Bath. To make matters worse, for the life of her, she couldn't explain her behavior, not even to herself! She had no idea what had made her cry, only that something had.

She managed to maintain her composure, however. The muscles of her face began to ache from smiling, but above all, she had no intention of causing further gossip.

Lord Farthingale approached. "May I steal your husband away for a moment? I'm sharing a bottle of my best brandy with several of the gentlemen and I should like to offer a toast to the happy groom."

Ah, if he only knew, Arabella thought half-hysterically. Lightly she said, "Who am I to keep you gentlemen from such an occasion?"

Farthingale grinned. "I shan't keep him away long, I promise."

Arabella chatted with several acquaintances, then moved to stand near a marble column at the far side of the ballroom. It was then she spotted Georgiana, who gave a wave and joined her.

"Arabella! How are you?" Georgiana laughed. "Oh, I confess it seems so odd to

think of you as a married lady now!"

Arabella wanted to scream, certain she could not endure one more comment about her new marital state.

But she gave herself a mental kick. Georgiana was the one person who would know something was amiss if she was not careful.

"I may be married," she said lightly, "but I hardly consider myself a matron."

Georgiana frowned. "I say, are you feeling quite the thing?"

"Splendid," Arabella lied cheerfully, "though it has been a very full day. We only arrived back from Bath at noonday, you know."

They chatted for some time, and made plans to go shopping next week. It had been quite a while and

Justin still hadn't returned. Arabella scanned the ballroom.

Georgiana saw and laughed. "Such an anxious bride," Georgiana teased. "There he is."

Arabella frowned. "Where?"

"Coming this way*Oh, but now I see Lady Dunsbrook has stopped him."

Arabella's heart seemed to trip. "Agatha Dunsbrook?"

"Yes. I didn't know the two of you were acquainted."