Part 14 (1/2)
Sebastian made the introductions. ”Arabella, my wife Devon. Devon, Miss Arabella Templeton. Her mother Catherine is Grace's younger sister.”
Devon's eyes widened. ”Arabella!” she exclaimed. She glanced at Sebastian. ”Is this the same Arabella who gave Justin his comeuppance some years ago?”
Arabella bit her lip and glanced at her aunt. This was probably the only one of the escapades from her younger days that her aunt didn't know about.
”A female who got the best of Justin.” Devon was almost squealing, her eyes sparkling. ”Oh, what I wouldn't give to have been there. Oh, but I think you and I will get on famously.”
Arabella couldn't help but smile in return. She liked Devon's warmth and openness immensely. But she had the distinct sensation Aunt Grace would have a few questions for her later*
For the time being, Grace transferred her attention to Devon. ”We've hardly seen you in London since the little ones were born,” Grace said.
”We've hardly been in London since they were born, which suits us just fine. We love it here in the country,” Devon said simply. ”It's here we want the twins to grow up.”
Arabella gasped. She couldn't help it. ”You carried twins?” she said in disbelief. Her gaze went up and down Devon's diminutive figure. ”My word, how -” She colored and broke off. ”Forgive me. I meant no offense.”
”And none taken,” Devon responded with a laugh. ”Believe me, I was big as a cow.”
”Not quite,” her husband said with a chuckle. He covered her hand with his. ”But no matter, you carried it off beautifully.” He was staring down at her as he spoke, and in his eyes glimmered an unmistakable light. Devon flashed him a dazzling smile in return.
Arabella winced. Another obscenely happy couple. What was it these days?
She was just about to clear her throat when Devon dragged her gaze from her husband's.
”I'll have Jane show you to your rooms,” said the marchioness. ”We'll dine at half-past eight. That should give all the guests a chance to rest. It's such a tiring journey from London, isn't it?”
Indeed, Aunt Grace was yawning. ”A nap sounds just the thing, don't you think, Arabella?”
Arabella didn't, but she didn't say so. Nor was she the least bit tired. But she didn't mind shutting herself away in her room till the dinner hour. The longer the time till she encountered the beast in his lair, the better. Perhaps, she decided cautiously, luck was with her after all, and Justin would not be joining his brother's house party.
She was totally unaware of Devon's thoughtful gaze following her up the grand staircase.
”Love, you're up to something,” Sebastian said sternly. ”I know that look.”
”Oh! I am not! I was only thinking that young Arabella seems a very spirited sort.”Sebastian c.o.c.ked a brow. ”Young Arabella,” he stressed, ”is probably not muchyounger than you, my love. But yes, she's definitely a woman of spirit.”
Devon smiled a smile that sent warning bells clanging through her husband.
Sebastian expelled a breath. ”Devon, what is on your mind?”
Her eyes opened wide. ”Sebastian! Don't look at me like that. I was just
thinking*”
”Yes?”
”*that Justin may have met his match.”
”Devon,” he said dryly, ”you don't understand. While I have always
regarded the prank Arabella pulled on our dear Justin as vastly entertaining - which is why I told you about it - Justin was never so amused. 'The vicar's child is the devil's child,' he always said. And if you saw his scowl when he -”
”But she is a child no longer, Sebastian. You made the observation yourself.” ”Nonetheless, believe me when I say that Arabella Templeton is the last woman on earth that Justin would -”
”Precisely why she may well be the right one.” Impish amber eyes twinkled up at him.”Look at the two of us.”Sebastian narrowed his gaze. ”Has the d.u.c.h.ess arrived yet?” he asked suddenly.He referred to the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Carrington. ”As a matter of fact, she has,” Devon confirmed.
”And the two of you have had your heads together, haven't you?”
”Why, whatever do you mean?”
”Meaning that I'm well aware she loves nothing more than to play matchmaker, and I do
believe you've decided to take on the very same role yourself.”
”Oh, come!” Devon protested. ”We've been wed for two years already and I've yet to do so for either your sister or your brother.”
”Well, we both know how Julianna feels about marriage. As for Justin and Arabella -”
He shook his head. ”Devon, he's always regarded her as a veritable h.e.l.lion.”
She raised her brows. ”Precisely the term I would use to describe your brother.”
”True, but -”
He broke off when his wife picked up her skirts and stepped around him.
Now he was the one who was scowling. ”Where the devil are you going?” he called after
her.
She swiveled to face him, her expression one of the utmost innocence, which only made him all the more suspicious. ”To see to the seating arrangements for dinner.”
”But you did that days ago!”
She blew him a kiss. ”I know,” she said sweetly.
Arabella tried to nap after all, but she couldn't sleep. She was too restless. And it felt as if a hundred b.u.t.terflies had taken up residence in her belly. An hour before dinner, her maid came in to help her dress. By then, Arabella was almost finished. All that remained was to pin up her hair, lace up her stays, and do up the myriad b.u.t.tons on the back of her gown.
Standing before the mirror in the room she'd been given, Arabella gazed unsmilingly at her reflection. She looked well enough, she supposed. Her gown was made of airy peach gauze, a color that softened the bra.s.siness of her hair. The cut was simple and flowing, trimmed by a row of iridescent beading around the neckline and high-waisted bodice. She chose it on purpose, for it was one of her favorites. She needed comfort. She needed courage. She needed whatever she could muster to rally her defenses against the enemy.
Exiting her room, she glanced to the right, then the left, an expression of consternation on her features.