Jen Turano - [Ladies of Distinction 02]

by A Most Peculiar Circumstance

  Theodore moved then, not coming to a stop until he stood between Harold and Arabella. “That’s enough, Harold. Arabella has done nothing to provoke your anger. Katherine admitted she is the one who convinced them to let her go along tonight. Although I certainly don’t condone their actions, they believed they were doing something honorable.”

  Harold looked at him for a long moment and then took a sideways step before shaking a finger at Arabella. “This is all your fault, no matter what anyone else says. You’ve caused an unfixable rift in my marriage, not that you would understand that as a spinster.” He let out a mean laugh. “You’ll always be a spinster, what with your radical ideas and masculine behavior.”

  Theodore’s blood began to boil. “You’ve gone too far, Harold. Apologize to Miss Beckett.”

  Harold threw him an incredulous look. “I will not apologize, Theodore. Besides, you know everything I’ve said so far is true. Need I remind you that on our way over here, you mentioned to me you thought Miss Beckett was a menace to men everywhere?”

  A soft hiccup of distress drew his attention, and he forced himself to turn from Harold and look at Arabella. Her eyes shone with unshed tears, and he felt a stab of remorse. He’d only spoken those careless words out of anger, but . . . no, that wasn’t actually true. He’d meant the words at the time, meant them because finding out Arabella had been taken to jail along with his sister had infuriated him. Gently bred young ladies were not supposed to be hauled off to jail.

  It just wasn’t done.

  He simply didn’t know how to deal with a lady like Arabella. She was infuriating, but . . . she also intrigued him.

  He blinked and allowed that thought to settle in his mind.

  Arabella Beckett intrigued him.

  There, that was the reason why she constantly plagued his thoughts. But what was he supposed to do now?

  “I do hate to interrupt this lovely conversation everyone is having, but the night is slipping away from us,” Eliza said. She walked away from the window and strode briskly across the room. Her expression softened when she reached Arabella’s side and took her arm. “You, darling, will ride with me.” She sent Theodore a look, which he didn’t really understand until he remembered that before he’d gotten lost in his little epiphany, Arabella had learned he’d called her a menace. “You are not invited to follow us home, Mr. Wilder. Arabella has been through enough this evening and certainly doesn’t need to suffer your company any longer tonight.”

  He needed to make amends now, before it was too late and before Arabella had time to stew about it. “I should not have called you a menace. I’m afraid I allowed my temper to get the best of me, and I spoke out of anger.”

  Arabella’s eyes turned a little misty. “That’s when the truth comes out the loudest.” She drew in a breath and lifted her chin. “I do want to extend you my gratitude for coming to get us, but your obligation toward me is at an end.” She turned to Eliza. “Ready?”

  “My carriage is waiting out front.”

  “That’s it?” Harold sputtered, causing everyone to look at him. His face was red and splotchy again, and his eyes were wide and slightly crazed. “Everyone’s just going to blithely take their leave with no apologies spoken?”

  Katherine was the first to respond. “You want us to apologize?”

  “Indeed I do,” Harold said. “We were forced out into this blustery night in order to fetch you. An apology is the least you can offer us for that inconvenience.”

  Katherine tilted her head, the action causing her wig to float to the floor. She ignored it as she considered Harold for a long moment. “I will apologize for inconveniencing you, Harold, but I’m not apologizing for ending up in jail. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be you and Theodore. You’ve treated Arabella horribly tonight, and she did absolutely nothing to earn your disdain.”

  Arabella cleared her throat. “There’s no need for them to apologize to me.”

  “There’s every need,” Samuel said, speaking up for the first time as he stepped around Harold and stopped in front of Arabella. “You, my dear, have shown a tremendous amount of poise. I must extend to you my deepest regret regarding remarks I made to Theodore and Harold earlier this evening, even though you weren’t present to hear those remarks. I was mistakenly under the belief you were the reason my wife has not been herself lately. I see now I was completely off the mark. It is quite clear you are a charming young lady who is not responsible for the recent behavior of my wife or my daughter. I hope you will forgive me. I should know better than to form an opinion based on gossip.”

  “You’ve heard gossip about me?” Arabella asked.

  Samuel sent her a small smile. “Men do talk, and you are often a subject of contemplation.” He sighed. “I’m afraid to tell you that I fear gentlemen everywhere blame you for the mischief their wives get into. I think it’s easier to blame you than to admit that perhaps we as husbands have not been treating our wives very well.”

  “I’m sure you treat your wife just fine,” Arabella said.

  “That’s very gracious of you to say, my dear, but I have to admit that I do think I’ve been a bit neglectful of late, with both my wife and my daughter.” Samuel turned from Arabella and nodded to Katherine. “It’s very late, and I’m sure you want to get out of here. May I offer you a ride home?”

  Harold took a step forward. “If you will recall, Samuel, I brought my carriage. Katherine will ride home with me. We have much left to discuss.”

  Katherine plucked up her wig, plopped it on her head, and moved to Samuel’s side. She sent Harold a look of deepest disdain. “I have nothing to say to you at the moment. I’m riding home with my father, and not to our house, but to his.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Harold snapped. “You’re my wife, and you’re coming home with me.”

  “While it’s true I’m your wife, you’ve forgotten what that means.” Katherine accepted Samuel’s arm, and they strode from the room together.

  Harold stood there, apparently at a complete loss as to what to do next, but then he let out a grunt and bolted for the door.

  “My goodness, I’ve never seen Mr. Gibson in such a state,” Lottie said as she breezed into the room, Hannah and Sarah following a step behind. “We didn’t dare come in before for fear we’d make matters worse.”

  Violet, who’d somehow managed to stay out of sight, hurried over to hug her friend. “I must say, this has been a very interesting evening.”

  “I can certainly agree with that,” Eliza said. She took Arabella’s hand in hers. “I am ready to go home.”

  Theodore summoned up what he hoped was a charming smile and moved to stand in front of them. Unfortunately, Arabella turned her head, and Eliza narrowed her eyes.

  He blew out a breath. “I realize you’re more than annoyed with me, Eliza, and for good reason, but I’m going to throw myself on your mercy and hope you’ll extend me the tiniest little favor.”

  “You want me to extend you a favor?”

  “I have to discuss a matter of grave importance with Arabella, and I cannot wait to discuss it until morning. I need you to take these ladies to my house, where I’ve offered them refuge for the night. I’ll take Arabella home, which will allow us an opportunity to speak.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” Arabella said.

  Her snippy response set his teeth to grinding. “Again, I have a matter of grave importance to discuss with you.”

  “You can send me a note.”

  “I’m not going to pen you a note. What I have to discuss with you is extremely important, and I certainly couldn’t do it justice in a note.”

  Arabella lifted her chin, and even though he was taller than she was, she somehow managed to appear as if she were looking down her nose at him.

  Temper began to simmer through him, which had him inching toward her. Her eyes turned wary and she opened her mouth, but he wasn’t in the mood to argue with her anymore. He crouched down, grabbed her ar
ound her middle, hefted her into the air, flung her over his shoulder, and ignored the fists that immediately began pounding against his back. He sent Eliza and Agatha a nod—both ladies staring at him as if he’d grown an extra head—and then he strode out of the room.

  14

  You really have lost your mind,” Arabella said as she landed on the carriage seat and heard a loud rip. She leaned forward and snatched up the piece of hem that was stuck on the door, wincing when she noticed the damage. “You’ve ruined my dress, and Mrs. Davis is not going to appreciate that in the least.”

  Theodore climbed into the carriage, pulled the door shut, and sat down across from her. “You left me no other option, and I’m sure Mrs. Davis, whoever that may be, will be consoled when you tell her I’m more than willing to compensate her for her loss.” He rapped on the ceiling with his knuckles, and the carriage lurched forward.

  Arabella grabbed onto the hanging strap, steadied herself, and then sent him what she could only hope was a chilly glare. “I told you I didn’t have anything to say to you.”

  “I heard you. Everyone on the entire street heard you. You were quite vocal.”

  “I don’t appreciate being manhandled.”

  “Quite frankly, Arabella, I don’t think you appreciate anything that concerns men.”

  Normally, words like that didn’t bother her, but tonight, after all the insults and truths she’d had to accept about her character, his words stung. Arabella turned her head toward the window, not even bothering to brush away the tears that began running down her cheeks.

  “Are you crying again?”

  “Can that honestly surprise you, given the circumstances of the night?”

  “I’m a little surprised.”

  She forced her attention from the frosty window. “You didn’t think I was capable of tears?”

  “You don’t really seem the type.”

  Arabella permitted herself the luxury of a good snort. “Let me guess. Because I support women’s rights, I’m not supposed to cry?”

  “It seems a little odd, especially since you obviously long to be treated exactly like a gentleman. I’ve rarely witnessed a gentleman dissolving into tears.”

  She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d suffer an unfortunate fate if she suddenly jumped out of the carriage.

  She eyed the door for a long moment, decided plunging to certain death was really not that appealing, and so released another snort instead. “I read romance novels.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Was that a question, or are you sorry to discover I enjoy romance novels?”

  “It was a question. I never considered the idea you might enjoy cozying up to indulge in a spot of light reading.”

  “Am I really that unfeminine?”

  Theodore frowned. “I would never make the claim that you lack femininity.”

  “You said I didn’t appreciate anything that concerns men.”

  “What does that have to do with you being feminine?”

  Arabella rolled her eyes. “It has everything to do with being feminine. Feminine women are expected to adore all things concerning men. I’ve never once proclaimed to have an aversion to men, but it certainly appears to be the general consensus. Who knew so many people spent their time contemplating Arabella Beckett?”

  “You’re contemplated because you’re unusual.”

  “Don’t you mean peculiar?”

  “You’re not really that peculiar.”

  “That sounded convincing.”

  Theodore leaned forward. “Arabella, forgive me, I shouldn’t make light of your distress.”

  Arabella blinked. He was apologizing to her, and for some reason that had fresh tears stinging her eyes.

  “Oh no, I did hurt your feelings,” Theodore said softly.

  “You admitted surprise because I’m prone to tears.”

  “I did, and for that I’m truly sorry.”

  “I can cry at the drop of a hat.”

  “You find hat-dropping distressful?”

  “If it’s a nice hat, and it has dropped in the mud, certainly. I could cry about that for days.”

  Theodore’s eyes began to twinkle. “What about sad stories?”

  “I avoid them at all costs, although Hamilton and Zayne used to torment me something awful when I was younger. They’d tell me they were giving me a cheerful book, knowing full well it had a horrible ending, and I would be morose for hours.”

  “They did that on purpose?”

  Arabella smiled. “They were just boys, but they did enjoy tormenting me. Mother used to get so irritated with them for making me cry, until she discovered that I can cry on cue.”

  “You can make yourself cry at will?”

  “It’s a talent I’ve perfected over the years.”

  “Were you employing that talent tonight?”

  “Unfortunately, no.”

  He looked at her for a long moment. “I didn’t mean to insult you tonight.”

  Arabella arched a brow. “You told your father and Harold I’m a menace.”

  “As I stated before, I was speaking out of anger. I don’t really believe you’re a menace, at least not most of the time.”

  Arabella waved his statement away with a flick of her hand. “Not only do I enjoy having pink trim on my parasols and the trim of my gowns, but my entire room is painted pink. I would bathe in pink if I could.”

  “I see . . .”

  “I don’t think you do. You assume things about me, just like everyone else apparently does, and I’ve come to realize that some of those assumptions are valid. Tonight I learned that I’m judgmental, bossy, and I’ve spent my entire life believing something that wasn’t true.” She drew in a shaky breath. “I’ve been so smug in my belief that God specifically chose me to change the lives of women, when in actuality it seems I’m the one whose life needs to change.”

  “Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on yourself? I’m sure you’ve helped countless women as you’ve given your speeches over the years.”

  “No, I haven’t. Standing in front of large gatherings of ladies is not actually improving their circumstances. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’ve told them how to live, but it’s not as if I’m an expert on how to lead a productive life. Do you know that I didn’t even bother to consider the feelings or wants of those women I was in jail with tonight? I just assumed I knew best how they should live their lives. It was beyond presumptuous of me and condescending to those ladies. It’s no wonder Dot reacted the way she did.”

  “She might have overreacted.”

  “She didn’t. I of all people should understand that. I hate when anyone tries to tell me what to do.” She dropped her gaze and began to smooth her gown. “I’ve become unlikable, and I’ve become a source of gossip for men all over the country, and not in a complimentary way.”

  “I would have to imagine that men gossip about you because you’re beautiful.”

  Arabella’s breath hitched in her throat as she lifted her head. She narrowed her eyes as Theodore stared calmly back at her, something that almost seemed like compassion in his eyes.

  Had it not only been a few minutes ago that the man had been taking her to task?

  What in the world had gotten into him? He was being . . . nice, and she wasn’t quite sure how to handle a nice Theodore Wilder.

  She cleared her throat. “Forgive me, but did you just extend me a compliment?”

  Theodore smiled. “I do believe I did.”

  He was entirely too attractive when he smiled, irresistible even. His smile caused her to want to dissolve into a puddle of mush at his feet, or better yet, throw herself across the seat and allow those strong arms of his to soothe away the disappointments of the night.

  She blinked and felt her face heat. Apparently she was more overwrought than she’d believed.

  “Ah, yes, well enough about me,” she finally managed to say. “Shouldn’t we get around to discussing why you threw me over your shoulder a
nd carted me off like a caveman?”

  Theodore’s mouth twitched before his expression suddenly turned serious. “We need to discuss that man you saw down on the docks.”

  “There’s not much else to discuss.”

  “Humor me,” Theodore said as he stretched his long legs out in front of him. “What were you were doing before you noticed him?”

  “I was speaking to Agatha and Katherine.”

  “They didn’t give me the impression they’d actually taken note of the man.”

  “That’s because they went off to investigate a lead.”

  “And they left you all alone?”

  She breathed a silent sigh of relief at the clear disgruntlement now marking Theodore’s tone. She knew how to handle a disgruntled Theodore. “Do not presume to lecture me, Theodore. I did have a reason for staying behind. I was keeping an eye on Lottie, and before you ask why I wasn’t standing with her, she wouldn’t let me.” Arabella grinned as she swept her hand over her figure. “She thought I would scare off the men.” She glanced at Theodore, expecting him to still be scowling at her, but instead there was a trace of a smile on his lips.

  “I wouldn’t have been scared,” he said in voice that flowed like warm honey over her.

  These sudden changes in his mood were beyond disconcerting. One minute he was being his normal surly self, and the next he was charming.

  He was never charming with her, and since she’d actually admitted, at least to herself, that she was attracted to him, his new and surprisingly odd attitude toward her was making her feel fidgety. . . .

  “What happened after Agatha and Katherine left you?”

  Arabella blinked, realizing Theodore was still in the midst of a conversation with her, and felt her face heat yet again. “Ah, hmm, of course, something that happened next . . . I, uh, felt something.”

  “This man was so close to you that you felt him?”

  She was rattled. There was no other explanation for why she was being unclear. She drew in a deep breath, looked out the window in hopes that something other than Theodore’s face would distract her. When her gaze met nothing but black, she reluctantly turned but kept her attention centered on a spot right over Theodore’s head. “Forgive me, but no, I didn’t feel the man, not in the physical sense. It was more of an emotional feeling. It made the hair stand up on the nape of my neck. Have you ever had that happen?”