Sterling Family - A Perfect Groom Part 36

to be pitied or lauded? At least I needn't worry that we will have pockets to let, now, will we? At least I am aware of your priorities. Money over honor and all that -"

His jaw tensed. "Stop it, Arabella."

"I will not!" she flared.

A dull flush crept beneath his cheekbones. "For what it's worth, when I made that wager,

I didn't know The Unattainable was you."She snorted. "Why, thank you for that a.s.surance! It makes it all the more palatable, doesn't it? Of course, a man with your looks would never have deigned to lower yourself to being seen with a graceless clod like me."

"That is not what I meant and you know it."

"There is no reason you could give that would make you less of a cad in my eyes."

His mouth twisted. "I'm quite aware of that. Nonetheless -"

Ignoring him, Arabella started for the door.

His hands descended to her shoulders when she would have skirted him.

She flung her head up. "Release me," she said evenly. "I must dress for dinner."

His mouth was as tight as hers. "That can wait."

"It cannot! Aunt Grace and Uncle Joseph are expecting us for dinner tonight."

He swore. "G.o.ddammit, Arabella, we are not going anywhere until this is settled."

"Oh, yes, we are," she snapped. "I refuse to disappoint or disrespect my aunt and uncle by failing to appear. And if you will not accompany me, then I shall simply go alone. In any case, this discussion will have to wait."

His hands fell away. What he thought of her speech, she didn't know, nor did she care. Aware that her expression was mutinous, she sailed past him, her chin angled high.

In the carriage, the atmosphere was stifling. Arabella sat stiffly on one side of the cus.h.i.+oned velvet interior, Justin on the opposite. Not once did their gazes collide. She offered no small talk, nor did he.

As the carriage rolled to a halt in front of Uncle Joseph's townhouse, she realized Justin hadn't had the chance to tell her his news. Her lips compressed. She was not inclined to ask, not now. Clearly it hadn't been important.

Through some miracle, both of them managed to maintain a modic.u.m of civility as they greeted her aunt and uncle.

Aunt Grace took her hands. A dimple appeared in her aunt's cheek. "I have a surprise for you, dear," she said gaily.

Arabella smiled slightly. "Yes, Aunt?"

Beaming, without a word, Grace led her into the drawing room. There, two forms rose in unison from the sofa - one diminutive and blond, flanked by a tall red-haired man.

Arabella blinked, then shook her head, as if to clear it. Her lips parted. "Mama," she heard herself say faintly. "Papa*"

And then she burst into tears.

Twenty-two.

Her tears were not, Justin was convinced, tears of happiness. Tears of entreaty, perhaps. Tears of helplessness*

Dinner was a strained affair. Arabella's parents were polite but restrained. Justin didn't miss the way their eyes strayed to Arabella over and over. Arabella sat beside him, her face pale, still streaked with tears. Every so often, her teeth dug into her lower lip, as if she were fighting hard not to break down. For a time, Grace tried to rescue all of them with her usual bright, vivacious chatter, until at last she, too, lapsed into silence.

It was obvious to all present that Arabella was miserable. Justin was convinced it couldn't get any worse.

He was wrong.

After dinner they filed into the drawing room. Arabella took a seat near the fireplace, to the left of where her parents sat on the settee.

Justin cleared his throat. The direct approach was the right approach, he decided.

He addressed himself to Arabella's parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Templeton, it is obvious there is something on your minds," he said with an easy smile he was far from feeling. "I suspect it would serve us all if we simply got things out into the open."

Daniel Templeton wasted no time. "Very well, then," he said with a lift of s.h.a.ggy red brows. "I shall begin by saying that the news of Arabella's marriage came as a total surprise. Had we been here, I doubt her mother and I would have allowed it."

Now even Grace appeared ready to cry. G.o.d above, but the evening was showing every sign of turning into a catastrophe.

Joseph reached out and covered his wife's hand. "Now, see here, Daniel. Considering the circ.u.mstances, Grace and I did what we thought was right," Joseph declared defensively. "You've left Arabella in our care many times and never before questioned our judgment."

"And there's never been any reason to. But my word, Joseph, can you imagine our distress when Catherine and I learned Arabella had wed such a*" He paused. His gaze flitted back to Justin, who gritted his teeth.

"Go ahead and say it," Justin invited baldly. "You certainly won't hurt my feelings."

"Very well, then. We were appalled upon discovering our daughter had wed a man of his ilk." Daniel's mouth was thin with disapproval. "Needless to say, we were already well aware of your reputation."

"That is why we set out for home at once," Catherine put in.

"And what do we find?" Daniel continued. "I know my daughter, sir. And despite what she wrote to us, that is not the face of a happily married woman."

Every eye in the room slid to Arabella.

Justin's heart sank. Her expression was pinched, her lips tremulous. He saw her convulsive swallow, the way her fingers plucked at each other in her lap.

A fist knotted in his chest, so that for a moment he almost couldn't breathe. It wrenched at his insides, seeing her like this. G.o.d knew, he didn't expect her to defend him. But if only she would say something*

"I submit, sir, that you took advantage of an impressionable young female. Her mother and I have already discussed this. Arabella has not yet reached the age of majority. We did not give our consent to this marriage. Therefore I am confident it can be nullified."

Justin surged upright with a curse.

Grace gasped. Catherine was clearly horrified. Joseph shot him a silent warning.

"Please." Arabella's voice was very low. "Will you all stop talking about me as if I weren't present? I am not a child anymore." She gazed at her father. "Papa, do not blame Justin, or Uncle Joseph or Aunt Grace. The truth is that if anyone had found out we were*kissing*I would have been quite done for."

Daniel's face softened as he looked at his daughter. "We all make mistakes, Arabella. But this is one that can be rectified. I'm certain an annulment can be obtained."

Justin was incensed. It was only by the most stringent effort that he clamped the lid on his temper. "Sir, I must remind you that this is a matter between husband and wife, and I do not welcome your interference. And now, if you would all be so kind, I should like a word with my wife in private."

His gaze locked with the reverend's.

Daniel's brows drew together over his nose. "Now, see here, boy, I am still her father - "

"And however much you regret it, I am still her husband." Justin's tone was clipped and abrupt. "And I wish to see her alone."

Daniel showed no sign of relenting; Justin would not. Catherine, Joseph, and Grace had already moved to the door and stood waiting. Justin and Daniel remained deadlocked, oblivious to everything but each other.

Finally, with a sound of impatience, Justin swung his gaze to Arabella. "Arabella?" he said softly. Within that quiet sound lurked both a demand and a question.

The tension spun out endlessly. Her gaze remained focused on her lap. She was silent for so long he almost wondered if she'd heard him. Just when he thought he might explode, she raised her head.

"I*please, Papa. It's all right."

Daniel's lips compressed, but he got to his feet. Walking over to where she sat, he pressed a kiss upon the fiery curls so like his. "Call if you need us," was all he said.

The door clicked shut behind him. Justin and Arabella were left alone.

Justin hadn't moved. Arabella's regard had returned to her hands, still clasped tightly in her lap. She was white and subdued as he'd never seen her.

"Well," he said with a sardonic smile, "that went well. I knew I was a cad, but I never guessed I'd have to seek permission to be alone with my wife."

That brought her head up. Her eyes flashed blue fire. "Don't you dare say anything against Papa!" she lashed out. "My father is the kindest, most gentle man on this earth."

Justin took a deep breath, feeling his way carefully. "Yes. Your parents are decent, respectable people. It's obvious they are wholly devoted to you, so I understand perfectly their loyalty to you. And certainly the situation is*out of the ordinary."

Arabella neither agreed nor disagreed. Her gaze skittered from his. Once again, she ducked her head.

Her pose was one of utter despair.

Striding across the room, Justin got down on his haunches before her.

"Arabella," he said quietly, "won't you look at me?"

Her soft mouth trembled. Her lashes swept low, her head lower still.

A dull pain unfurled in his chest. On impulse, he stretched out a hand to cover hers.

It was a mistake. She drew back with a hiss. "Don't," she whispered.

"Please don't touch me."

His jaw clenched. He willed away the angry demand that swelled in him. Instead he said, very low, "Please, Arabella. Let us go home and discuss this."

"No."

"What?"

She shook her head. "No. I - I don't think I want to go home. Not with you."

His eyes narrowed. "What are you going to do? Stay here?"

Her nod was jerky.

Justin inhaled. "Sweetheart-"

"Don't! Don't call me that. And don't look at me like that!" Her voice was thin and high. "Perhaps Papa is right and our marriage should be annulled."

"I don't want that." His statement was quietly emphatic.

Her eyes climbed slowly to his. If Justin hadn't already been on his knees, the torment he glimpsed on her face would have surely put him there.

"And what about what I want?"

He tipped his head, as if to peer clear into her heart. "What do you want?" he asked

gently.

Her breath grew ragged and belabored. "I don't know," she said with a shake of

her head. "But I can't think with you here. I can't think with you near. I need to bealone, Justin. I need to be alone!""No. What you need is me. Your husband.""My husband. My husband!" she burst out. "My husband, who married me to win a wager!"

"That's not true -"

"Then why didn't you tell the truth? You told me about the wager at