“Nor me,” I said, speaking before thinking. I cleared my throat when they looked at me. “But I will have my cake in a separate room. Alone. Where I am not intruding.”
Harriet glanced at Arabella and shared a secret smile. “I will see myself out.”
Arabella nodded and took a seat, much more relaxed and happier than she had been last night when I had found her in the library. I was relieved to see Harriet had helped restore her mood.
Once Harriet had vacated the room, I clasped my hands behind my back and strode slowly to the opposite end of the sofa from Arabella. “Harriet seemed well.”
“Yes, I think a break from her husband was just the medicine she needed.”
I nodded slowly. “I am sorry she is so unhappy.”
She shrugged. “I tried to be a listening ear and even managed to make her laugh once. It sounds pitiful saying it out loud when my efforts have not really changed her situation at all. I wish there was more I could do to help.”
“Simply being her friend is enough.” The irony of my words hit their mark. Arabella’s friendship would have to be enough for me as well.
She leaned forward to tidy the tea things, avoiding my eyes. “Being there for her will be harder after I marry Mr. Clodwick and move to Quillsbury.”
My hands tightened their hold on each other. “Indeed.” It was the only word I could muster. It was somewhere between an affirmative and a question, and as vague as I could manage without balking outright. “Where is the lucky man, anyway?” I asked, barely keeping my tone civil.
“He went to town with Mr. Mason and my sister and mother.” She motioned to the tea things. “Would you like me to have a cup sent up for you?”
“No, thank you.” I paused for a moment. “Did Elizabeth not join the outing to town?”
Arabella’s look said she was thinking the same thing I was. “No, she insisted on taking a ride instead.”
“That could be worse,” I said under my breath.
She nodded, apparently having heard me. “I attempted to sway her, but Harriet arrived at the same time, and I missed my opportunity.”
I perched on the edge of the sofa, not certain if it was a good idea to stay and torture myself with Arabella’s fetching appearance. I swear, she became lovelier with each passing day. “Have you had a chance to speak with Elizabeth about this groomsman? Is it a passing fancy?”
I could only hope my own attraction to Arabella would be so fleeting.
“It very well could be,” she said. “I brought it up, but instead of answering, she claimed she’d left a candle burning in her room and fled my side to extinguish it.”
“Do you plan to speak to your father about it?”
“I do hate to upset him prematurely. I thought to wait a few days after you left before I broached the subject. Not that I am rushing you away.”
“No, I understand. It will be too much for him at once.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
I ran my hands down my thighs and rested them on my knees. “I haven’t spoken with your father yet, but I intend to.”
“I believe you.”
I raised my brows.
“Don’t look so shocked. Last night . . . last night was nice. I admit, you’re not the same ill-tempered boy I remember.”
I grinned at her. “I was only a merciless tease with you, you know. No one got under my skin like you did.”
“I know exactly what you mean. I considered myself a sweet girl until you were around. You brought out the worst in me.” She smiled. “You still do.”
I sucked in my breath through my teeth. “If I did not apologize enough last night, I will continue to do so.”
“No, you said sorry at least a dozen times.”