Free A Perfect Groom by Samantha James

promise me, Arabella. No more fretting. No more worrying. This is a time in your life for you to be happy and gay and…oh, I know this may not be the right time to say it, particularly when I vowed I would speak of husbands no more. But you know me, and I fear I must…You’ll know when the right man comes into your life. You’ll know it here” — she laid her hand on her heart and smiled — “as both your mother and I did.”
    Arabella blinked. “But you and Uncle Joseph…I always thought that your marriage was arranged.”
    “Oh, I should say not! A love match, my dear.” Grace’s eyes were twinkling once again. She let out a giggle. “I confess, I was quite the coquette, and I did lead him a merry chase. He had to vie for my affections, but once he…”
    Arabella looked on in astonishment. Aunt Grace was blushing!
    Grace cleared her throat. “Suffice it to say that it wasn’t long before I knew he was the one.” She rose and shook out the wrinkles in her gown. The dimple in her cheek deepened. “Oh, but he was quite the dashing rake, your Uncle Joseph.”
    Arabella was aghast. For all that Uncle Joseph commanded a purposeful, distinguished demeanor outside the family, when she envisioned his thinning pate, it was difficult to imagine him a rake!
    Instead her mind veered straight to Justin Sterling.
    From the corner of her eye, she saw that Aunt Grace had started toward the door. Arabella got to her feet as well. Halfway across the room, she stopped.
    “You haven’t forgotten the masquerade tonight, have you, dear?”
    “Of course not.”
    “Excellent. I’ll have Annie make up your bath. We wouldn’t want to be late for such an event.” Three more steps, and then she paused and glanced back over her shoulder.
    “By the way, dear, I saw you waltzing with Justin Sterling last night.”
    Arabella sucked in a breath. “What?” she said weakly. Mercy, had she spoken Justin’s name out loud? “Oh, yes, Aunt Grace, I know. We should probably have the dancing master back.”
    “Actually, I was going to say, dear, that the two of you looked quite striking together. I daresay, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. The Dowager Duchess of Carrington quite agreed. His dark looks lend themselves perfectly to a woman with your vivacious coloring.”
    Arabella was speechless. Georgiana had said nearly the very same thing. And now Aunt Grace…
    “I chatted with him briefly earlier last night. You’ll recall we’ve known his brother the marquess for a number of years. Indeed, the marquess is hosting a house party next week. But Justin, well…I daresay he’s a very charming young man.”
    “Aunt Grace, he’s a reprobate! His reputation is —”
    “Yes, yes, I know, it’s quite scandalous. But you must admit, is he not the most divinely handsome man you’ve ever laid eyes on?”
    “Aunt Grace!” she gasped.
    Her aunt arched a brow in wicked amusement. “Come, child. I may be getting on in years, but my eyesight has yet to fail me.” She winked at her. “I daresay, he puts me in mind of your Uncle Joseph some thirty years ago.”
    The woman continued to chuckle as she sailed breezily from the room. But Arabella had yet to recover. She was still gaping when the door closed. Stunned, she sank back onto the seat.
    She didn’t know whether to laugh insanely or bury her head in her hands and weep.
    Georgiana…and Aunt Grace. Even the Dowager Duchess of Carrington, a most imposing woman who made Arabella quake in her slippers…Young and old, it didn’t seem to matter. Did Justin Sterling command some brand of sorcery? Sweet heavens, was there a woman alive who could withstand his ability to charm and captivate?
    It appeared that she alone was not susceptible. She alone would never succumb.

Six
      
    On her way up the stairs, Arabella very nearly stopped at Aunt Grace’s door, intending to cry off the masquerade. She could plead the headache. Or simply that she longed for an entire evening to