Arabella blinked as unexpected tears stung her eyes. She swiped her eyes with her sleeve and drew in a shaky breath. “I didn’t mean to offend her.”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” Hannah said, moving to stand in front of her. “She was very harsh with you, and it was completely undeserved. There is no way you could really understand our lives. You live in a different world, one that
I
couldn’t possibly understand.”
“Maybe I really am judgmental,” Arabella whispered as she ducked her head to hide the fact her eyes had taken to tearing up again.
“Good heavens, Arabella, everyone is judgmental to a certain extent,” Katherine said, rubbing Arabella’s back. “Why, I freely admit I was judgmental in regard to you until I really got to know you.”
Arabella raised her head. “What do you mean?”
Katherine pursed her lips. “I thought you were certain to be an unpleasant and masculine type, but instead I’ve discovered you’re delightful.”
Arabella’s eyes misted over again and she let out a small hiccup, but before she could thank Katherine for that rather odd compliment, Agatha interrupted.
“Shh, someone’s coming.”
The sound of a male voice drifted into the cell, becoming more audible as Dot and her friends went quiet.
Agatha’s mouth dropped open. “I think that’s Theodore.”
For just a moment, a glimmer of relief flowed through her, until she rapidly came to her senses. She turned to Lottie. “You’re going to have to hide us.”
“What do you mean, hide you?”
“You know, stand in front of us. If that’s really Theodore, we can’t let him know we’re here.”
Katherine scooted forward on the bench. “I’m afraid you’re not making much sense, Arabella. The only reason my brother would be here would be because he’s come to fetch us, and . . .” Katherine’s voice trailed off, her mouth went slack, and the red rouge on her face stood out vividly against her now pale face. She suddenly began shoving Lottie off the seat. “Don’t just sit there, Lottie, hide us. That’s my brother, my completely unreasonable brother, out there, and we can’t let him know I’m here. Why, just look at the way I’m dressed, and this wig I’m wearing, and . . .”
Arabella couldn’t help but grin as Katherine’s words came out faster and faster, until Arabella couldn’t even decipher what Katherine was saying.
“She’s rather pushy,” Lottie said with a sniff. She gestured to Hannah after she got to her feet. The two ladies presented Arabella with a nice view of their backs as they spread out their skirts.
“I need to be on that bench too,” Agatha said, then slipped past Lottie and Hannah and sat down between Arabella and Katherine. “We need to make ourselves as small as possible.”
“Good luck with that,” Lottie tossed over her shoulder. Then she turned her head and began to whistle an unrecognizable tune.
Theodore’s voice suddenly sounded incredibly close, and Arabella winced as Katherine dug her fingers into her arm.
“You’re hurting me,” she whispered.
Katherine sent her an apologetic look but didn’t remove her fingers. Arabella began to pry them off, then stilled when Dot let out a loud, remarkably shrill laugh.
“Mr. Wilder. What a delicious surprise.”
“Dot, how lovely to see you, although not under these conditions,” Theodore said, his raspy voice causing a trail of goose bumps to travel down Arabella’s arm.
“I cannot believe he is personally acquainted with these ladies,” Arabella whispered.
“He’s a private investigator,” Katherine said, keeping her voice low. “He knows all sorts of people, ladies included.”
“We’ve missed your charming company,” Dot purred.
Arabella’s mouth dropped open. “Private investigator or not, Dot seems a bit . . . familiar with him.”
“For a lady who claims to hold no interest in my brother, you sound almost jealous.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Arabella hissed before she leaned to the right in order to peer cautiously around Lottie.
She tried to ignore the way her pulse quickened when she got her first good look at Theodore. He was standing in front of their cell, completely at his ease as he conversed with Dot, his hair attractively rumpled, and his mouth curved into an amused smile. She blew out a breath. Who looked that handsome when it was the middle of the night and after most likely having been pulled from sleep? For some strange reason, her temper began to simmer when she realized, by the way Dot and all the other ladies were cooing and batting their lashes at Theodore, that they’d obviously taken note of Theodore’s all-too-handsome face and masculine appeal as well. Her temper moved from simmering to boiling.
Why, he was being charming, deliberately so. Her jaw clenched. He was never charming in her company, only annoying. Why did he reserve his charm for ladies who . . . She
blinked and wouldn’t allow her mind to finish the thought as shame shot through her.
Good heavens, Dot was right. She did believe she was better than the ladies now pressed against the bars of the cell, and that certainly didn’t speak well of her character. She sagged against the cold wall and pretended not to notice the concerned looks Katherine and Agatha were sending her way. Her dark thoughts were distracted when one of the ladies standing at the front of the cell suddenly let out a giggle.
“Do tell us what you’re doing here tonight, Mr. Wilder. Have you just taken into custody a horrible criminal and brought him to jail to await justice?”
Theodore released a booming laugh, the sound setting Arabella’s teeth on edge, which, strange as it seemed, caused her to feel a little better. Anger was always much easier to deal with than self-reflection.
“No criminals for me tonight, darling. I’m actually looking for three ladies.”
Dot’s throaty gurgle bounced around the cell. “I’d say you’ve found about thirty.”
Theodore’s laugh joined Dot’s, which had Arabella wishing she had something to throw at the man. He was too suave and debonair for his own good. Of course, if she did throw something at him, it would completely defeat the purpose of hiding.
“While it does seem as if I’ve been fortunate to stumble upon a bevy of beauties,” Theodore began, “I’m looking for two lovely blondes and one black-haired lady.”
“I’m a blonde,” Dot said.
“And a very attractive one at that,” Theodore said. “But I have three specific ladies in mind. From what I understand, they decided to go undercover to obtain a story, so they might be disguised.”
“Oh, those ladies.” Dot let out a grunt of obvious disgust.
“I don’t know why you’d want to seek out those do-gooders, Mr. Wilder. We’ve been forced to spend the entire evening listening to them preach on and on about our derelict lives. I readily admit they’ve gotten on my nerves. They’re a dreary lot, whereas me and the girls here, well . . .” Another throaty laugh sounded around the room, causing Arabella’s hackles to rise.
“Where are they?” Theodore asked.
“Oh, very well. If you must know, they’re hiding behind those two women at the back there.”
“There is no honor amongst thieves,” Katherine whispered and then shook her head. “But that was a silly thing for me to say. We’re not thieves.”
“You lot, hush,” Lottie hissed without turning her head. “I think Mr. Wilder knows you’re behind us.”
“He doesn’t know for certain,” Katherine hissed back. “Keep standing there, and for heaven’s sake look innocent.”
“That might be a stretch,” Lottie muttered.
“Arabella, I know you’re there. You might as well stop hiding,” Theodore called.
“Why is he singling me out? Surely he can’t believe this was my idea, can he? I mean, we distinctly heard him tell the ladies that he knew we were running down a story. You’re the journalist, Agatha, not me. He should be yelling for you right about now.”
“This just proves the point I made hours ago regarding Theodore’s fascination with you. He’s calling for you because he’s desperate to see you again.”
“That wig is squeezing your head too tight.”
“Arabella, I’m waiting,” Theodore snapped.
“Does he ever sound this impatient with anyone other than me?” Arabella asked.
“He’s normally fairly composed,” Katherine said. “Bit unusual, to tell you the truth, but I guess it just proves Agatha’s statement. You’ve garnered his attention.”
“Of course I’ve garnered his attention,” Arabella said. “He’s currently yelling my name.”
She considered the backs of Hannah and Lottie, wondering what in the world she was supposed to do now. It was obvious Theodore wasn’t leaving anytime soon.
“I’m going to start counting to five.”
She blinked and couldn’t help but shake her head. What would he do once he reached five? There were bars separating them, and she was fairly certain he wasn’t quite strong enough to break through them.
“One.”
“You’d better get it over with,” Agatha said. “He’s beginning to sound really upset.”
“Don’t tell him I’m with you,” Katherine added before she tugged on Arabella’s arm as if to prod her forward faster.
“Two.”
Arabella refused to budge. “He asked about three ladies. I’m pretty certain he knows you’re here.”
“Oh, right,” Katherine said glumly and then brightened. “Maybe he thinks the other lady is Eliza.”
“Three.”
Arabella winced when she noticed the pesky little fact that Theodore’s voice was becoming slightly menacing.
“You don’t think he’ll recognize you?” Arabella asked, still refusing to budge.
“I can always hope,” Katherine said with a wink as she patted her wig back into place and smoothed the flounces of her gown.
“Four, and my patience is beginning to wane.”
Arabella blew out a breath, stood up and looked at her friends. “How do I look?”
Agatha quirked a brow. “You’re not serious?”
Arabella swallowed a laugh. Agatha did have a point. She was dressed in a garish gown, wearing an outdated wig, and
beauty patches were attached to her face along with a thick layer of hideous blue color smeared around her eyes.
She was not at her best.
“Five. So help me, Arabella, if I have to go fetch those keys and drag you out of there, as God is my witness, I will.”
Now really, there was no cause for threats.
Lifting her skirt, she strode around Hannah and Lottie. She paused, squared her shoulders, and moved as gracefully as she could to the front of the cell, feeling every eye upon her, including Theodore’s. She swore right there and then that she would not allow him to see her so much as flinch.
“You called?” she asked as she stopped in front of him, meeting his gaze and rethinking her flinching vow when she took note of the barely controlled fury pouring out of his eyes. She swallowed when his gaze left hers and traveled down her figure.
“I cannot believe you had the nerve to leave your house dressed like that. Have you lost all sense of propriety?”
He truly was the most disagreeable gentleman she’d ever met, and she certainly shouldn’t have spent hours thinking about him or worrying about his welfare while he’d been out of town.
She lifted her chin. “I think I look quite fetching, and I’ve done nothing to cause you to question my sense of propriety.”
A vein began to throb on Theodore’s forehead. “I have half a mind to leave you here.”
Her chin lifted even higher. “By your attitude at the moment, I have to believe you’re only possessed of half a mind.”
Theodore moved closer, grabbed the bars with both hands, and Arabella couldn’t help but notice how his knuckles had gone white.
“I would walk away right now, even though I told Eliza I’d get you released, if only my sister weren’t involved.”
“I didn’t pull your sister into any scheme. It just sort of happened.”
A low groan sounded from behind Arabella, causing her to grimace. She’d forgotten Katherine was still trying to remain undetected.
“Why are you dressed in that ridiculous gown, and why have you painted your face in that disturbing fashion?” Theodore shot at her, pulling her abruptly back to the realization she was in the midst of an unpleasant conversation.
She patted her wig. “I needed to be inconspicuous.”
“You don’t honestly believe you achieved that, do you?”
His incredulous tone of voice was beginning to wear on her nerves. “Anyone would be hard-pressed to recognize me at the moment.”
“You look like a deranged actress,” Theodore said. “I’m certain you attracted more attention than any of the ladies you were trying to emulate.”
“Not one single gentleman even approached me.”
“Is that a note of disappointment I hear in your voice?” Theodore asked.
Her patience was now at an end. “You are a horrible man, and I don’t care to speak with you any longer.” She spun on her heel, but stopped when Dot suddenly blocked her way.
“Mr. Wilder has done you a kindness by tracking you down,” Dot said. “You will grant him the courtesy of listening to him yell at you.” She grabbed Arabella’s arm and turned her back around until they were both facing Theodore. “Continue, Mr. Wilder,” Dot said, even as she pushed Arabella closer to the bars.
Theodore blinked and seemed, for the moment, to be at a loss for words.
“Don’t fail me now, Mr. Wilder,” Dot added. “Seeing this snooty lady being given what she’s due is the most enjoyment I’ve had all evening.” She batted her lashes. “You would not
believe the nerve she had toward me and the other ladies. She wanted to change us, she did.”
“I never said I wanted to change you, only help you,” Arabella countered.
Dot waved a hand into the air. “You’re a meddler.”
Before Arabella could respond to Dot’s latest insult, she glanced to Theodore and found the gentleman nodding his head.
Heat began to bubble through her entire body until she felt as if she might explode.
“She does make an excellent point,” Theodore said.
“I don’t meddle.”
“Oh, you’re discreet about it, I’ll give you that, but you do like to change people.”
She had the uncanny suspicion they’d suddenly stopped talking about her trying to change Dot. “I never tried to change you.”
Theodore arched a brow. “You didn’t hope that by relentlessly bringing your suffrage movement into the conversation every time we spoke, I would change my mind about it?”