Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 49

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Though Viscountess Winthrop had always been an aloof, distant mother who'd shown very little interest in her five children, Arabella had never really been able to hate her ~until now.

She'd just come to realize that her virtuous, honorable mama was no better than a pimpstress. This very morning, Arabella had been forced to wear a tight corset and squeeze into a brand new dress a size too small, with an outrageously revealing décolletage, to impress her current suitor, Lord Bentley. She would never forget how her mother's face broke into a wide, self-satisfied smile when Lord Bentley's gaze was drawn to the exposed part and lingered there longer than it was proper. And then, as if her excessive hospitality wasn't encouraging enough, her mother urged Bentley to sit beside Arabella in the small settees, and then, against propriety, she'd left Arabella alone with Bentley in the sitting room. However, throughout the long minutes of mundane conversation, Arabella still considered the older gentleman tolerable, until suddenly he caught her off guard with a surprise kiss.

Without any necessary buildup, without even considering her consent, out of the blue he suddenly bent over and captured her mouth with his, and by God, Lord Bentley is a lousy kisser. Arabella felt like her mouth was invaded by a giant octopus, and by the time she successfully wrenched her mouth away from him, he'd gotten her chin wet. The sloppy kiss was horrible enough, but the worst part of all was the sound of pleasure he'd made while plundering her mouth. It made her cringe with disgust.

Once Arabella managed to end the kiss, she had made a hasty excuse to leave. She headed directly to her chamber and washed her mouth and face, then brushed her teeth to get rid of any trace of Bentley off her. She shuddered to think of having to do further intimacy with Bentley. With her former lover, she remembered physical touch felt amazing, almost magical, but with the older gentleman, she found it repulsive.

And really, she wondered why on Earth should the older gentleman persist in pursuing her? All these years, simply showing little interest in conversation and not encouraging physical contact had always been enough to push away a suitor, but it definitely took more than subtle hints to repel Bentley. She figured out the reason when she overheard her parents' conversation through the slightly parted door later that day.

"So, do you think Bentley is interested in marrying her?" Her mother asked, sounding expectant. The sound of paper being tossed onto the table preceded her father's reply.
"Most likely. Especially after I assured him that her dowry will be respectable. I believe he will propose in a couple of weeks. If we're lucky, we'll have her engaged before this month ends."

She froze as what she'd just heard knocked the air out of her lungs. She knew her parents were desperate to find her a husband, but she'd never imagined that they would have resorted to begging, or bribing a man to marry her. Overcome with fury, she burst into the room.

"Am I really that unbearable that both of you can't wait to get me out of the house?!"

While her father seemed too shocked to give a prompt reply, her mother took over.

"What are you talking about? We only want the best for your future!" The Viscountess shot up straight from her seat.

"I'm not going to marry him, or anyone! Ever!"

Her mother's face flushed with anger.
"Stop saying such ridiculous things! Look at your sisters and your friends. Every one of them has secured a respectable husband and given birth to the adorable children of their own. Don't you want to be like them?"