She stared at him for a moment, wide-eyed. Then she laughed. She bowed to him. "I own it. You are good. You say exactly what each woman wants to hear, and thus win them over."
Philip frowned. "I'm being sincere."
"So say all rakes."
He took her hand and kissed it. "I am telling the truth. I always shall with you. I didn't intend this to be a seduction, or even a warning on how to avoid the pitfalls of a man's smooth-tongued flattery. It was a warning against Rosalie and Leonore. Don't let them spoil what you and Blake have, a rare trust and confidence. A special closeness and intimacy which is worth having."
He swept the drawing room with his hand. "It's all here for you, Arabella. All of his dirty linen aired in public. Don't hold it against him. We all make mistakes. He is after all a mere man, and a lonely one. Or he was until you came into his life."
Arabella stiffened. "He is a most excellent guardian. I have no right to judge him for his past liaisons. They are none of my concern. In fact, looking at these women, I really have to feel rather sorry for him. Not one of them is worth a candle."
Philip nodded and patted her on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. Just remember you said that the next time you have any doubts about his character, and you will know whom to trust. Trust is everything in a marriage. Especially for a man like Blake. He had been very badly hurt in the past. His family-"
"No more skeletons tonight, I beg," Arabella said quietly. "I would like him to be able to tell me about himself without having his entire private life paraded through Lady Cavendish's drawing room for all to see."
"No, of course not," he said with a tight smile. "Nor would I. It would be quite a parade. So my mission is at an end. You need no warning from me, I can see. I hope you'll both be very happy. If you can overcome his scruples about being your guardian, you will be."
Philip bowed over her hand, and went to speak with the three ladies who had engineered the entire evening. Whatever he said had all of them puce with ire except Lady Cavendish, who blanched and stepped away from the group as though she had been struck.
Philip smiled suavely, adjusted his cuffs, and with a final curt bow, he left.
Their hostess could not get them out of her drawing room quickly enough after that. Arabella was dying to know what on earth Philip could possibly have said to her, but she was too relieved to care that much.
Blake took her arm and began to lead her to the cloakroom, saying through a clenched smile, "That was sheer hell."
"Lucky Philip was here. And Alistair, of course."
Blake ground his teeth together to prevent himself from making a jealous remark. Really, she and Philip had been so intimate-looking together…
But she had seen Philip flatter, cajole, flirt and practically suckle his way through the entire room. Surely he could not have also counted her amongst his conquests too?
Arabella saw his wide-eyed look. "You can't possibly think he has designs upon me!" she said in amazement.
"Why not? He's not deaf, dumb and blind."
She shook her head as he helped her on with her evening cloak. "I know you tell me he's a rake, and his performance tonight was astonishing, but he didn't act sparkish with me in any way. He did it to prove a point, that these women and I are nothing alike. That they have no virtue. That I have no reason to mistrust or think ill of you."
"And did he prove his point?" he asked softly.
She nodded. "Let's leave here as if we hadn't a care in the world. Go on, kiss my hand for all to see, and I shall take your arm as I swan out of here, and never come again. I for one shall forget this evening ever happened. I will never mention it again if you don't, except to remind you never to accept an invitation from any of these people again.
"And do stop trying to take me out and keep me entertained as if I were some spoilt Society miss. I don't mind doing the charity fund raising, but apart from the Elthams and their close friends, and occasionally Lady Pemberton, I don't want to meet any more so-called fashionable people. They bore me."
He kissed her hand and gave her his arm. They swept out past the sea of seething faces.
"Very well. I can see we're going to have to work you even harder than before. It seems the only thing that can keep you happy."
"Letting me be myself, my own woman, yet still your, your friend that you watch out for, that makes me happy."
"A pleasant answer like that deserves a kiss, right in front of these nasty old tabbies, don't you think?" he said with a wink.
"Oh, u-u-um-" she began to stammer.