The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1991

"Your daughter? Well, if your daughter attracts attention with her thick glasses, suitors for my daughter would line up from Times Square to the Golden Gate Bridge."

"Alright, let's all calm down. The marriage prospects of the younger generation have you all too concerned; I feel terribly burdened for making you all worry so much."

Before David could fully broker peace, everyone's gaze suddenly fell upon him.

"David, tell us, what do you think of Melissa? Is she a good match?"

"David, now in front of me, just give it to me straight—do you fancy Linda?"

"David, why don't you just lay out your criteria for choosing your partner?"

"The daughters and nieces of the guests here, even Mrs. Lee's granddaughter —who would you pick?"

David hadn't expected that the difficult question had been kicked to him.

Just then, Arabella walked in, and David had an idea, "Truth be told, I do have a girlfriend. It's just that due to certain sensitivities, we haven't gone public."

"What?" Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Which family's darling is she? She’s better than our Melissa? Or do you just look down on my girl?"

"David, do you really have a girlfriend? Are you serious?"

"But I was on the phone with your mother just yesterday, and she was quite sure that you're the only single person in the family."

"No, you've got a girlfriend, and I should congratulate you. Miss Piper is famously commendable; I'm happy that you've found such a girlfriend."

Arabella noticed the man's expression which didn't seem truly happy.

"Yes, now that you have a girlfriend, your parents can finally be relieved, and we don't have to worry about you anymore."

The guests quickly shifted to polite small talk, as if the earlier quarrel had never happened.

Arabella's eyes were wide open once again.

"Oh, and by the way, my sister and I have a business meeting to attend with our agents, so we'll have to excuse ourselves," David said as he took his leave, not forgetting to make an excuse to bring his sister along.