Page 71 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
“Yes, all of those and more! They cannot seriously expect—”
“They do,” Teresa said, picking up her teacup again. “And the sooner the better, so they say. It’s dreadful. They have used Alison’s age as a reason. As my mother likes to say, and far too often for my liking,Young lords like young wives.”
“Huh,” Isabella said, tilting her head as she considered the Duchess’ words. “Alison is rather a lot older than most ladies, when they marry.”
Teresa tutted again, but this time fully at Isabella. She sounded like a schoolteacher when she did that, Alison realized, and it made her smile.
“Perhaps she has waited a little too long,” Teresa said. “But that only means something in theton. And she can still be married immediately, just to someone she loves, and not some brute of a man.”
The more they spoke, the more determined Alison became. She realized how lost she had been for the previous few days, how she felt entirely helpless. But seeing Teresa and Isabella, and talking so openly about everything, reminded Alison of what she had to lose—and what she was determined she would never give up.
“You told them about your love with Mr. Jones?” Isabella asked, looking intently at Alison.
“Of course I did,” she said, hearing the pleading in her own voice. “But they don’t care. They worry about my future, apparently. I should be married to a nobleman, and so on. Luke does not have the means to support me.”
“I can just imagine it,” Isabella said. “Oh, I’m so terribly sorry, Alison.”
“Don’t be,” Teresa interrupted. “This is not the end. I am determined to see to it that Alison has her wish. Why, I have had mine, and you, Isabella, have had yours. It’s only right that my dear sister gets hers as well.”
“Absolutely correct,” Isabella said, bowing her head.
“And until very recently, Alison herself was equally determined but—”
“Iamdetermined, even now,” Alison said, feeling some of her ferocity return to her. “But I cannot see how.”
“Well, admittedly, I cannot either,” Teresa said. “But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. I cannot begin to count the times in my life when I didn’t see a way out, and then the opportunity presented itself.”
“You have had a rather exceptional life, though,” Isabella said, chuckling.
“It’s been… different, yes,” Teresa said, laughing herself.
“You said something about when Mr. Jones returns,” Isabella said. “Whereishe? The Duke has not sent him away, has he?”
“No, thank goodness,” Teresa said firmly.
“His father died. He has taken some time to be with his family, find his roots. He is due back overmorrow, and none too soon. I miss him terribly.”
“Heavens!” Isabella declared. “It really has been an eventful week or so, hasn’t it?”
“And I have gone from the top of the world to the depths of misery and back again,” Alison said. “One minute I’m overjoyed that Luke had returned my love, and the next I remember that I am soon to be the Countess of Belmont.”
“You will not!” Teresa said, each word punched into the air.
“So what is the plan?” Isabella asked.
“There has been no date set for the wedding yet, thank goodness,” Alison said. “Until the time comes, I will pretend to go along with their plans in the hopes that something comes along. Luke is also searching for a way.”
“And if a way cannot be found?” Isabella asked.
“Then we shall run away and be married at Gretna Green.”
