Page 16 of A Scottish Bride for the Duke
Just then, the door to the room slammed open. Isobel turned to see the Duke of Somerset stride in, his brow lowered and his movements purposeful.
“Oh my,” Eliza whispered from beside her. “Adrianneverattends events like these.”
“I heard a rumor you were staying with the duke,” one of the young gentlemen said. “Did he bring you down from the wilds to tame you?” They sniggered. “You don’t look as though you are easily tamable.”
Isobel glanced over their shoulders to see rage darken the duke’s face as he approached.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” he said, his voice pure ice. They froze, shock written across their faces. And chagrin. “It strikes me that not only do you not have the right to be making personal comments about a lady, one under the patronage of the Duchess of Somerset, but you know very little of which you speak. A lady is not something to be tamed, and neither of you would be capable of the job.” His hard gaze moved from one face to the other. “Moreover, the fact that a lady is from Scotland, a land with a history as rich and important as our own, puts her at any social disadvantage.She, at least, possesses manners, which you do not.” He glanced from one to the other. “Get out.”
They practically tripped over one another in their urgency to get away.
Adrian did not know precisely why he had attended this dull event in the first place, and seeing Isobel glowering at him did nothing to improve his mood. He had sent those pups away because they were being rude to her, and now she had the audacity to stare at him as though he had drowned kittens in front of her.
He’d had enough of contrary women.
“You can thank me if you like,” he said.
“Thank ye for what? Scaring away potential suitors?” She folded her arms. “As tempting as it is to thank ye, I am forced to decline.”
Suitors? He forced the irrational wave of jealousy back into its proper place and raised a brow. “Those idiots are what you’re looking for in a husband?”
“Thoseidiotsmight have warmed to me if they were given the chance. Ye never like to give anyone the chance.” Her folded arms hitched a little higher. “All ye ever do is decide ye know best.”
“Whyareyou here?” Eliza asked.
Adrian barely spared her a glance.
“Because I saw the way your mother looked at Lady Isobel and I decided neither of you could be relied upon to look after her properly. As was evident here.”
He looked down his nose at Isobel, who glowered right back at him. The other reason he had come—really, the main reason he had been so eager to attend despite his distaste for such events—had more to do with the way her gown packaged her up so nicely.
On the way, he had rationalized it. As his guest, it was his responsibility to see that she was well looked after.
But in reality, it had more to do with the way her breasts heaved when she took a full breath, and the effect he knew it would wreak on a room filled with young men. The young bucks here would be instantly intrigued by her, and they would make their advances, in whatever form they would take.
As he had witnessed, these advances would not always look particularly nice.
He had to protect his mother’s reputation. If Lady Isobel was to be sponsored into society, it fell to him to see that she was accepted.
“Adrian, what a pleasure to see you here.” Joseph, one of his oldest friends, joined the small party. “And I see you have brought entertainment to make the tedium of the evening more bearable. You are a delight to the eyes, my lady.”
Isobel’s brows raised higher, but she looked Joseph over with approbation. Joseph, the Marquess of Rowton, bowed over her hand.
Adrian sighed, already irritated by the way Lady Isobel, like every other lady in every ballroom, succumbed to Joseph’s soft blue eyes and air of effortless charm. They had always been different in this way, and now, more than ever, that difference became apparent.
Unlike Adrian, Joseph preferred the lighter things in life. One of those things involved charming young ladies.
“My friend, Lord Rowton,” he said. “And this is Lady Isobel.”
“Not just Lord Rowton,” Eliza said slyly. “TheMarquessof Rowton.”
Adrian glared at his cousin, who grinned unabashedly back.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Joseph said, the cad taking Lady Isobel’s hand and bringing it to his mouth.
She flushed, and Adrian clicked his tongue, looking away from the irritating sight. This was just like Joseph, and if he was honest with himself, he found it especially annoying that Lady Isobel tumbled so headlong into his charm.
“How are you finding the soiree?” Joseph asked. “I hope you are more entertained in present company than you were before. I have to say, I find the society ofsometo be tedious.”
