Page 88 of A Scottish Bride for the Duke
What was to be done about his wife, however, was another question entirely and one he did not have the answer to.
But for now, they would dance.
Isobel felt awash with misery. The night, which had started out so perfectly, with her and Adrian in harmony, had disintegrated around her. Now Moreton’s threats hung over their heads, and she was powerless to do anything to stop him.
She could do nothing.
And Adrian?—
The husband she had so delighted in, the one whom she had realized she loved just a few moments before, had closed himself off to her.
Oh, he was a good actor, his hand in hers, his gaze fixed on her face, and a smile gracing his expression, but his eyes remained remote. Distant. As though they had been plunged into a frozen bath. Any warmth that had once been there for her, gone.
How could everything have gone so wrong sofast?
“What’s wrong?” Eliza asked as Isobel escaped from Adrian long enough to pour herself some punch. Her hands shook. “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Nothing,” Isobel said mechanically.
“Have you argued with Adrian again already?” Eliza sighed. “He can be such a brute sometimes. But you must put up with him when he is out of sorts, and he will recover soon enough.”
“I don’t think this is something that can be resolved so easily,” she muttered.
They had intended to go home and make love the moment they were alone again. Her body ached for him, but an instinct told her that he would not make such advances toward her again.
Could she even seduce him if she tried? She had never thought to attempt such a thing.
She gripped the glass still tighter.
“Did Lord Moreton say something to upset you?” Eliza demanded. “I will find him and tell him what for.”
“Nay, please.”
“Then what?”
What could she tell her friend? When she’d first come to London, Eliza had been the first person to accept her wholeheartedly as she was. Even Adrian, the man she loved, had not done so immediately. In fact, he had taken far longer to warm to her.
“I met him in Scotland,” she said awkwardly. “It’s… complicated.”
“Lord Moreton? Did he want to marry you?”
Isobel shook her head. “Not exactly.”
“Is Adrian jealous?”
She shook her head again. “It’s not like that. I…” In truth, she didn’t know how everything had gone so wrong so quickly. “I suppose I made Adrian feel as though he couldn’t protect me.”
“Protect you?” Eliza’s head tilted. “From what?”
This had been a mistake. She should never have said anything. Isobel drew in a long, shuddering breath.
“It’s complicated,” she said again. “But stay away from him, Eliza. He’s not a good man.”
“Oh, well I knewthat,” Eliza said with a little laugh. “I’ve not spent all my time with young gentlemen for naught, you know. Icould tell almost from the beginning that he was not a good man. Will you tell me what you know?”
“I—I can’t.” Isobel threw her arms around Eliza’s neck. “But stay away from him, and be safe.”
“Of course,” Eliza said, patting her back. “But your husband has come to collect you, and he is wearing a terrible scowl.”
