Page 16 of The Duke's Golden Belle
Her mother laughed in disbelief. “What are you suggesting?”
“I was thinking we could escort her and her mother to the modiste for her wedding trousseau—that sort of thing. Word would spread just as quickly. Crawley would benefit.”
“And Lady Isabelle would be more comfortable,” the duchess said. “I see what you mean. This is acceptable to me—if we get to have a celebratory dinner with a few well-placed members of the ton. Just a few.”
Michael exhaled. “Thank you, Anne. Thank you, Mother. I shall inform Isabelle. And I appreciate your willingness to concede this.” He had just wrangled social standards with his mother.If someone would have suggested even two weeks ago, I would be betrothed and I would seek to make things easier for her with the ton, I would never have believed them. But this woman. Isabelle is on my mind all the time.Two weeks ago, that would have caused him pain. But today, it warmed his heart.
“If you will excuse me, Your Grace, I will send a note to Lady Mortimer that we wish to take part in helping with the trousseau if she will allow us. I’ll emphasize our wish to make things easier for Lady Isabelle as she transitions into our family. When did you say the wedding would take place and will you be securing a Special License?” the duchess asked, picking up her newspaper and folding it.
Anne gave him a look of commiseration as they watched the duchess leave.
A brief knock preceded Conners’ entry into the room. “Your Grace, Mr. Nevil stopped by.” He gave a knowing look. “And I’ve placed a few last-minute items in the carriage.” He gave a brief bow and left the room.”
“Ooh! Nevil visited. That can only mean one thing,” Anne teased.
Michael stood. “Thank you, Anne, for helping me. I appreciated your creativity. Pushing Mother rarely produces the desired result,” Michael said. He stood and gave his sister a quick kiss on the head.
“You’re leaving me, too?” Anne said, feigning shock.
“Indeed. I have an appointment with my future duchess,” he said, giving her a wink before leaving the room.
ChapterNine
Her parents had seemed stifling today, asking endless questions about today’s outing with Michael—each question met with the same answer,the only answer she had—she was going shopping. Now she questioned his motives, when he had always been honest with her, and she hated her doubting. Her mother had even insisted on being in the parlor when he arrived, adding to Isabelle’s anxiety. Feeling in her pocket for her stone, she noticed it missing and panicked. “I left something important. I’ll be right back,” she said, fleeing the parlor with no further explanation.
She heard her mother tell Beatrice in a terse voice, “Go. Find whatever she is missing. She cannot be late. It’s unseemly.”
Never had she shared anything about her little heart-shaped stone, preferring to keep the private connection with her twin to herself. Beatrice knew nothing of it, and Isabelle had never shared its significance with anyone but Garrett, for fear of being mocked. Neither parent understood—nor tried to understand—how losing Marcus had affectedIsabelle.
She scurried to her bedstand and reached in, retrieving the rock, and rolling it in her palm before placing it safely in her pocket. It was hers—her way to hold on to her sanity when things overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t leave it behind.
“He’s here, my lady,” Beatrice whispered loudly, nearly breathless from having raced up the stairs. “You must hurry.”
Glancing in her looking glass, Isabelle pinched her cheeks and walked out the door to meet Beatrice. “My goodness, you look completely undone, Bea. I told you I’d be right back.”
“Your mother, my lady . . .” Beatrice started, but let the sentence drop. Instead, the maid hurried behind Isabelle as they walked downstairs to the parlor.
Before she reached the parlor, Michael stepped out to greet her. “My lady, you look lovely,” he said, taking her hand and bowing over it.
He gave the back of her hand a kiss, sending twinges of electricity pulsing through her arms to the pit of her belly.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Their gazes locked. Something felt different.Does he feel the same thing that I feel when he touches me?Her heart raced from a combination of trepidation and excitement. His nearness did things to her she had never experienced.
“Are you ready?” He asked, extending his arm.
Isabelle adjusted her pelisse. “I think so.” She placed her arm on his and gave a sidelong glance behind, making sure Beatrice had donned her pelisse.
The ride into Crawley flew by, even though it took half an hour to get there. They talked about everything, including Chase and whether she thought he would run after her today, and her brother Garrett.
“I received a missive from your brother this morning. He plans to visit me when he arrives,” Michael said from across the carriage.
“Did he say when that would be? I’m sure my parents have received notice, but they don’t always share it.”
“Garrett saidsoon. I guess that leaves it to interpretation,” he added, appearing a little frustrated as he adjusted his grey leather gloves.
“Is there something amiss?” she asked, staring at his gloved hands.
He nodded at the gloves. “Yes. These are new and are not the most comfortable I have ever owned. They seem too small. And I made the mistake of grabbing them before trying them. I don’t want to cause attention to us over ungloved hands, of all things.” He looked up and winked. “What would the papers say?”
