Page 22 of When the Rogue Returns
Thank God, because Victor didn’t think he could tolerate many more of the baroness’s snide comments. But he did understand her reaction. Isa outshone her as a rose did a weed, despite the wealthier woman’s finery and expensive jewels. That had to gall.
The first act of the opera turned out to be not as bad as he expected. For one thing, it had a decent story, with some interesting political notes. And for another, from his vantage point he had a good look of Isa in profile. He could feast his eyes as much as he liked on her glorious hair, her delicate ear, her glowing cheek.
He knew it was foolish to do so, but he let himself dwell on the times he’d kissed her just there, where her pretty neck met her shoulder, or had run his tongue down the hollow of her throat. By the time the first act ended, every part of him ached to touch her.
Bloody idiot—he wasn’t here to take up with his wife again, damn it! He was here for vengeance.
No, not vengeance. Justice. That’s all. He had a right to expect that.
As the interlude began, they all rose.
“How did you like it, Mrs. Franke?” Lady Lochlaw asked, casting Victor a conspiratorial glance. “The contralto’sariawas lovely, don’t you think?”
A mischievous gleam shone in Isa’s eyes. “I didn’t really notice. I was too busy admiring the gorgeous necklace she’d purchased from my shop. It sparkled so nicely in the gaslights.”
Lady Lochlaw’s smug smile vanished. “Did it have real gems? Or imitation?”
“You mean you couldn’ttell?” Isa asked sweetly. “How odd. I would have thought it obvious to a woman of your discernment.”
The laugh that rose in him unbidden caught Victor by surprise, and he nearly bit his tongue holding it back. A servant entered just then with a tray of champagne glasses, which was a good thing, since Lady Lochlaw looked fit to be tied. Feeling oddly cheered by that, Victor took a glass. But when the baron handed Isa one, and she smiled up at him engagingly, Victor’s mood suddenly soured.
“So, Mrs. Franke,” he said in a hard voice, “what made you decide to leave the Continent for Scotland?”
She sipped some champagne. “The death of my husband. I wanted to escape the bad memories.”
“Of his death?” he bit out. “Or of your marriage?”
“Both,” she said pointedly.
He gritted his teeth. So that had been an illusion, too. All the time he’d been besotted, she’d been resenting their marriage. Damn her for having hidden it so well.
Lochlaw began to frown, and even her ladyship looked wary, but Victor ignored them. “What was wrong with your marriage? Was he cruel to you? Did he mistreat you?”
“Neither,” she shot back. “He didn’t have to. He just acted as if I were his pet. He never told me anything of himself or his family, never let me see inside him. After he was gone, I realized I never really knew him at all.”
That wasn’t the answer he’d expected, though on that subject at least, she spoke the truth. He’d been afraid that if she learned the dirty secrets of his childhood, she would bolt.
In the end, she’d bolted anyway. “Perhaps you weren’t married long enough to take his measure.”
“Perhaps. But that’s all the more reason I was stunned to learn how much he’d lied to me; how much he’d pretended to be one thing when he was quite another.”
What the devil was she talking about? “You make him sound like a villain,” he growled.
“See here, cousin,” Lochlaw interrupted, “this conversation is becoming very rude.” He cast Isa an uncertain glance. “Don’t you agree?”
“Your cousin is perfectly aware that it is,” Isa said. “But I’m happy to tell him whatever he wishes to know.” Setting her glass down, she came toward Victor. “Still, Mr. Cale, we needn’t bore Rupert and his mother with such nonsense. Perhaps you’d like to take a tour of the theater? I understand there are some very fine statues in the lobby.”
“And I’ll go with you,” Lochlaw broke in with a scowl.
Lady Lochlaw put her hand on her son’s shoulder. “No, you will not.” When he glowered at her, she added, “You can’t leave me here alone, dear boy. What would people think?”
“I’m fine, Rupert,” Isa said as she took the arm Victor offered. “Your cousin and I will take a little walk and be right back. I need to stretch my legs anyway.”
He’d succeeded in provoking her, thank God! He’d spotted an unoccupied box a few boxes over, perfect for a private discussion, so this time he would make sure she gave him solid answers.
As soon as they were in the hall, she said, “Speaking of lies, you’re not really her ladyship’s cousin, are you?”
He wasn’t about to reveal what he’d been hired to do, since that might spook her into fleeing. “You’re the one who remarked that I never told you about my family,” he said evasively. “You’re right. I didn’t.”
