Page 44 of Rescuing a Tantalising Heiress
Chapter 17
Dinner that evening was an interesting affair. Isabella sat opposite Augusta, and Edward occupied his usual place at the head of the table, but the conversation was stilted, and Isabella could sense the tension in the air. Her lips still tingled with the memory of their kiss, and every now and then, she would glance at Edward, wondering what he was thinking.
“It was so nice to see Hugh, wasn’t it? I didn’t think I’d see him again until after the London Season came to an end. He asked me to go for a walk with him across the moorland tomorrow afternoon—there’s a ruin there he wants to show me,” Augusta said, setting down her knife and fork.
“You should go with him—he’s a good man,” Edward replied.
They had eaten a dish of partridge, and now Marston signalled the footman to clear the plates.
“Yes…but I’d feel terrible leaving Isabella behind,” Augusta said.
But Isabella did not mind. She was glad to think of Augusta finding happiness after so much heartache and misery in her life. Despite her first impression of him, Hugh had appeared to be a thoroughly delightful man, and certainly an improvement on Augusta’s previous match, if her descriptions of Grenville were to be believed.
“You mustn’t fret. I can walk in the garden, like we did today. You’ll come with me, won’t you, Edward?” Isabella asked, feeling certain the viscount would agree.
“Yes…if it’s safe to do so,” he replied, and there was a vagueness in his reply that Isabella had not expected.
Augusta appeared to notice it, too, and she smiled at Isabella and sighed.
“It’s not forever, Isabella. But I’m glad you agree I should go out to walk with Hugh. He’s ever so knowledgeable about the moorlands—he knows all the wildlife and the flowers. I’ll write a note to him tomorrow and send the stable hand with it,” she said, rising to her feet.
“We haven’t finished eating yet,” Edward said as Mr Marston appeared in the dining room with a dish of stewed fruit.
“I couldn’t eat another thing. I’ll take coffee in the drawing room,” Augusta said, and the butler nodded.
Isabella, too, was full, and she excused herself, wanting to talk more with Augusta about Hugh, and not knowing what to say if she was left alone with Edward. The viscount had hardly spoken a single word all evening, and it seemed to Isabella as though he was brooding.
“I’ll come with you,” Isabella said, and the two women left the dining room, leaving Edward to his stewed fruit.
“It’s very kind of you to let me walk with Hugh, Isabella. I really do feel terrible, though. You shouldn’t be left here all alone without company,” Augusta said as they sat down in the drawing room.
The last of the evening sun was coming through the windows, casting long shadows from the furniture, and the footman now came to light candles in the sconces as Marston brought in a tray with a carafe of coffee and cups.
“Oh, but I won’t be—I’ll have Edward…your brother, for company,” Isabella replied, fearing she was becoming too overfamiliar with the viscount.
Augusta smiled.
“But it’s not the same as having female companionship. Men don’t talk in the same way as we do. They…I don’t know, they’re not the same,” she said, and Isabella smiled.
“I suppose not, but it’s only for a few hours. Besides, I got the feeling you and Hugh are…close,” she said, and Augusta blushed.
Again, Isabella wondered whether she had overstepped the mark. She barely knew Augusta, though the intensity of their companionship over the past days had brought them close. It had been the look on Augusta’s face—surprise and delight—at seeing Hugh standing in the library. The look had been reciprocated, and Isabella felt certain Hugh felt the same way for Augusta.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that, no. We’ve been friends for quite some time, but…well, do you think so?” Augusta said, sounding surprised by Isabella’s suggestion.
“I do, yes—he came to see you, not anyone else. He was glad you were still here, and now he’s invited you to walk with him on the moors tomorrow. I’d say he likes you,” she said, and Augusta smiled.
“After Grenville, I wondered if I’d ever want to…feel anything for a man again. Not that I did feel anything for Grenville, except a sense of dutiful honour to my vows before God. But Hugh is different. I doubt he thinks the same way about me, though—I know he doesn’t,” she said, but Isabella thought differently.
The way Hugh looked at Augusta had been the same way Edward had looked at Isabella in the study on the night of their first kiss. It was a look of longing, tinged with the possibility of rejection, as though Hugh, too, was uncertain of pursuing a match.
“I wouldn’t be so certain—and why shouldn’t the two of you find happiness together? I’m sure no one would object, least of all your brother,” Isabella replied.
She took a sip of coffee, watching as Augusta pondered her words.
“Well, I don’t know, but…we’ll see. I think I’ll go to bed now. I’m feeling rather tired,” she said, and wishing Isabella goodnight, she left the drawing room, leaving her half-finished coffee cup behind.
Isabella feared she had said the wrong thing, even as the matter had appeared obvious to her. There was no doubt in Isabella’s mind—Hugh was enamoured with Augusta, and Isabella hoped Augusta would come to realize this for herself. She lingered in the drawing room a while longer, finishing her coffee and perusing the books on the shelves.
