Page 19 of Rescuing a Tantalising Heiress
“He’s gone back to Burlington Grange, Isabella. It’s all right. Everything’s been decided on. You’re to stay here until it’s safe for you to return home,” she said.
Isabella had not been expecting this. She did not wish to be an imposition on their hospitality. They had already been more than kind to her, and it embarrassed her to think she had slept all night in the room adjoining that of Augusta.
“Oh, but I can’t impose on you like this. It’s not right. You’ve already been so kind. I feel dreadfully rude,” Isabella replied, but Augusta shook her head.
“Don’t be silly, Isabella. It’s all for the best. You’re still in danger—that’s what your father and Edward have decided. If you returned to Burlington Grange, it’s certain the kidnappers would be waiting for you. But you’re safe here, I promise. Come now, if you’re feeling up to it, I’ll take you down to breakfast. Edward’s waiting for us in the dining room,” she said, taking Isabella’s arm and helping her to rise.
Isabella still felt rude for imposing on them like this, but Augusta was insistent, even as Isabella was surprised to think her father had left without so much as saying goodbye.
“And my father just left?” she asked as Hetty brought a jug of warm water to the washstand.
Millicent now entered the room with several dresses under her arm, laying them out on the bed as Augusta helped Isabella out of the dress she had lent her the day before.
“He came to say goodbye, but I wouldn’t allow him to wake you. He told me he always kissed you goodbye when you were a child—whenever he went away on business—and wanted to do so now. He’s going to send your maid here, too,” Augusta said.
These words brought a tear to Isabella’s eye. She had never known her father had done that when she was a child. The duke was often away on business, and Isabella would sit in the window of the drawing room, willing his carriage to come into sight.
“He did? I didn’t know that,” she said, and Augusta smiled.
“He loves you very much, Isabella. That’s why you’re going to stay here, out of danger. We’ll look after you. It’ll be fun—we’ll get to know one another. Come now, choose one of my dresses to wear. Don’t you think the peach-coloured one is pretty?” she asked.
Isabelladidthink it was pretty, and it was not long before she was dressed and ready to go down to breakfast. She still could not believe she had slept right through the night, even as her stomach was rumbling with hunger.
There was a pleasant smell of breakfast in the air as they approached the dining room, and upon entering, they found the viscount already at the table, with a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. He was reading a periodical, and he looked up at Isabella and smiled.
“I trust you slept well,” he said.
It was the same smile as in her dream, and Isabella blushed, remembering how real his touch had felt.
“Oh, quite well. Yes, thank you,” she said, taking a seat at the table.
“Your father asked me to convey his love to you. He left last night, and he’s sending your maid here today. We want it to appear as though you’re back at Burlington Grange. It might help to bring the kidnappers out of the shadows,” Edward said, rising from his place to help himself from the large silver tureens on the sideboard.
A footman stepped forward to pour Isabella a cup of coffee, and she gave the viscount a look of gratitude, grateful to him for his kindness, and the obvious seriousness with which he took her predicament.
“Do you know who might want to do this terrible thing?” Isabella asked.
She knew she should feel afraid, but in the company of Edward, and in the dining room of Howdwell Heights, where the sun shone brightly through the window, and the business of breakfast was occurring, it was difficult to feel any immediate sense of danger, even as Isabella knew she should.
“Your father can’t think of anyone with such a terrible grudge against him as to do such a wicked thing,” he replied, sitting back at the table with a dish of sausages and coddled eggs in front of him.
“I’m glad he’s sending Anne—I feel as though I’m imposing terribly on your hospitality,” Isabella said, but the viscount waved his hand dismissively.
“Not at all. We’re glad of the company, aren’t we, Augusta?” he said, and his sister nodded.
“I certainly am. I don’t get such company very often. It’s my own fault, I suppose, but I’m glad of it now, though I’m sorry for the circumstance, of course,” she said, beckoning Isabella to join her at the sideboard and help herself from the tureens.
Isabella did so, helping herself to sausages, eggs, and devilled kidneys—her favourite. There were freshly baked rolls with butter and homemade preserves, and the coffee was hot and strong. It was pleasant to have company at breakfast.
Isabella’s father was often working and would eat in his study or even in his carriage as he made his way to one appointment or another. But the viscount and his sister seemed to take this first meal of the day seriously, and they lingered in the dining room until after the clock in the hallway had struck ten o’clock.
“I hope your maid will arrive later today,” Edward said as he set down his knife and fork.
“She’s been my loyal companion for many years,” Isabella replied, for she was anxious to see Anne as soon as possible.
Her maid would no doubt have been overjoyed at the news of Isabella being discovered safe and would have set about packing a bag of clothes for her immediately. Isabella also wondered if Anne might bring Caesar with her, too, though she knew the arrival of the excitable dog would be a further imposition on the hospitality of the viscount and his sister.
“I don’t know what I’d do without Millicent. She’s a godsend,” Augusta said, nodding her head.
