Page 32 of Rescuing a Tantalising Heiress
Isabella smiled. The intrigues of the servants were as fascinating as those of theton. People were people. They fell in love, and out of love, they had their secrets and their pasts. Whether rich or poor, there was much to unite upstairs and downstairs, and as she tried to fall asleep, Isabella pondered her encounter with the viscount.
He’s a charming man, but…there’s something more to him. I can’t quite put my finger on it. He’s holding something back. I really don’t know anything about him. And putting his arm around me. It was quite…a bold gesture,Isabella thought to herself, her stomach rumbling as she turned over in bed and pulled the blankets up over her.
But it was no use. Hunger had struck, and Isabella knew she would not be able to sleep until she had satisfied it. Sighing, she pulled back the blankets and got up, fumbling for the tinderbox and striking a light for the candle by her bedside. Anne had bid her goodnight an hour or so ago, and the house was quiet.
I’ll go down to the kitchen and find something to eat. Even just a piece of bread and preserves would do,”Isabella thought to herself, as now she pulled a shawl around her shoulders and crept to the door of her bedroom, shushing Caesar, who had awoken from, his bed in the corner.
“Go back to sleep,” she whispered as the dog sniffed inquisitively at her.
She was fearful of waking Augusta, for she still slept in the adjoining room to the viscount’s sister. But another door led out onto the landing, and Isabella opened it, straining her ears for any noise she could hear. But the house was silent, and it seemed the servants had all retired for the night.
Isabella made her way cautiously along the landing, pausing again at the top of the stairs to listen. Her stomach rumbled, and she held her breath, convinced the sound would echo through the hallway. But there was no obvious disturbance, and now Isabella made her way down the stairs and through the door to the kitchens.
I just hope Mr Marston isn’t creeping around the place,Isabella thought to herself, imagining her terror if the figure of the butler emerged from the shadows.
But all was quiet in the kitchens, the glowing remnants of the fire giving out a little light as Isabella set her candle down on the table. She had never been into the kitchens before, and now she looked around her, seeing the door to the pantry in the far corner. A loaf of bread stood on the table, and Isabella cut a thick slice before searching in the pantry for something to spread on it.
She found a jar of preserves and a piece of cheese, bringing them out in triumph like an explorer discovering a lost treasure. The preserves were spread liberally on the bread, and Isabella cut a large piece of cheese, not caring for the cook’s sensibilities as she did so.
“Delicious,” she murmured, taking a large bite of the bread.
Again, she felt foolish for having purposefully missed dinner, and cut herself another slice from the loaf, spreading it with preserves and cutting another piece of cheese.
When she had finished eating, a sudden thirst came over her, and she searched again in the pantry, finding a jug of milk from which she poured a cup. With supper over, Isabella made her way back upstairs, pausing at the top of the stairs by the door into the hallway and listening.
She could hear no sound coming from beyond, and with her stomach no longer rumbling, Isabella stepped out into the dark hallway, holding her candle aloft. The bright flame cast flickering shadows across the walls, and a suit of armour appeared to come alive, rearing over her and causing her to startle.
“Oh, don’t be so foolish,”she whispered to herself, smiling at the thought of her own fear.
The last time she had been out of bed at such an hour had been the night of her kidnapping, and she thought back to the events of that fateful night, shaking her head at her own foolishness. Isabella had no intention of leaving the house at such an hour, and she knew she had to be careful if she intended to slip out for a walk in the daytime again.
Edward had only been trying to keep her safe, and now she vowed to follow his commands, even as she also intended to ask him again if he would walk with her in the gardens. Isabella enjoyed his company, and a bond had developed between them, a growing sense of friendship, even as Isabella had tested that bond earlier in the day.
He’s a good man,she thought to herself, making her way towards the stairs leading up to the landing.
Isabella was looking forward to getting back into bed and falling asleep with a satiated appetite. She would sleep late the next morning and join Augusta for breakfast. But as she came to the bottom of the steps, a door across the hallway opened, and a figure appeared, illuminated in the light of a candle he was holding in his hand. Isabella paused, knowing she had been caught, and now the viscount advanced towards her, holding up his candle and rolling his eyes.
“You’ve not been outside, have you?” he said, his tone one of exasperation.
In this, Isabella could at least tell the truth, and she shook her head, blushing under his gaze.
“No, I’ve not been anywhere. Well, I have—I went down to the kitchens. I was hungry, you see,” she said, lowering her gaze.
The viscount laughed.
“I’d be hungry, too, if I’d missed dinner. Mrs Jacobs will treat the matter as a mystery, of course. She’ll wonder who’s been eating from her pantry. But I promise I won’t tell her,” he said, and Isabella smiled.
“I’m sorry. I…I shouldn’t be sneaking around like this,” she said, but the viscount shook his head.
“I’m sure we can allow it—at least you’re not outside,” he said, and it was Isabella’s turn to laugh.
“Well, I…” she began, not knowing whether it was appropriate to find herself in his company at such a late hour, even as she was more than happy to be so.
They had argued, but such arguments were now forgotten, and Isabella could not help but find herself curious to learn more about him.
“I couldn’t sleep. I don’t know why. I was wide awake. I came downstairs to do some work, but…it’s not going very well,” he said, sighing as he ran his hand through his hair.
He was dressed in his breeches and an open shirt, his cravat gone, and Isabella could see the hair on his chest and the outline of his muscular form.
