Page 18 of The Notorious Dashing Viscount
“I think she had better read it,” James said quietly. “Everybody else will have.”
Isolde said nothing. She picked up the paper, unfolded it, and forced herself to begin reading.
Dear Readers, the Season has begun, our Society springing to life with the first ball of the Season. Deemed a roaring success, Lady Juliana’s party has been the perfect start to the new Season, starting off the famous Marriage Mart with a bang.
We have seen a great many promising matches, and a hostof beautiful new debutantes. However, the story that caught the attention of this author circled around none other than the Ice Queen herself.
For those unfamiliar with Lady Isolde Belford, prepare to be enlightened. A beautiful, intelligent, and rich young woman with a remarkable family and all the charms a doting parent could wish, Lady Isolde burst upon the London scene four Seasons ago. All predictions had her making a remarkable match in no time at all.
This author, for one, was surprised when Lady Isolde firmly rebuffed each suitor that came her way. Young and old, handsome and ugly, rich and poor, Lady Isolde turned her back on each one, to the none-too-subtle despair of her doting parents.
What likely started as a childish fancy, doubtless spurred on by too much novel reading, has turned into something much worse. Now beginning her fourth Season and her twenty-third year, Lady Isolde is on the cusp of spinsterhood. No longer a young, beautiful debutante, she is beginning to become a permanent fixture in London Society.
And we all know how Society tires of the ordinary.
As Lady Isolde’s suitors have trailed away, one can imagine that panic has set in. That is the only explanation – in this author’s opinion – for the spectacle of Lady Isolde waltzing with Lord Clayton, Viscount Henley himself.
The Viscount, known for his intrigues, scandals, and rakish behaviour, tends not to bother spinsters, but perhaps Lady Isolde will ensnare his heart?
A shocking scene presented itself. Lady Isolde fell – by accident or by design, who can say – and stumbled directly against the viscount himself. While onlookers stared in shock, the two conversed briefly, then immediately took to the dance floor, where they danced the scandalous waltz. They partedimmediately after the dance, leading us to wonder – what was discussed? Did the Ice Queen try to ensnare the Rake? Perhaps so. Will they meet again? We shall have to wait and see.
Let us watch with amusement as this story unfolds. The Rake and the Ice Queen – who will triumph? Will Lady Isolde freeze the viscount’s heart, or will Lord Henley melt the lady’s unyielding soul? Who will be left broken-hearted? More to the point, which of these two characters will receive their just rewards?
Perhaps the Ice Queen, who has turned down so many eligible men and frozen out so many others, is due for a little humbling, a little love and heartbreak to help her understand just how much suffering she has caused.
Or maybe the viscount, with his flirtatious ways, will finally meet a woman to ensnare his heart? Either way, this Season seems to be a remarkably interesting one.
This author is keen to see how it all ends. Hopefully you, dear reader, will follow along.
Isolde swallowed hard. Her throat was burning. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to laugh, cry, or scream. All at once, maybe. Was that possible.
“They want to see me humbled,” she said quietly. “They want to see him fall in love, but they want to see me punished. It isn’t fair. It isn’t fair!”
“I told you it was a bad idea,” Richard said decisively, reaching over and plucking the gossip sheet from Isolde’s hand. With one deft movement, he tossed the paper in the fire. It caught immediately, the edges crisping up and burning, the whole thing reduced to dust in a matter of minutes.
It hardly mattered. Isolde knew she’d always remember what she had read.
“I didn’t break anyone’s heart,” Isolde gabbled, tearspricking at her eyes. “I didn’t flirt with anyone. I didn’t lead anyone on, not unless you count ordinary politeness as leading somebody on. Those men didn’t love me, they wanted my money. It isn’t fair!”
James appeared at her side, wrapping his arms around her. Isolde sagged into him. She felt oddly hollow, almost numb.
“It’s not your fault, Izzy,” James murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Everybody was on their best behaviour tonight, so there can’t have been anything else to write about. If only one of the debutantes had spilled some wine on somebody’s dress, or fainted, or gone the wrong way when promenading, nobody would have noticed the business with Lord Henley and you.”
Isolde sniffled, feeling sorry for herself. “I didn’t do anything wrong. They’re trying to say that I tripped deliberately. Why? So he could catch me? What a silly thing to do.”
“You’d be surprised,” Beatrice remarked grimly. “I’ve known young ladies twist their ankles and come over all faint when their gentleman of choice is nearby. The symptoms vanish when he does. It would be comical if it wasn’t so deceitful.”
Isolde pulled out a chair and sat down with a thump. The breakfast things were spread out before her – bacon, toast, kippers, scrambled eggs, and fruit. It turned her stomach just to look at it.
Was everybody laughing at me the whole time? She thought, heart twisting. Did Viola know? Was that why she was so kind to me?
An awful thought struck her.
“Lord Henley will have read this, won’t he?” she said aloud.
Her parents exchanged looks.
“I doubt it,” Richard said, flashing an insincere smile. “Gentlemen don’t much care for scandal sheets.”
