Page 20 of The Notorious Dashing Viscount
“I suppose I’m being silly,” she murmured. “It’s just… well, I’m already used to getting looks from people. I’m used to being snubbed. Used to that silly nickname. But now, after this article, things are going to get worse, aren’t they? People will think I’m trying to catch the viscount. He will think that. They’re going tolaugh at me. And what if Viola’s mother decides she shouldn’t spend time with me? You know how badly Lady Appleton wants her daughter to marry. She already thinks I’m a bad influence.”
“Viola is a stronger person than you think,” James said firmly. “She’ll stand up to her mother if necessary.”
“Aside from you, I have one friend in the whole world. I’m so alone, James. It hurts so much.”
His face twisted. Sliding an arm around her shoulder, he pulled her close in a tight hug. They sat like that for a few more minutes.
“You must marry, Izzy,” he said quietly.
She pulled away. “Don’t, James.”
“I’m serious. I’m not trying to make fun of you, I’m trying to make you understand how serious this is. The only thing that will recover your reputation is a good marriage. I know you don’t like Lord Raisin, but he’s not a bad man.”
“I know, but I don’t want to marry him. I could never marry a man that I… that I couldn’t be honest with.”
James bit his lip. “We all have secrets, Isolde. Even from the ones we love most.”
She sighed, dragging the back of her hand across her eyes. “It’s too late, anyway. If I was going to get married, I should have done it years ago. I’m a fourth-Season lady with a reputation for spurning gentlemen. I’m a spinster. I’m a joke. Any gentleman who wanted to court me is going to be mocked. I think even Lord Raisin has had enough.”
James clenched his jaw. “I won’t have it. Anyone who mocks you in front of me, even a little, is going to answer for it.”
“Don’t be silly, James. A little mockery never hurt anyone.”
She didn’t believe her own words, though. Right now, Isolde felt small, silly, and extremely miserable. There was no way out of this, was there?
Except getting married, of course. and Isolde had alwaysknown that marriage wasn’t for her. It was a trap, and gentlemen couldn’t be trusted.
Her mother had trusted one of them, and she lost everything. Everything, even her own life.
Isolde shuddered.
“Oh, my dear, are you cold?” James asked, misunderstanding.
Isolde smiled faintly and said nothing.
“Father thinks you might be happier in the countryside,” James said slowly, after another pause. “He’s not sending you away, he just can’t bear seeing you so miserable. Mother believes you should persevere, as she contends that should you retreat to the countryside at this time, you may find it impossible to return. Not for many years, and then, what would be the purpose?
“Mama still wants me to marry,” Isolde observed. “I think Papa has given up hope.”
James’ expression tightened. “We have never lost faith in you, Izzy, neither in matters of matrimony nor in anything else. Society is a most unforgiving realm, yet we must navigate its challenges together. Shall we, dear Izzy? Let us devise a plan. You have always possessed such ingenuity in your ideas.’
She bit her lip. “I… I’m just tired, James. I think I’d like to rest a bit. I’ll just read my book; I think.”
James didn’t seem particularly happy at this, but reluctantly left the library, after a little prodding.
Isolde sat in the window seat and stared out, seeing nothing. Pride and Prejudice sat on her lap, but she didn’t open it.
This would never have happened to Elizabeth Bennet.
Chapter Six
Clayton cracked open his eyes, and immediately wished that he had not.
Am I dead? No, I don’t think so. I wish I were dead, though.
The ball had been fine, as gatherings of that kind go. Balls were stiff, formal things, in Clayton’s opinion, full of disapproving, overbearing mammas, bored middle-aged gentlemen, dandies who could barely mince around, and anxious, fluttery young debutantes, terrified of putting a foot wrong. And rightly so – the scandal sheet authors, safely anonymous, would be there, ready to report any misdemeanor, any embarrassment to the world at large, the very next day.
Clayton did not think that Society was interesting enough to write so extensively about, but some people read those gossip columns religiously. Ugh.
