Page 48 of The Rake's Daughter
By the end of the first week, he’d made good progress and, planning a visit to one of the more distant of his tenants, the name of a village popped out at him from the map. It was the village where, he’d learned from Edwards, the manager of Studley Park Manor, Isobel Burton had spent the early years of her life with her mother.
Leo stared at the map. It wasn’t far out of his way. He could...
No, he didn’t need to go there. Any remaining doubts he’d had about Isobel had been thoroughly eradicated byhis visit to Studley Park Manor. He thrust all thought of visiting the village firmly from his mind.
But his eyes kept returning to the map.
He was curious, that was all, curious about her early childhood before she’d arrived at Studley Park, curious to see how she and her mother had lived. He wanted to know everything about her, and not because he mistrusted her. The truth was, he was becoming all too fascinated by that young lady.
But no, he wasn’t going there. He had quite enough to do without visiting obscure villages for no reason but simple curiosity.
***
Another invitation, for Thursday.” Izzy fished it out of her pocket and handed it to Clarissa. “That’s six for this week alone.”
“Not counting Lord Randall’s invitation to Astley’s Amphitheatre tomorrow night,” Clarissa reminded her.
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten that one. I’m really looking forward to it. Unlike this ‘musical evening’—I hope it’s not like Lady Gastonbury’s soirée was.” She pulled a face. “That granddaughter of hers—lord, she can’t hit a note to save her life!”
“Oh, but she’s so nice. And so enthusiastic.”
Izzy laughed. “You’re so much nicer than I am. I like Cicely, too, but the moment she opens her mouth to sing, I’d happily smother her.”
Clarissa arranged the invitations in a fan on the table in front of her. They’d fallen into the habit of spending their free evenings in the summerhouse after Lady Scattergood, who kept very early hours, went to bed. “It’s working well, isn’t it, our plan?”
Izzy nodded. The Studley sisters were gradually being absorbed into the ton, as she’d hoped. But it wasn’t without mixed feelings on her part.
They sat quietly, watching the night slowly darkening around them. The sky was cobalt blue, the candles inside glowing golden, setting shadows dancing with every faint air current.
“Isn’t it beautiful here?” Clarissa said. “It’s like the fairy houses we used to imagine when we were children.”
Izzy’s thoughts were elsewhere. “Clarissa, have you noticed how we’ve been introducing ourselves to other people?”
“What do you mean? We do it as we always have.”
“Yes, but until we came to London, we rarely had to introduce ourselves to anyone—everyone at Studley Park knew who we were.”
Clarissa’s brow furrowed slightly. “What are you’re getting at?”
“We tell people our names, and we say we’re sisters, and then when they comment on our lack of resemblance, we explain that you take after your mama and I take after our father.”
“Which is all perfectly true.”
“Yes, but we never so much as hint that we had different mothers. Or that I’m not legitimate.”
Clarissa shrugged. “Well, why should we? It’s nobody’s business but ours.”
“It’s not very honest.”
“No, it’s not, but I don’t think we have any choice. If people are so stupidly prejudiced...”
Izzy gave her a troubled look. “You realize once the truth gets out—and it will—you will bear the brunt of the blame.”
“Nonsense. They’ll all blame you, as everyone always has in the past. You know they will, Izzy. For some ridiculous reason I’m held to be the naive, easily led one, and you’re the bad one who leads poor, pure, innocent me into temptation of all the wickedest sorts.”
Izzy grimaced. “Baaaad blood will out,” she said in a very fair imitation of one of the servants at Studley Park.
Clarissa snorted. “It’s not fair and it never has been, but you deserve to make your come-out and make a future for yourself just as much as I do. And I need you with me if I’m to manage. Anyway, it’s not a lie, not really—just not the complete truth. And nobody ever tells the complete truth anyway, do they?”
