Page 35 of Lady Controversial
Isolda smiled. ‘Isn’t that the most romantic sacrifice you have ever heard of?’
Ellery returned her smile, reluctant to disabuse her. ‘Even if it was perhaps unfair on your aunt and your father.’
‘Papa could have forbidden it if he found it indelicate,’ Isolda replied hotly.
‘Indeed he could. But I should imagine that your aunt being obliged to observe the man she adored making, if you’ll pardon me, sheep’s eyes at her sister only exacerbated her torment, which would at least account for the fact that she has carried on her grudge for so long.’
‘Yes, I suppose…’ With her arms still folded defensively across her midriff, Isolda tapped the fingers of one hand impatiently against her opposite forearm. ‘But there again, one could argue that my aunt ought not to have come between Mama and Lord Bellingham, if their love for one another was that obvious. It was only her objections that prevented them from marrying, so it seems like a case of sour grapes to me, and I believe she got exactly what she deserved. But then I would say that, wouldn’t I?’
‘Under the circumstances I think that you have been remarkably fair-minded. It cannot be easy for you, being made to feel that you were to blame for the circumstances of your birth when you are actually the one innocent party in the entire affair.’
‘Perhaps, but even so…’
‘What are your plans for the future?’ he asked.
‘As I have already told you, to see Jane through to a satisfactory marriage,’ Isolda replied without hesitation. ‘I assured Papa on his deathbed—well, not his deathbed, but shortly before he took his own life—that I would do so, and I have no intention of reneging on my promise, annoyingly demanding as Jane can sometimes be. Anyway, once I have done so I will be free to take a position as a governess.’
Ellery scowled. ‘Is that your ambition?’
‘Well of course not!’ she cried impatiently. ‘But what other choices do I have?’
Ellery smiled and waved a placatory hand. ‘It seems unfair that your father made you responsible for Jane. He must have realised how very different the two of you are. Was he punishing you for something that wasn’t your fault as well?’
‘I don’t think so. He was fully aware that Jane is a self-centred scatterbrain, but he also knew that my aunt was most anxious to take control of her.’ Isolda wrinkled her brow. ‘The reason why is less certain, as is Papa’s insistence that Lady Bellingham not be givencarte blanche.’
‘But she is, given that she is to sponsor Jane’s curtsey and that you will not be there to guide your sister.’
‘She will be able to influence Jane’s choice of a husband, I presume you mean to imply.’ Isolda nodded, not waiting for a response to her question. ‘Yes, I am aware of that, and it’s a bit of a conundrum. I cannot deprive Jane of the opportunity to shine in society, but she can only do so with an appropriate chaperone. I am not that person, having not been presented myself. But Jane wouldn’t listen to my advice anyway, especially if she attached herself to someone whom I considered unsuitable but Lady Bellingham approved of, so there is little point in my intervening.’
‘Why is your aunt so anxious to oblige her niece, given her antipathy towards you?’
Isolda shrugged. ‘Well, there’s the question. I have absolutely no idea, but you can take it from me that she isn’t acting out of the goodness of her heart. That is especially true since she is paying for some of Jane’s clothing for the season—which, even in the light of the economies I have insisted upon, is costing her a considerable amount. Take it from me, she has a reason that I have not yet been able to fathom.’
‘You are in an unenviable position, but I hope you will permit me to relieve you of the burden of some of your responsibilities.’
She blinked up at him, her eyes wide and wary. ‘Why?’ she asked.
‘Why?’
Ellery was a little taken aback by her acerbic response. Unlike the majority of females, he knew better than to expect her to fall gratefully upon the offer. Indeed, he would not have made it if he’d had any doubts in that regard. Nor did he fully understand why he had made it, come to that. The gesture had been spontaneous, but he was determined not to regret it even if he hadn’t imagined that she would suspect his motives.
Which were what, exactly? A burning desire to help this most fascinating and self-determined of creatures was all he could come up with. He suspected that his reasons were far more complex, but wasn’t yet ready to confront them.
‘Because I feel partially responsible for your situation,’ he made do with saying. ‘There is no doubt in my mind that whatever Brooke has planned, he has come up with that plan with the intention of causing me maximum inconvenience. You have been caught in the crossfire, which hardly seems fair.’
‘I see.’
Brutus, chasing after the dried leaves that his scampering had sent flying into the air, came running back to them. Wagging his entire body, he fell at Isolda’s feet and rolled onto his back. Ellery and Isolda both laughed and simultaneously bent to scratch the puppy’s rotund tummy. Their hands clashed and somehow their fingers entwined. Isolda jumped back as though she had been scalded and snatched her hand back.
‘Sorry!’ they both said at once.
Ellery watched her as she attempted to recover her composure. She had stood up to him like an equal all the time they had been discussing Brooke and her own problems, but an accidental clash of hands had her blushing like the inexperienced miss that she was. Ellery noticed a modicum of curiosity in the depths of her eyes, as though she had felt the same reaction as he had and wondered about it. He ached to further her education. Hers was not the first woman’s hand he had touched, accidentally or otherwise, but his body’s response to such a simple contact had never been so extreme before and he was as baffled by the resulting primal desire as Isolda herself clearly was.
A spark had been ignited in his bloodstream, sending turbulent heat to the parts of his body where he needed it the least. Fortunately, Isolda had looked away and was unlikely to have noticed. By the time she turned to face him again his tumescence had subsided, but the air between them remained taut with the silent awakening of shocked awareness. The actual awakening, very possibly, of Isolda’s suppressed passions. Her eyes had widened again, and the tip of her tongue was tracing the contour of her lower lip, an instinctive reaction that implied new-found knowledge of the power of her femininity and the effect it had on him.
Brutus, tired of being ignored, rolled back onto his paws, shook the leaves from his coat and dashed off in search of new adventures, helping to break the tension. The silence between them now held the essence of expectancy and Ellery realised it was up to him to defuse the moment. Ordinarily never at a loss for words, his gaze clashed with Isolda’s and he had absolutely no idea what to say to her.
‘I should get back before I am missed.’ It was she who eventually spoke. ‘If Jane sees your horse…’ She spread her hands and allowed her words to trail off.
