Page 61 of Lady Controversial
‘You are sorry?’ He looked at her as though seeing her for the first time. ‘You think this is your fault?’
She glanced up at him through eyes dulled with disappointment. ‘Well it is, isn’t it? I have caused friction between you and your mother, which was not my intention, and you are justifiably angry with me.’
Ellery barked on a hollow laugh. ‘You cannot be responsible for what has existed since I was in short coats. My mother and I have never seen eye to eye. I am almost cross with you now, but only because you entertained that idea of taking one iota of the blame for a single moment.’
She flapped a hand. ‘Even so…’
‘Do not allow my mother to win, my sweet. There is nothing she likes more than to exert her authority, even in situations that have nothing to do with her.’ Ellery paused to grind his jaw and threw back his head, closing his eyes for an expressive moment as he thought of the many battles of will that he had fought with his intransigent parent since the death of his father had left her in his care. ‘Especially then.’
‘She does not like or approve of me; she made no effort to disguise that fact but she’s right about one thing. Association with me will certainly taint your sister’s reputation.’ Isolda sighed. ‘I cannot lie and claim that Brooke has got it wrong, and so we shall leave first thing in the morning and throw ourselves on my aunt’s mercy.’ She lifted her hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘I have tried everything else and I have run out of options. There is nothing left to be done.’
Ellery knelt in front of her and took both of her hands in his. They were cold. ‘It isn’t like you to give up without a fight.’
She turned away from him. ‘Perhaps I am tired of always fighting and never winning. It was foolish to suppose that I could dupe society and its strict moral code indefinitely,’ she sighed. ‘There’s no help for it. I have done my best. Jane will now have to take her chances. If I quietly withdraw, there is an outside possibility that your mother will keep what she knows to herself.’
Ellery shook his head. ‘You give her too much credit.’
‘Perhaps.’
‘Look at me, Isolda.’
He waited until she turned her head with obvious reluctance, which is when he noticed the tears streaming silently down her cheeks. The sight unhinged him. He had expected her to be furious and burning with ways to get the better of Brooke; not to cry.
Never to cry.
Without conscious thought he stood, pulled her to her feet and enclosed her in his arms. Her head fell onto his shoulder and he felt her entire body vibrate as she gave vent to the suppressed emotions that she had held in check for so long.
‘It’s hopeless,’ she snuffled, the words muffled because her face was still buried in his shoulder. ‘I might as well give up now.’
‘And allow Brooke to run rampant with his debauched schemes all over the district? Have mercy, sweet Isolda. He is doing this partly to revenge himself upon me, and I shall be unable to get the better of him without your help.’
His affronted tone had the desired effect and she lifted her head, some of her old spirit reflected in eyes that still swam with tears. ‘I rather think you can do anything you set your mind to without my involvement. I assume you are worried that he will demand ownership of Rose Cottage in return for his silence. It does legally belong to me in case you were wondering. I asked Papa’s lawyer and I dare say Brooke did as well. Anyway, I shall not give it to him.’ She shuddered. ‘I could not live with myself if I gave in to his demands now. I will find another way…’
‘You will have no choice if you leave here. His price will be keeping what he knows from your aunt in return for possession of that cottage.’
She pulled out of his arms and straightened her shoulders in a defiant gesture that he was starting to recognise. Unless he mistook the matter, his adorable siren had recovered her wits and was ready to fight back.
‘Then he will be disappointed,’ she said, with a defiant toss of her head, ‘since I fully intent to tell her myself.’
Isolda missed the comfort of Ellery’s strong arms but knew it would be a miscalculation to lean on him, physically or otherwise. If she had been ignorant of that truth before meeting his mother, she was now left in no doubt whatsoever. Unfortunately, her head and heart were not communicating and she was a fair way to falling rather desperately in love with this handsome earl, despite the fact that she had only known him for a few days. Was it possible to fall in love that quickly?
She had absolutely no idea, since romantic love was not a subject that had occupied her mind before now. All she knew was that alien emotions had occupied her since first making his acquaintance. Her heart beat a little faster whenever she heard his voice. Anticipation gripped her when he smiled at her in a particular way. Images of his handsome features haunted her dreams. But that was her guilty secret and no one, but no one, would extract the truth from her.
She had her pride.
Even so, when Ellery held her and looked at her with such unguarded passion in his expression, she could pretend that he returned her feelings as opposed to just admiring her for her individuality. When he held her in his arms, she was so dangerously close to losing all self-control and making an almighty fool of herself that she simply had to put space between them.
And she also had to somehow find a way to resolve the situation with Brooke in a way that would protect Jane’s prospects and prevent him from taking possession of Rose Cottage. A possible means of so doing percolated through the haze of passion that clouded her mind. It would be dangerous, very dangerous, and if she told Ellery he would try to prevent her from taking such an admittedly reckless step.
But, she reminded herself, she was not his responsibility and did not need his permission to do what she thought best.
‘Jane and I will return to the gatehouse now,’ she said, looking away from him. ‘Have the goodness to allow us to stay tonight and we will go to my aunt at first light.’
‘You are going nowhere!’ he said in a tone of firm authority.
Isolda’s head swung round in outrage. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘I believe you heard me perfectly well.’ He gently grasped her upper arm and Isolda didn’t possess the strength of will to shake his hand free.
