Page 20 of The Duke's Scandal
“But it is a good first step.”
Isobella managed to smile. “Thank you for listening to me, Amelia. I am inclined to keep all my emotions and thoughts entirely to myself, but I can see that it has not done me as much good as I might have thought.”
Lady Amelia’s smile faded. “It is always good to share heavy burdens, I think. I do not know what I would do without the other bluestockings!”
“Nor I,” Isobella admitted, looking to her left and smiling at the way her friends all laughed together. “I shall miss you all very much when the time comes for us to part ways.”
Lady Amelia nodded and pressed Isobella’s hand. “But it is not today that we must part, so let us not think of it.”
“Lady Isobella! Good evening.”
Isobella turned her head, ready to speak to the Duke of Exeter, ready to say to him that she was sorry for the way she had not answered his question about coming to call, only to look into the jolly face of Lord Preston. A little surprised at how her heart dipped low, she dropped into a quick curtsy. “Good evening, Lord Preston.”
“I have come to claim my dance,” he said, as two other gentlemen approached, one being Lord Broughton. “I hope you have not forgotten?”
“I have not,” she answered, giving him her dance card without delay.
Lady Amelia moved forward. “Broughton!” she said, taking his arm. “You have come to dance with me also, I hope?”
The gentleman chuckled and lifted her hand, kissing the back of it. “Of course, my love. The waltz shall be mine,I think!” He smiled then at Isobella, gesturing to the gentleman beside him. “Lady Isobella, might I introduce the Earl of Ryeland? Lord Ryeland, this is Lady Isobella. Her brother is the Earl of Granville.”
The gentleman’s eyes warmed at once. “I am acquainted with Lord Granville. I have not had the pleasure of being introduced to his sister as yet, however, so the pleasure is all mine.” Bowing low, he came a step or two closer. “If Lord Preston would be so kind, I should also like to sign your dance card, Lady Isobella?” With a warm smile, he looked to Lady Amelia. “And yours also, if I might?”
A little surprised that the gentleman would be so eager to sign her dance card after only a few words of introduction, Isobella was quick to nod. “But of course. I thank you.”
“The pleasure is mine.” Lord Ryeland glanced at her, holding her gaze for just a moment before looking away, a hint of a smile gracing his lips. This sent something scurrying through Isobella’s core, his look not only astonishing her but making her blush – something she had not done in many a year! When he returned her dance card to her, Isobella smiled but said nothing, wondering why this gentleman appeared to be so interested in her when they had only just been introduced! It was not as though Lord Broughton would befriend a scoundrel or a rogue, so he must be a gentleman of good standing, which, at least, was some comfort.
“Wonderful!” Lord Preston directed his gaze back towards Isobella. “I look forward to our dance, Lady Isobella.”
Isobella nodded but said nothing. She was still waiting for the Duke of Exeter to appear, wondering when he would come to make his appearance known. What dance would he take? Would he want to dance the waltz with heragain? Swallowing hard, she pushed the thought aside. If the Duke did such a thing, then thetonwould certainly take all the more notice of his supposed attention towards her – and what then?
“Lord Broughton has told me a good deal about you, Lady Isobella.” Lord Ryeland’s eyes flickered with interest. “You are very learned, I hear.”
Immediately, Isobella understood why the gentleman had been so interested in dancing with her. He had, it seemed, been informed about her by Lord Broughton who, no doubt, was doing so with the very best of intentions – namely to push her towards a suitable gentleman. “I do enjoy reading, yes.”
“Not only novels!” Lord Broughton replied with a grin. “What is it that interests you at present, Lady Isobella?”
Isobella smiled briefly, a nervousness tumbling through her. Lord Broughton meant well, but she did not want to be connected to any gentleman. Spinsterhood was to be her path, and even this very amiable Lord Ryeland would do nothing to change that. “I am studying a little more about the animal kingdom.”
“And birds, of course!” Lord Preston interjected, a broad smile on his face. “That ismyarea of interest, I confess, and I have been very eager indeed to share my knowledge with Lady Isobella. It is not very often that a young lady shows such an interest in such things!”
“That is because it is generally discouraged,” Lady Amelia said, before Isobella could respond. “It is very refreshing to discover gentlemen who are not in the least bit concerned about such interests, however, and instead, seek to encourage them.”
Lord Ryeland smiled but directed his attention back towards Isobella. “I am certainly not at all opposed to it. Ithink having a young lady who loves to learn and to read and to study means that there can be many more interesting conversations.”
“Indeed, I quite agree!” Lord Preston exclaimed, his voice a little louder than before, as if to suggest he did not want to be forgotten. “It appears to me that many a gentleman can be disinclined towards gossip and whispers and even balls and soirees without too much notice from theton,but a young lady who turns from all of that and seeks, instead, to expand her knowledge is given quite the rebuff! Why should it be thatsheis ignored and slighted when a gentleman is not?”
Isobella smiled, nodded, but inwardly felt herself squirm. Both of these gentlemen appeared to be very pleasant indeed, but she did not know what to do with their attentions. This conversation certainly appeared to be directed towards her, towards encouraging her to think well of both fellows and Isobella, uncertain what she ought to say or do, found herself looking down at her clasped hands, her breathing a little quicker now.
“I – I should take my leave,” she said suddenly, lifting her head and looking straight at Lady Amelia. “I must go in search of my brother; he will be wondering where I am. After all, we did say that we were only to do a turn about the room!”
Lady Amelia nodded, her brow a little furrowed. “Of course. I will accompany you.” She smiled at her betrothed when he offered to join them, excused herself from Lord Preston and Lord Ryeland – with Isobella doing the same – and then took Isobella’s arm.
“Broughton does not know anything about your hesitancy when it comes to gentlemen,” she murmured, as LordBroughton also took his leave of the other two fellows. “Do not think poorly of him, I beg you.”
“Of course I do not,” Isobella answered quickly, speaking in a low voice. “I know very well that he was thinking very kindly of me.”
“And Lord Ryeland does appear to be a good fellow.”
