Page 34 of The Duke's Scandal
“I am not hoping at all,” Isobella said firmly, ignoring the cry of her heart. “I just refuse to accept what is said of someone, that is all.”
Lord Granville ducked his head, looking a little embarrassed. “I shall have to go to speak with the Duke now, will I not?”
“Yes, I think you shall.” With a chuckle, Louisa took Isobella’s arm and then turned away directly, leaving her husband to go in search of the Duke. “Now, Isobella, I am not going to question you as regards the Duke himself, but I must warn you to be careful. I should not like to see you hurt again.”
Isobella’s heart thudded wildly. “I have no thoughts as regards the Duke, Louisa, truly.”
Her sister in law did not disagree with her but only smiled. “Be that as it may, just be aware that there are those in society who are… or whowerehopeful of another match.”
“Might I ask with whom?” Isobella could not help her curiosity, a knot twisting in her stomach. “Is it someone I am acquainted with?”
“I do not know if you are acquainted with Lady Deborah,” Louisa told her, sending a sidelong glance in Isobella’s direction. “Although I have heard she is a lady with a goodmany suitors – or gentlemen who would wish to be suitors, at least! There may be no connection between them any longer now, since there are these whispers about him.” Her lips twisted. “When a young lady has good standing, beauty, and an outstanding dowry, is it any wonder that she has so many gentlemen pursuing her? She will not care if the Duke is no longer available, I am sure.”
The knot in Isobella’s stomach grew tighter. “I see.”
“But given that you are not in the least bit interested in the Duke, it should not concern you, should it?” Louisa smiled, but Isobella did not respond, fully aware that what she had said to her sister in law and what she truly felt were quite at odds with each other. Instead, all she gave Louisa was a smile, saying nothing more, and soon Louisa changed the subject to something a good deal more banal. All the while, however, Isobella’s thoughts lingered on the Duke of Exeter, wondering if there might be a connection between himself and Lady Deborah after all… and thereafter, why her heart felt so terribly painful at even the thought of it all.
Chapter Sixteen
“Ihave found no connection between Lady Clara and Lady Victoria.” Amos looked straight down into Lady Isobella’s eyes, seeing how her lips pursed with displeasure as they stood outside on the busy London street. “Lord Galbraith has been very discreet with his questions, but he did not find anything of use. It seems that although they are acquainted, they are not related.”
“Thank you for your endeavors.” With a sigh, she turned around and then made her way towards the door of the library. They had arranged to meet for a brief conversation in public, but now Amos could think of nothing other than being in her company. “I am also sorry to hear of the other rumors spread about you.”
This made Amos’ eyebrows lift high. “New rumors?”
Twisting her head around to look at him, Lady Isobella’s cheeks grew rosy as she turned to face him. “You have not heard? My brother was the one who informed me of it.”
Amos frowned. “He did come to apologize to me.”
“Oh, not that he believes it, of course!” Lady Isobella put her hand on his arm, her eyes searching his, and theurge to lower his head became so strong, Amos had to squeeze his hand into a fist so that his fingernails bit hard into his palms. “It was evidently some whisper that your estate is in a state of disrepair.”
He flushed hot. “It most certainly is not!”
“I believe you,” she said, holding her hand to his arm still. “My brother does also, albeit after some discussion.” Her lips curved into a gentle smile, and then she took her hand away. “But there is someone who has begun to speak of you, that is quite certain.”
“Lady Clara?”
Lady Isobella shook her head. “I do not think it would have been her. Her fear did seem real, and I am sure that she experienced this dreadful thing that happened to her, but I donotthink it was you. Someone convinced her that it was you, however. I am quite certain of that.”
“Most likely, Lady Sara?”
She hesitated. “Mayhap. Or Lady Victoria, given her determination to have us all believe the lady. The vehemence Lady Victoria displayed was quite extraordinary, and my heart tells me that there is something more to it than just mere friendship… if there was even that between them!” Her head tilted towards the door of the library. “Do you wish to join us, or is there somewhere else you need to be?”
Amos could not have been held back. “But of course.” Following her into the library, he looked all around him, glad to still be lingering in conversation with Lady Isobella. It was not in the least bit quiet, much to his surprise. There were conversations going on in many parts of the establishment, with some visitors seeming to be there solely for conversation!
“You have not been in here before?”
“I have but not in many years,” Amos replied, looking all around him as, to his delight, Lady Isobella took his arm so they might walk together. “It has become a little more of a social gathering than I remembered.”
Lady Isobella screwed up her face. “Indeed, it has been. I wish it were not so, but all the same, I am glad to be surrounded by so many books.” Her smile returned. “There is so much here, so much just waiting to be read and learned and explored. I feel the happiest when I am within a place like this.”
Amos slowed his steps, taking her in as she spoke. There was a beauty about her unlike anything he had ever seen before, something so incredible, it stole his breath away. It was as if, upon stepping into the library, she had come alive in a new, fresh way. There was almost a glow about her hazel eyes, the tiny, delicate smile lifting the corners of her lips a testament to just how happy this place made her. The way she clasped her hands at her heart and sighed contentedly made his own heart sing, delighting in the happiness that this place brought to her.
“Forgive me.” Catching his eye and, no doubt, the way that he was looking at her, Lady Isobella blushed red. “I was distracted.”
“It is quite all right. It is a delight for me to see just how much this place means to you.”
She dropped her gaze to the floor for a moment. “It does bring me joy, certainly. But,” she took a deep breath and set her shoulders, “there is work to be done.” Glancing about her, she looked at the other bluestockings. “We are all going to be searching for information about the ladies – and their families – involved in this situation. It may very well come to naught since you have told me that Lady Clara and Lady Victoria have no connection between them – but all thesame, the bluestockings and I agree it would be worth making certain of it. Besides which,” she finished, with a quiet sigh, “there is not very much else we can do at present.”
