Page 26 of A Dangerous Little Scandal

The older face wrinkled in a broad smile. “Then Scotland might suit you after all.”

“I didn’t know that,” he murmured to Isadora. “I thought you were like your sisters and enjoyed the excitement of town.”

She had the grace to laugh. “Oh, heavens, no. I despise any society gathering. Everyone is breathing down your neck and hoping that you make a misstep so that they can read about it in the morning gossip sheets.”

He gave a mock wince. “I couldn’t agree more. But if that’s the case, then why do you remain?”

“With the hopes of finding additional business ventures, of course.”

He thought back to the meeting she had attended just a short time before he’d met up with her in Newcastle. “The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. You attended hoping to find additional ventures there, didn’t you?”

She lifted a sly brow. “A lady uses all the resources at her disposal.”

He grinned broadly. “Ingenious.”

“Of course,” she added. “It wasn’t all about what contacts I might be able to procure that night. I also hope to make a difference in the Society.”

He slowly shook his head. “Could you be any more amazing?”

Isadora’s smilevanished and she glanced away, lest she was pulled into the charming magnetism that the marquesspossessed. She didn’t need to make another error in judgement that would send her down the path to destruction.

The coach fell into an awkward silence until they reached their next destination, where they lost the conversation from the lively older woman. The marquess himself assisted her down from the coach and Isadora was surprised by how thoughtful he was to a complete stranger. Granted, he was raised as a gentleman, but she was quite sure he wouldn’t give a duchess as much reverence as he had to that woman.

Once she had departed, Lord Osgood rejoined her, but she noted that he sat on the seat across from her. It wasn’t until they were back on the move, that he asked softly, “Forgive me for speaking so forward earlier. I didn’t mean to upset you. I only wished to offer a compliment.”

She waved a hand. “Please, don’t think any more on it. I shouldn’t have allowed a simple statement to affect me as it did.”

As they fell into another stilted silence, Isadora could have kicked herself for being so persnickety when it came to things that would have normally been rather inconsequential. Then again, she didn’t want to encourage the marquess’ attentions, and there were times when she wondered if some of his teasing didn’t already hold a deeper meaning, that he was just trying to act as though he wasn’t being sincere.

Isadora withheld a sigh, just as a loud crack of thunder sounded in the not so far distance. She glanced across at Lord Osgood and saw that he wore a grim expression that likely mirrored her own. “Is it going to rain?”

“It sounds like it,” he murmured dryly. “But perhaps it will be no more than a brief shower and nothing to worry about. From what I understand the summer is the best time to travel in the country, unless it’s farther north near the Highlands.”

Isadora nodded. “That’s good to know.”

Nevertheless, the tension rose in the carriage, and when the wind started to pick up, causing the coach to creak on its wheels,Isadora clutched her hands together in her lap and breathed deeply to remain calm. She had never been particularly fond of thunderstorms, but when the windowpanes had rattled at Marlington Hall, she had never been able to let her fear show. She had to be the reasonable older sister, so as not to upset her younger siblings.

Nevertheless, she flinched when a flash of lightning blazed across the sky, following by a loud clap of thunder. She quickly glanced at the marquess to see if he’d noticed, but then it occurred to her that he was looking a bit apprehensive as well. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of thunderstorms?”

He glanced sharply at her. “Of course not. I—” As another rumble flowed around them, his words faltered. But he continued with a brief clearing of his throat. “I’m perfectly sound—er, well. No worries, my lady.”

Isadora didn’t believe a word of it, especially when the rain started and he appeared almost ashen. In order to get both of their minds off the sudden deluge of rain pelting the coach outside, she asked, “Tell me about what to expect when we reach Scotland. I daresay you’ve told me very little.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said, “I regret to say that I know about as much as you do. My aunt calls herself Grace Scott, and my great-grandfather—” He paused. “Actually, I’m not sure what he goes by.”

She raised her brows. “You never thought to ask?”

“Not particularly, because I didn’t imagine I would be making the journey.” His jaw tensed. “And it wasn’t as though we were particularly close with that side of the family. Grace is my grandmother’s sister on my father’s side of the family. My grandmother was Scottish, but she married my grandfather, who was an Englishman, the original Marquess Osgood, before the title passed down through my father and then to me. Both of my grandparents were gone before I was old enough to remember them.”

“And your father never bothered to mention them?” she asked curiously.

“No. He was quite adamant on the subject. It seems obvious that there was some sort of rift in the family, but I didn’t pressure him to discuss it.” He smiled tightly. “My father wasn’t a particularly easy man to approach. And if it didn’t have to do with the estate, he wasn’t interested.” He shrugged. “But then, none of my family has ever been really close. Other than my mother and my elder sister, who like to spend most of their time in Bath. It was why I was tasked with escorting Portia around for the Season. Her own mother couldn’t be bothered to do it. But then, Amadiah always has some sort of ailment or another that she enjoys complaining about. I’m rather glad that she’s not around so that I’m forced to listen to her ramblings.”

Isadora’s lips twitched, although she said, “I couldn’t imagine not being close with my sisters. We’ve always had a strong bond.”

“Yes,” he chuckled. “I’m well aware. If you will recall, Grey thought you were so fearsome that he requested my assistance to distract you so that he could court your sister, Araminta.”

“Ah, the formidable, Lord Somers.” She laughed. “I admit that he was quite persistent in his pursuit. I was worried that his reputation would prove he was only after her attentions and nothing more. It almost makes one wonder if there truly is such a thing as love at first sight.”

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