Chapter 9
Isolde took a sip of tea, pleasantly warm on her tongue, and surveyed the room around her. As Thaddeus had requested, she had attended every event that Lady Harrow and Lady Tatiana attended.
There had been a dinner at the home of a family friend, and then a ball at a lavish estate that Isolde did not think was nearly as lovely as Hartington. The feeling had surprised her, making her realize how fond she had become of her new living arrangement in just a short time.
Now, she was at a luncheon, a cheerful affair where the decadent desserts were nearly as colorful as the ladies in their day gowns. It had been a pleasant enough afternoon, and she felt she was starting to get used to being out in society more.
She had even thought, in passing, that she could get used to this – that perhaps the life of a marchioness would have suited her more than she initially thought. She’d quickly pushed that thought away, of course. That was not the plan.
A gentleman approached their table and bowed respectfully to Lady Harrow and Lady Tatiana and then waited pointedly to be introduced to Isolde. It was a pattern that had repeated several times throughout the luncheon.
Some of the ladies were also eager for introductions, but none as forthright about it as the men. The same had been true of the ball, only they would ask for a dance, rather than a promenade through the adjoining garden.
Isolde rather felt like they were taking advantage of the fact that Thaddeus was not around to see if they could tempt her away, and she did not know whether to be flattered or insulted.
And even though this played perfectly into their plan, Isolde couldn’t help wishing Thaddeus would return and scare them all away. She thought perhaps he had ruined her taste by setting a bar none of these other potential suitors could hope to reach.
It was only polite, however, to grant their requests. And it was the best way to see if any of them might be a potential match. In truth, many of them were perfectly nice, but not one had held her interest.
She wondered vaguely if there was something wrong with her, because surely all of the eligible bachelors could not be without merit. And yet, none suited her tastes at all.
This particular gentleman was visiting from Scotland. Tatiana made the introductions and then he requested the pleasure of her company for a walk around the garden.
She took the arm he offered her and managed to stifle a giggle when she heard Tatiana whisper, “Mama, they must let her rest for a bit. The poor thing will be exhausted!” She hoped the gentlemen had not heard – judging by how he had already started extrapolating on the finer points of the garden’s construction, she doubted it.
He was apparently very into architecture and had all sorts of opinions about not only the grounds but the house as well. Isolde was having trouble focusing on what he was saying, but his accent had a pleasant cadence, and so she let his words simply wash over her.
Then she suddenly realized he had stopped speaking. She turned to find him looking at her expectantly.
“I beg your pardon,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat. “I was distracted looking at the flowers over there. What did you say?”
“I said my cousin tells me you are staying at Hartington. How do you like it? It’s a fine house from all accounts.”
“Oh yes, it’s lovely,” she replied. “A gorgeous house.” She contemplated what else she could say, and the first thing that came to mind was, “Of course, it’s quite large, and I find with Thaddeus away on business, it feels a bit empty.”
When the gentleman returned her to their table, he had a distinctly disappointed look on his face, and Isolde could not find it in herself to feel bad about that.
The next day, Annora visited again to accompany Isolde into town. Tatiana had asked Isolde when she intended to start looking for wedding things, and, not knowing what the expected timeline for that sort of thing was, Isolde had panicked.
She’d tried wriggling out of the question by suggesting that it was best to wait until Thaddeus returned, but Tatiana had only laughed and insisted he never went shopping, and Isolde had better not wait on him.
She had then given Isolde a list of merchants where the family had accounts. Unsure what else to do, Isolde had told her that she would begin shopping that very week.
Afterward, she had sent a note asking Annora to please accompany her. The idea of shopping for wedding things with Lord Hartington’s money – of shopping for anything with his money – was overwhelming enough. She definitely did not want to do it alone.
Luckily, Annora was free. She came by after breakfast, and they took a carriage into town. Her happy chatter made Isolde feel more comfortable but didn’t completely alleviate the butterflies in her stomach.
After they’d been to three shops and Isolde had been unable to bring herself to actually purchase anything, Annora suggested a walk in the garden off the High Street.
“The fresh air will do you good,” she said, “and maybe you’ll stop being so nervous about spending Lord Hartington’s coin.”
Isolde doubted that was true, but she let herself be pulled into the garden, nonetheless.
It was a nice day, and quite a few people were walking the garden’s paths.
Isolde was surprised to look across a particularly pretty patch of flowers and see Thaddeus’s brother Henry on the path opposite them.
She was even more astonished when, before she could raise her hand to greet him, Annora put up her own hand and called to him.
His eyes snapped to Annora, and he smiled brightly, hurrying over to meet them.
“Hello, Miss Fairchild, Miss White,” he said, and while he gave Isolde a very friendly nod, it was Annora’s face where his eyes lingered. “I hope it doesn’t seem terribly rude, but I cannot stay to take a turn with you. I am on my way out, headed to meet a business associate.”
“Ah, My Lord, it’s terribly rude indeed!” Annora said, laughing. “Can’t you see we are all on our own, defenseless against the horrors of this roughshod place?” She gestured around at the beautiful garden and laughed again.
Isolde’s eyes widened at the familiar tone of her teasing, and she felt nerves grip her stomach like a vice. Suppose Annora offended Henry? How would she explain that to Thaddeus?
To her surprise, however, Henry laughed gamely and teased Annora back.
“Ah, what shall I do, Miss White? I know ’tis an unforgivable offense, but say you’ll forgive me anyway, or I shall perish …” His eyes twinkled at Annora with such a spark that Isolde felt herself blush a little, like she was witnessing something private.
“I suppose just this once,” Annora sighed, “but you must never let it happen again.”
“I never shall,” Henry declared passionately, and then he and Annora giggled together like two schoolchildren. “And now, you really must forgive me, for I really must go. But I hope to see you again soon. By your leave.” He gave them both polite nods and then headed off toward the entrance.
Isolde stared after him, feeling a bit like she’d been spun around several times and was now dizzy. She glanced at Annora and saw her staring after Henry with a remarkably similar spark in her eyes to the one he’d had in his. Then Annora suddenly gasped and grabbed Isolde’s hand.
“Oh, darling! I’ve only gone and forgotten to ask his name again! How have I done this twice now? Please, tell me how you’re acquainted with him? Surely, as he knew your name, you know his?”
Isolde blinked, the sense of dizziness clearing as she started to put the pieces together.
“Annora …” she said, a little breathless, “are you telling me the man you met at the ball, the one you told me about … is Lord Hartington’s younger brother Henry?”
Isolde watched as Annora’s mouth and eyes rounded in surprise.
“That man? The one we were just speaking to? He’s Lord Hartington’s brother?”
“Yes. Lord Henry Harrow.”
“Oh!” Annora gasped. “But how did I never meet him while visiting you at Hartington?”
“He spends a good deal of time in London, apparently.”
A thoughtful, slightly sad look came over Annora’s face.
“Oh, that is too bad.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Isolde asked, her heart sinking to see her cousin’s sparkle fade. “Surely you don’t like him less now that you know who he is?”
“Oh no, of course not, darling,” Annora said with a sigh. “But I couldn’t possibly pursue any relationship with him, not with the situation you’re in. I could never do anything to make things more complicated for you.”
Isolde’s heart swelled with affection for her cousin. Annora was so sweet and thoughtful, and it only made Isolde more determined about what she said next.
“Annora, I love you dearly,” she said, “and while I thank you for such consideration, I cannot have you sacrifice any happiness for me. If you have feelings for Henry, and he for you, you mustn’t waste them.
Think about how rare love matches are! And besides, if Henry saw anything untoward in the situation, he would not have greeted you so happily in front of me. ”
“There may be nothing untoward about it,” Annora said, a stubborn look on her face, “but I know only too well how perilous your situation is. I could not forgive myself if I did anything to further that peril.”
And no matter how many times Isolde tried to bring it up, while they were shopping or on the carriage ride home, Annora would hear no more about the matter.
***
Isolde was surprised to find a letter waiting for her at Hartington. When she looked at the envelope and saw it had come from Thaddeus, her heart began to beat a little faster.
She excused herself to her room on the pretense of needing to freshen up from town, but actually, she just didn’t think she could read the letter in front of anyone.
As it was, by the time she slid the letter opener through the envelope and slipped out the letter, her stomach was pleasantly full of butterflies.
She read the short missive and was surprised to find herself smiling at the news that Thaddeus would return earlier than expected. She was coming to realize that what she’d said to the gentleman at the luncheon was more than just a good line to keep up appearances – she truly was missing Thaddeus.
The idea of him returning to her – no, not to her, to Hartington, of course he wasn’t coming for her … but still, the idea of welcoming him back made a warm feeling sweep through her. She almost felt a little giddy.
And the second part of the letter … he wished to speak to her alone? She couldn’t help a bit of worry at that, for what if it were bad news? Or worse, something she’d done to upset him?
At the same time, she felt a little thrill imagining it. This would be the first time they’d be alone since the garden. She blushed, remembering that moment, and without meaning to, her mind started to wander.
She wondered what it would be like if this were all real – if she and Thaddeus were really engaged, and he was coming home to her. How would he behave?
After the tenderness he’d shown her in the garden, she was inclined to think he was the sort to dote upon a woman that he truly loved.
He would come in the door and grin broadly at finding her waiting for him. And she would run to him, not caring he was dirty from the trip.
Perhaps for whatever reason, everyone else was occupied, and they were alone in the front hall, and then he would sweep her up into his arms to kiss her, right there in the hall in broad daylight.
And, of course, she’d scold him that anyone might come upon them, and so he’d put her down – but he’d get a gleam in his eye and take her hand, pulling her into an empty room. Safely away from prying eyes, he’d pull her close to him.
Her pulse would flutter wildly, her whole body would flush, and she’d cling to him as if she could keep him from ever going away again, as if she could keep him –
A sharp knock on the door made her leap to her feet, startled from her daydream and feeling guilty. Suppose it was Tatiana or Lady Harrow?
She felt as if somehow they would look at her face and know where her thoughts had been. She took several deep breaths before bidding the person to enter.
Thankfully, it was just a servant who announced that tea was served. Isolde made herself wait until she felt absolutely sure her face would not betray her fantasies before she went down – and consequently, had to take her tea quite cold.