Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Y-Your Grace?”
To his credit, the duke did seem as startled as she was, and she nearly relented, only to eventually realize that he was the one who should be courteous towards her after the fright he had given her.
“Where are you going at –”
“I believe I am the one who should be asking you questions. What on earth are you doing here? Why were you standing in my doorway?” Isobel cut him off swiftly.
Richard glanced behind him and put a finger to his lips, stepping closer towards her.
“Lower your voice. It is late, and the last thing we need is to raise questions by attracting any sort of attention right now,” he whispered quickly, his voice soft.
The closeness allowed his scent to captivate her attention, and she found herself leaning in without thinking, as though her body was being pulled closer to his by his warmth.
If Richard noticed the subtle shift, he did not question it, but he did stare at her strangely.
His expression sent a jolt of shock through her as she realized his eyes looked just like they did, right before he kissed her passionately.
With a quick shake of her head to dispel those thoughts, she pointed at him, stating in a hushed tone.
“That should be the least of your worries, currently. If anything, you will be the one questioned because you were lingering in front of a young woman’s room. A woman who is to be married soon. Care to explain?”
The corner of his lips twitched, as though he was fighting the urge to be amused by her attitude, and Isobel hated herself for finding that tiny action attractive. She glared at him in response, prompting him to respond,
“I was not lingering. I was… going to fetch myself a cup of water, and I only stopped here to rest from my walk.”
“Oh, certainly, Your Grace. I am sure the walk must have been much longer than you expected it to be – seeing as you were heading in the wrong direction. Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t the guests stay on the lower floors?”
He winced, and she poked at his chest with her finger.
“Tell me what you were doing here and why. Or else, I will make a fuss loud enough, you’ll have more to answer to.” Isobel threatened.
Richard scoffed, but it sounded as though he was more impressed than annoyed with her. With a sigh, he held his hands up,
“I was… I have been standing watch here. For a little while at night.”
Isobel blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“For a few nights now, I have spent a little time here making sure you are safe. I have been discreet, so as not to attract any attention or disturb you. I merely felt it was important to ensure your safety was a priority, seeing as you have been tasked to risk yourself for another.”
Isobel felt as though her heart had gone still, and then it began to beat so loudly that she could feel her head thrumming with the echo of it in her ears.
That was… extremely thoughtful and kind. She had not received such kindness from anyone who was not in the family she had grown up with. Her birth father couldn't care less, but this man, who had barely tolerated her at first, was going out of his way to take care of her.
The yearning feeling returned, and Isobel noticed this time, her body didn’t just crave his touch, her heart wished to go along with it.
‘No,’ she told herself sternly. ‘Perish the thought immediately. There is nothing between us, and he has another woman whom he intends to marry. Unrealistic expectations and hope will only lead to disappointment.’
So, Isobel sniffed and nodded. “I see.”
Then she slipped past him and began to walk down the hall, intent on carrying out what she had intended to do.
“What are you – where are you going? It is not safe at night!” Richard hissed, swiftly catching up with her.
When Isobel did not respond, he abandoned the stern tone and advised,
“Please return to your room. Wherever it is you wish to go, surely it can wait until morning.”
Isobel kept walking, keenly aware that he was following her still. Soon, it became obvious what her intentions were, and he did not dissuade her further, choosing to silently escort her instead.
The attic was dimly lit, with a single lamp providing light. There was no fireplace, so layers of blankets had been placed over Valerie to keep her warm.
Still, she looked pale and weak, but did not rouse in the slightest upon their arrival. Valerie’s face seemed a little thin – likely because she had not eaten in a week, but there was no doubt about the fact that she was Isobel’s twin.
Isobel had not expected to feel an overwhelming amount of emotions the first time she set her eyes on her sister.
Years' worth of longing and missing, she did not realize that she had bubbled to the surface, and she laughed a little, tears springing to her eyes as she gingerly sat in the chair next to Valerie’s bed.
Now that she was facing her twin sister, she recalled that she had always felt a little incomplete as a child. Her family loved her unconditionally, and she never felt out of place with them, but she could never shake off the feeling that something was missing.
Seeing Valerie now, every single complaint she had at the start of this task seemed insignificant, as she now believed she would do anything for Valerie.
Richard moved to stand behind her, and he asked softly,
“Would you like me to wait outside? Until you are done?”
Isobel shook her head. “Please… don’t leave. I don’t – I’m not strong enough to do this on my own.”
Richard said nothing else, but he lingered behind her.
Isobel inhaled deeply and reached for her sister’s hand.
“I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now. I’m… I’m sorry, Valerie, that it wasn’t under better circumstances. I have heard only wonderful things about you, and while it all makes me so proud to know that you have lived a great life thus far… I cannot wait to get to know you properly.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, and she squeezed her sister’s hand gently between hers, whispering,
“Recover quickly, sister. Your wedding is in two days, and I am sure that you want nothing more than to walk down the aisle with your beloved. You have my word – we will get down to the bottom of this and find who has hurt you. They must pay dearly for what they have done to you.”
Isobel’s heart felt lighter – even though she had not said many of the things on her mind.
With Richard here, she could not admit the confusing feelings that swarmed her each time they came together, but she still gained some reassurance and comfort from being able to converse with her twin. Even though it was one-sided.
With a sniff, she lifted her hands to her cheeks and brushed her tears away, taking in a steadying breath before she turned to Richard.
“I really do hope we can find whoever is responsible in time.”
Richard nodded, taking a seat in a chair close to the one she was seated in.
“As do I, and I believe we will. We are doing our best, and although we do not have the best leads as of this moment, I am certain it is only a matter of time before we apprehend them. I can only hope we can do so before the wedding.” He replied with a tired sigh.
“We do have a lead. We had seen my aunt Deborah a few nights ago, remember? She looked quite suspicious then, and I did not tell you this at the time, but I had run into her earlier that evening. She looked even more untrustworthy than she had been, and her excuses had been weak. I do not know what her motive would be, though. She is suspicious enough to warrant suspicion, but I cannot fathom what her reason for hurting Valerie might be. She seems fond of Valerie and celebrates her engagement. But she is hiding something, I am sure of it.” Isobel informed him.
There was a strange tone in Deborah’s voice the last time they had spoken. The way she had regarded Isobel told her that perhaps her ruse had been discovered already.
“What do you propose we do, then? Would you like to question her?”
Isobel sat up straighter, facing him fully with wide eyes.
“What – why do you think I should be the one to direct our next steps?” she stuttered, confused.
“Well, you are the one with the highest stakes. Your sacrifices have ensured that you have a say. I do want you safe, more than anything. I would rather we put a stop to this once and for all – our luck thus far is not indicative of the absence of danger. We should not push things too far. But… however you wish to proceed, I will at least listen before we decide.” Richard told her earnestly.
There was something different about him today. He was more honest, easily divulging words she firmly believed should be kept secret for some reason. Each time his lips parted and his thoughts spilled from them, her heart felt as though it was moments away from bursting out of her chest.
As heat filled her cheeks, Isobel cleared her throat.
“I… I appreciate that. I felt…utterly alone at the start. But your support has certainly made things easier. I think… I think our accusations have a better chance with evidence. If we accuse blindly without any form of proof, we could escalate matters. Not to mention pointing accusatory fingers at a family member would not be ideal, so close to Valerie’s wedding. ”
Richard hummed thoughtfully.
“You are right. We still hope that they will be able to marry, regardless of the trials they are enduring at this moment. But in any case, a disruption like that would not bode well for us. We must be discreet and tactful while we sort this out. We can keep a close eye on your aunt and still investigate the others. My only hope is that Adrian arrives early enough to lend his assistance.” The duke said.
Isobel glanced back at her sister, then she reached out to gently tuck Valerie’s hand beneath her covers, ensuring her sister was snuggly wrapped and shielded from the cold.
“I don’t think I ever… I never wanted to tell her that I was happy for her.
Not – not that I did not want to. I do not mean to admit my bitterness or anything of the sort.
I am truly happy for her, but when I arrived, thoughts of offering my well-wishes were pushed aside due to our father’s request. Such a life…
is far from me, but I am so very happy for you, Valerie.
I do hope the world celebrates your marriage and gifts you with happy days, and all that you wish for will come to you. ” Isobel told her softly.
Valerie’s fast-approaching wedding made Isobel think of her siblings, who were all happily married, and she felt a pang of loneliness. That feeling intensified when her attention strayed to Richard and she realized that he, too, would soon take a wife.
That bothersome feeling returned, and she tried to dispel it by getting some answers to the questions she had about him.
“Will… you really be engaged after the wedding?”
Richard looked up, seemingly caught off guard by her enquiry, but he indulged her nonetheless.
“Yes,” he said. “The matter… should have been dealt with long ago.”
He did not sound as though there was any emotional reason behind his choice. Surely…
“And the woman whom you will marry? You said you had a woman you intended to marry. Can you… Would I be too forward if I asked what she was like?” Isobel asked carefully.
Richard went still for a moment, then he tilted his head slightly.
“She is in many ways a proper lady. Which makes her an ideal choice to become my wife.”
Isobel thought he was joking and snorted. But when his eyes narrowed, she realized her mistake.
“Is – is that all? Surely you jest. That cannot be the reason why you wish to marry her.”
“That is all that matters to me.”
Something in Isobel twisted in despair.
“That cannot be the case. It should not be. What about love? Understanding? Camaraderie – at the very least. You are choosing the woman you will spend the rest of your days with, and the choice was made based on propriety?” she asked, feeling herself get strangely more upset by the minute.
This man… There was more to him than his manners and values. She had gotten a glimpse of the parts of him he had tried to hide under airs and his title. And she believed that he deserved someone who would make him comfortable enough to beckon forth his real side.
“I do not need any of those things, so they are inconsequential to my choice,” Richard told her with a frown.
“That’s preposterous. My older brother is a duke as well!
I am sure he is just as burdened by his title as you are – perhaps even more so, because when he inherited it, our father had just passed.
He had to work hard to ensure that our family was safe and cared for.
Our older sisters were already married, so he simply had to handle the affairs of our late father’s estate and provide for my mother and I.
Even then, I know that he struggled greatly because your high and mighty society looks down on us Scots.
But he upheld his own values and married the woman he loved, rather than making a choice that would have earned the approval of those around him. Is it so difficult for you to –”
“I am sorry that your brother went through difficulties during his succession. I am sorry your family encountered so many struggles. But our situations are not at all similar. To me, a marriage is simply about choosing a woman who will be a good duchess, suitable for the Dellamare name. Nothing more.” Richard said sternly, as though he could not permit her to make more speculations on his behalf.
She nodded, not wanting to upset him further. Whatever the case was, the choice was inevitably his to make.
“I hope that you are happy together, anyway,” Isobel said quietly.
Richard looked surprised by the sentiment and nodded slowly.
“I – thank you. I am sure we will be. As you might agree, she is a respectable young woman.”
“I might – do I know this woman?”
It was Isobel’s turn to be surprised. What were the odds she had crossed paths with Richard’s soon-to-be betrothed enough times that she would believe her to make a good duchess for him?
“You do,” he said easily. “It is Miss –”
A little but audible sigh cut through the air, and they both went very still. The sound had come from neither of them. Which meant –
Isobel turned back around to face her sister and gasped when their eyes met.
“Valerie… you’re awake.”