Chapter 15 #2
“Why do you think you are here?” Victoria reached up and swiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “It is partially my fault that you are here, and why Felix will push you to marry.”
“What do you mean?” Isabelle asked, her tone gentle. She didn’t see a world in which she could blame her friend for the misfortune she now faced. She had brought it upon herself by refusing to marry after the incident with her fiancé.
“I told Felix of my plan,” Victoria said, her voice breaking slightly. “I told him of my intention to marry for money and he said that he would find another way.”
“And you think his other way involved me?”
“I am certain of it.”
Isabelle gave a warm laugh and shook her head.
“I can assure you it did not. I was to marry back home. That engagement ended and I refused to entertain another. While I am to eventually inherit my father and mother’s fortune, they wish to see me married before I do.
They want grandchildren to affirm that their legacy will continue long after they are gone. ”
“Still, Felix would never have reached out to your father if I had not come to him with my plan to help.”
“My father was the one to reach out first.” Isabelle forced the words out even though she hated speaking about it.
Now that she knew there was more being hidden from her, it was difficult to even think about what her father had arranged.
“He had spoken to His Grace several times about lowering the fees before this began. After that, my mother reached out to yours with their plan and the rest was set in motion.”
“Felix never told me that.”
“And why would he? I have spoken to your brother, and he wants only the best for you.”
“Yes, but that means that you must give up what you want out of life.”
Isabelle knew what it meant. It ached deep in her chest. The thought of never seeing her family again was a pain akin to losing a loved one for all eternity. Though there were letters that could be written and perhaps her parents would visit, it wasn’t the same.
She wouldn’t be able to speak with her mother whenever she had a problem. She would no longer be able to find her father sitting in his study late at night and share a pastry with him.
It was a lot to give up. Perhaps it was too much to give up.
At the very least she would make an effort to find a husband. Maybe her father would be willing to negotiate more with the duke if she showed that she had tried her best to match with a suitor.
Isabelle gave Victoria a wry smile, although she was coming apart on the inside. “A sacrifice I will happily make for my friend.”
“You cannot do that for me. I will never forgive myself if you do.”
I do not know if I will ever forgive myself either.
Isabelle shifted, hauling herself onto the bed and sitting back. “I will not promise to marry anyone, but I am not going to allow your family to fall by the wayside either.”
“What if I begged you not to do it?” Victoria’s voice broke. “If I asked you to remain true to yourself and not marry for the sake of my family, would you honor that?”
For just a second she thought about rescinding her declaration. If she told Lady Victoria that she didn’t think she could go through with the flirting and the first steps of courtship, she knew her friend would forgive her.
But would I ever be able to forgive myself for not helping her when I had the power to do so?
“I will never be anyone other than who I am,” Isabelle said, her tone soft as deep emotion formed a lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. “But if I choose to marry, then it will be to help you.”
“That is as good a promise as I am going to get?”
“Yes.”
“I must get ready for supper,” Victoria said as she stood and clutched her gloves in one hand. Their gazes didn’t meet and the tension between them grew palpable.
As Victoria fled the room, Isabelle leaned back on the bed and stared up at the canopy above her. Simply being here and pretending to search for a husband wasn’t the simple task she thought it would be.
She took a shuddering breath and rose from the bed. After shedding her own gloves and switching into more comfortable shoes, she descended the curved staircase and made her way down the hall to the study.
Windham sat behind his desk with his head bent over his ledger. Dark hair fell in front of his face and, for a moment, he looked no more like a duke than she did. He was simply a man trying to provide for his family.
Even though she was unable to shake the discomfort she felt with the knowledge that he was keeping secrets from her, she couldn’t allow his family to slip into abject desolation.
Isabelle shut the door behind her and crossed the room, her slippers whispering across the polished wood floor. She pulled out the velvet chair by the fireplace and stared blindly at the empty hearth.
“Visits to my study are to become habit then?” Windham asked, setting his ledger to the side before standing and joining her in front of the fireplace.
Isabelle looked up at him, her heart hammering in her chest. “You must find me a husband if you wish for your family to recover from certain poverty.”
He nodded. “I thought we had already discussed this at length.”
“We have not when there is still more to the story than you are willing to share, however, I have come to a decision.”
“Have you?” Windham stood in front of her, his gaze connecting with hers, questions shining in his eyes. “And what decision is that?”
I still have a chance to back out. I am not being forced to do this.
Victoria needs me to do this.
I may never see my family again. I will live in a land I do not know and potentially marry a man I do not love.
I did not intend to love anyone anyway.
Victoria can marry for love. Victoria’s family will not suffer.
Windham can save his duchy.
“I shall meet the men you put in front of me. I will be kind and pleasant. If a man makes you an offer of marriage for my hand and he is not the most horrid creature I have ever met, I will marry him.”