Chapter 16
Sixteen
Felix stared at her as though a ghost had materialized and assumed the spot where Isabelle had been seated. “You will marry?”
“I will.” She swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to her hands in her lap. “However, I must have a good relationship with the gentleman. I will not marry someone I cannot stand.”
“That is a fair proposition,” Felix said, though his voice sounded like it was coming from the end of a long, dank tunnel. He stood and paced to the window and looked out at the flowers that danced in the breeze while members of his staff plucked vegetables from the garden.
He didn’t think he would ever see the day when Isabelle would concede to marriage.
What had transpired to force her change of mind?
If he had thought she would divulge her reasons he would have asked her. However, her gaze was locked upon one of the loose stones in the fireplace. Her entire body was stiff, her shoulders drawn in close to her ears.
This was not the same woman who had spent nights speaking with him. It was not the same one who had been in his study until an hour or so before dawn that morning, analyzing the works of Shakespeare with him until her voice went hoarse.
Felix glanced between her and the garden again. “Would you like to walk with me, and we can talk about the kind of husband you wish to search for?”
The words tasted like poison on his tongue.
The last thing he wanted to do was walk with her and talk about the type of man she would agree to marry.
In the first place, it was nearly impossible to picture her with any man.
The ones who lived in London and were within his acquaintance were far too dull for her.
What does that say about me?”
Felix ground his teeth against the thought. “Come, walk with me.”
Isabelle rose and led the way to the door. “I do not know how speaking of my future husband is going to help you.”
“It shall give me a better idea of which gentlemen I should be refusing when I get a long line at my door asking for your hand.” Felix was torn between offering her his arm or not as they stepped out of the house and into the garden beneath the shining sun.
The warm breeze tugged at his hair, sending rogue strands into his eyes. He would be due for a cut soon, but there seemed to be so little time to worry about such trivial things.
I would have had more time if I had not stayed awake last night speaking with Isabelle.
“Windham, you must promise me that you will not marry me off to a man without teeth.”
He was drawn from his thoughts by her sudden outburst. With a short bark of laughter, he led her down one of the spiraling paths. “And why would you be worried about marrying a man without teeth, might I ask?”
“I have seen several men without teeth while I was walking around the shops with the Dowager Duchess and Lady Victoria today. I thought that if I were to marry someone, he would have to have teeth. I could not bear the rest of my life mashing perfectly fine food into a paste.”
Felix pressed his lips together in a vain attempt not to laugh. “Very well then, I shall ask all the men to open their mouths upon meeting.”
Isabelle let out an unladylike snort. “You are far too proper to do such a thing.”
“I may be, but I am certain you would go to great lengths to ensure that your future husband has teeth. Need I be worried about you pulling open their mouths in the middle of a quadrille?”
“If I could do more than focus on the footsteps while dancing, then perhaps.” The little imp gave him the smirk that he had been missing for days.
“Well, we will have to thank God for small miracles.”
“You have found a sense of humor, Windham. That is good. I was beginning to worry that there was never going to be a day when you smiled. I fear for the wrinkles that are longing to develop.”
“Two barbs for the price of one. I am impressed, Isabelle. You have not only insulted my sense of humor but my age as well.” Felix’s hands fell loose at his sides as they stepped into the apple orchard that grew at the far end of the property.
Though it was small, it was the envy of several people in the ton.
She laughed and looked up at the canopy of green leaves above her. “The man I marry must be able to laugh with me as well. I will not bear a home without laughter. I would sooner run away to a nunnery.”
Felix snorted and looked at her like she had three heads. “They would turn you away at the door.”
“You insult me, Your Grace.”
“And just like that you have become proper once more.” Felix shook his head. “I still fail to understand you.”
“I am an enigma that I fear you may never solve,” she teased, mischief shining bright in her eyes as her cheeks flushed a rosy shade of pink. She was beautiful in the green-tinted sunlight that filtered through the trees.
There would be a long line of men at his door after she made her formal debut at the first ball of the season, of that much he was certain. However, if those same men saw her like this, in the late afternoon sun and entirely carefree, he would have offers for her hand on sight.
Few men would know how to be with a woman like her. It was that simple fact that made guilt curl low in his stomach. He wished that there was a better way to have her married off. One in which he had time to choose someone who would complement her personality.
Isabelle nudged him lightly with her elbow. “You look lost in thought.”
“I am thinking about the dredges of society I will need to scrape through to find you a husband with teeth and a sense of humor. That is a rather tall order, Miss Alden.”
She laughed and turned, walking backward with ease and facing him. “The dredges? I would think you would have to sink far lower than that to find a suitable fit for me.”
He grinned, his cheeks aching for the first time in what felt like years. “I doubt I will have to sink that far to find a man who would like to marry you.”
“Perhaps you are correct. You do know these men after all. Are they going to allow a loud American into their homes who prefers to spend her days painting and reading to baking?”
“If we find you a rich enough husband, you will not have to lift a finger. There will be staff willing to do everything for you.”
“I don’t think I would like that much either.” Isabelle stopped walking and leaned against one of the trees. “Why do you not marry? Surely you would be able to find a wife who would have a dowry large enough to help your family.”
“I have been deemed a brute.”
The little imp crossed her arms with a mischievous smirk. “I would suppose a brute may be more desirable than an angry old goose.”
“I never once said you were an old goose. Only an angry one.”
Her head tipped back as she laughed, her eyes shining as she looked back at him. “I will not have any geese when I am married. I could not possibly spend my life competing for the title of the angriest goose there ever was. It would be too much.”
Felix snorted and was about to respond when he saw Stanford leaving the house and heading their way. “It looks like the guests have arrived for dinner. There will be several young women in attendance with whom it would be good for you to build acquaintanceships.”
“I have little want to be around those young women if they are like the ones I have already encountered.”
Still, she walked back to the house with a slight nod of her head to Stanford.
Felix turned to his friend. “You are early, are you not?”
Standford smirked and leaned against the tree that Isabelle had just vacated. “I think you are late because you are too busy talking with your charge. Tell me, are there to be wedding bells in the future?”
“No. Not for me, although if you are searching for a wife who will keep you entertained, she has now agreed to look for a husband.”
“I have little use for a wife and you know it. Also, I have told you before that I would not dare risk our friendship. Not when you watch Miss Alden as if you are about to procure a marriage license and cart her away on a honeymoon.”
Felix rolled his eyes and began the trek back to the house. “There is nothing between Miss Alden and myself. We have formed an alliance to see her married by the end of the season and she was simply giving me her instructions.”
“Instructions on what?” Stanford asked as he fell into step beside Felix.
“Simply what she is looking for in a husband.”
“And somehow you are going to sit to one side while she falls in love with another man? You watch her with stars in your eyes.”
“You are making things up.” Felix glared at his friend before looking back at the house.
If he was forced to admit it, he would admit that he was trying to get a glimpse of Isabelle. He found that he already missed her company. For once his mind wasn’t on the finances or what would become of his sisters if he wasn’t able to save the duchy.
Each time he was alone with her—as improper as it was—he felt like he was reclaiming a little bit of the man he used to be.
Stanford dug his elbow into his side. “You are watching for her.”
“You should be concerned with minding your own business.”
His friend scoffed and hauled open the door to the house as the sound of soft voices gathering in the drawing room greeted their ears. “If you can get through dinner without looking at Miss Alden once, I will give you a hundred pounds.”
Felix glowered at his friend. “And this is why you will end up destitute. You are frivolous with your money.”
“Last chance at taking the bet.” Stanford grinned when Felix shook his head. “Suit yourself.”
Even though he was tempted to take Stanford’s bet, his pride wouldn’t allow him to do so.
Isabelle entered the room as everyone was sitting down at the table. Felix cleared his throat and nodded to the chair beside Victoria. Her dark blush and smile of thanks had the people around the room whispering.