Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
“Your Grace,” Isabella greeted him stiffly, curtsying in her finest pink gown that her stepmother and sister had insisted she wear. Her heart thrummed furiously as she met his gaze.
What did he think of her now that they were being forced into a ruse?
Cassian stood stiffly in front of his carriage, his hand behind his back as he looked at her only for a moment, before glancing past her shoulder. “You look lovely, Lady Isabella.” His voice was just as stiff and rigid as his spine.
Her pulse faltered slightly as she measured him against the backdrop of the Queen’s private London home. Not many people were invited to her off-palace lodgings, yet the duke seemed to fit right in. His chiseled profile and neat attire made him look right at home.
He’s so handsome.
She felt her heart aching as she willed him to look at her. Did he blame her for them having to be there? He had been the one to invite her onto the balcony, but she had not refused. She took a step toward him, but found her path blocked by Lady Kendrick and her stepmother.
“I want to thank you again for agreeing to this little outing, Lady Isabella. I know it cannot be easy for you, but I do believe that what we are doing is best. Even if it is not traditional.” She offered her a reassuring smile before shooting Cassian a scathing glare.
Cassian averted his gaze again, staring at the stately home behind them instead.
Coming up from behind, Christine hooked her arm through Isabella’s. “Shall we go inside. I have never met the Queen before, but I am given to understand that she does not care to be kept waiting.” She gave Isabella’s arm an encouraging squeeze.
They had barely finished discussing the plans for the wedding when Lady Kendrick had been announced.
They had welcomed her into the drawing room and excused Beatrice when her husband told her that it was time to go.
They had listened to the carefully laid out plan and agreed, while the duke had stayed in the carriage.
He had not said more to her than those few words upon arriving at the Queen’s private lodgings.
You look lovely, Lady Isabella.
Her gaze refused to leave the back of her head as he and Lady Kendrick led the way into the royal dower house, which was used by the Queen in the absence of a dowager.
If the outside of the mansion was stately, then the inside was grander than any drawing room that Isabella had ever seen. Her attentions were momentarily drawn away from the duke as she gaped at the ceiling that seemed impossibly high.
Painted cherubs on clouds laughed down at them from fluffy clouds as they frolicked in pure white robes.
Yet it was the chandelier that mesmerized Isabella most of all.
Not even the polished marble floor could hold a candle to the sheer splendor of the crystals that hung above their heads in the foyer.
Thousands of teardrop-shaped pendants glistened in the late afternoon sun that shone through the magnificently high Windows on either side of the hall.
Isabella was still admiring the sight when hurried footsteps could be heard echoing down a passageway. The evenly timed clicks grew louder until a lavishly dressed lady appeared from around the corner.
“Welcome to the royal dower house. The Queen sends her regrets, but an urgent matter of state has come up, and she could not be spared.” The tall woman with high cheekbones, aristocratic features, and bright green eyes welcomed them with grace, inclining her head respectfully.
Her heart began to beat furiously again as Isabella wondered what would happen. How long would they have to wait if the Queen were not able to see them?
Lady Kendrick exchanged a concerned look with Christine before addressing the lady. “I beg your pardon, Lady…”
The woman allowed an easy smile to grace her lips.
“Of course, I must apologize. In my haste to assist the Queen, I am afraid that I failed to introduce myself. My name is Lady Matilda Doherty. I am the Queen’s companion.
Her Grace has tasked me with handling certain matters in her absence.
” Her answer did not seem to relieve Lady Kendrick’s distress.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Doherty, but will the Queen be able to see soon? I am afraid that the matter is quite… delicate.” Lady Kendrick said respectfully.
Lady Doheery’s eyes flashed knowingly as they drifted from the duke to Lady Isabella. “You are here to obtain a special license to marry within a week, are you not?” She continued to look at Isabella before turning her attention back to Lady Kendrick.
Taken aback by the woman’s candor, Lady Kendrick faltered as she frowned. “We are, but I was given to understand that only the Queen herself could grant such special permissions.” She laughed nervously.
The woman’s smile only broadened as she nodded in understanding.
“I do not blame you for your hesitation, Lady Kendrick. It is true that the Queen is very particular about the permissions she grants, especially when the topic is love and marriage. But I can assure you that Her Grace only trusts a select few with this sacred decision. I would not be standing here before you if I were not trusted to judge those who claim to be in love.”
Her gaze once again fell on Isabella as her eyes brightened.
“Well, if it is the way that the Queen conducts such matters…” Lady Kendrick answered nervously, chewing the inside of her cheek.
Losing interest in their conversation, Lady Doherty turned fully toward Isabella and Cassian. “Allow me to look upon the couple with my own eyes.” She tilted her head back, causing Isabella’s heart to sink to the pit of her stomach.
What if she discovers the ruse?
Her palms began to sweat as Lady Doherty circled them with precise steps. Her sharp gaze seemed to be taking in every aspect of them as Christine and Lady Kendrick stepped aside, leaving them alone in the center of the foyer.
“Hmmm,” Lady Doherty pursed her lips, stopping beside the duke as she eyed him intently. “Stand beside your supposed love…” she ordered cooly.
Swallowing hard, the duke did as she said, nodding before joining Isabella at her side.
He still will not look at me!
Isabella felt like screaming at him. How were they supposed to sell themselves as a happy couple when he would not even look at her?
Her lower lip began to quiver from fear when Lady Doherty stopped in front of her and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “There is no child?” She suddenly barked.
Catching herself just in time before jumping, Isabella gasped. “No, My Lady, I am not with child.” She breathed a sigh of relief at having at least said one truth.
Nodding Lady Doherty inclined her head to the side. “Indulge me for a moment longer. If you would, face each other.”
Isabella’s heart skipped a beat again as fear began to take hold of her limbs. What if she saw the truth when they looked at each other? There was little that could be hidden in people’s gazes. She turned to the duke, her fingers trembling at her sides.
The duke turned to her, slowly, reluctantly, but surely. The look of irritation in his eyes made her blood run cold.
He does not want to be here.
She felt as if her heart would burst with fear and anger as his gaze met hers. Matters would surely be over when Lady Doherty saw the way he was looking at Isabella.
“Hmmm,” she began to circle them again for what seemed like an eternity until stopping in front of the duke and looking directly at him. “You, Your Grace, tell your future bride that you love her,” she snapped the command almost as sharply as if she had used her fingers.
Cassian’s eyes darkened as he drew a veil over his face.
Isabella almost wanted to reach out and shake him, but she held herself back for fear of what would happen if she did.
His lips parted, almost slowly, as he had turned to her. “I…”
Her heart froze as her breathing eased.
“I… love you… Lady Isabella,” his voice was cool, clipped, and to the point despite his stammer.
Her chest began to rise and fall with every breath as Isabella stared at him. The words made her feel faint despite the fact that he had been instructed to say them. She opened her mouth, needing to respond with another truth when Lady Doherty clapped her hands above her head.
“Richard!” she yelled over her shoulder before turning back to the group. “I have come to a decision.” Her expression gave nothing away.
Turning back to the woman, Isabella sucked in a sharp breath. Who was Richard, and what exactly had this strange woman decided in such a short space of time?
She could see that he did not mean it.
Her heart broke in two as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. She had known that he did not love her, yet she suddenly realized that there had been a part of her that had held onto hope that he had.
Allowing her face to break into a smile, Lady Doherty stepped toward them. “Now this was a very interesting match. I see many young couples from my position beside the Queen, and very few have ever been honest.” She paused.
A tense hush fell over the group as everyone seemed to be waiting with bated breath.
“She fell for him first,” Lady Doherty said simply. “She is in love with the duke.”
Shame and embarrassment rose to her cheeks as Isabella struggled to keep her head held high.
Am I in love with him?
Isabella began to second-guess her own feelings.
“But!” Lady Doherty’s voice called out sharply again.
Everyone jumped, including the duke.
“The duke, here, has fallen for her harder. He is utterly in love with Lady Isabella, so much so that he can barely contain it. I shall tell the Queen that special permission should be given at once, without hesitation, and certainly with full knowledge that a love match has been found among the ton. For when passion burns bright, it lights a fire in us all that cannot be tamed.” Her lips curved into a pleased smile.
Stealing a glance at the duke, Isabella could hardly believe what she was hearing.
She believed our lie?
Cassian was just as stiff and quiet as he had been before he had been forced to say that he loved her. He still refused to look at her, yet something seemed different about him; his eyes were just as uncertain as the beating of Isabella’s heart.
Her pulse barely slowed when the woman turned, clicking her heels on her way down the hall.
“You may all leave now, rest assured that the special license shall be delivered to you this evening once the Queen has signed the agreement. You may proceed with the plans!” She waved over her shoulder, leaving them all in stunned silence.
Lady Kendrick spoke first as she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “Well, at least we know that she knows what she is about.” She turned to Isabella and Cassian with her usual enthusiasm. “Shall we all retire to our home while we await the blessed document?”
Cassian turned to her quickly, his body animated for the very first time since they had arrived at the house. “How can you be so nonchalant in the face of the lie that we all just participated in?” he growled.
Isabella’s heart sank again, making her want to run from the room. If he needed to reassure them all that it had indeed been a lie, then he was just marrying her to save her reputation.
Lady Kendrick tipped down the corners of her mouth. “Was it a lie? I saw no such thing from where I was standing.”
Cassian clenched his jaw until Christine stepped forward and gently touched Isabella’s arm. “Never mind all of that now, are you up for tea at while we wait for the letter?” She turned her full attention to Isabella.
The look of understanding in her eyes made Isabella feel more at ease. Christine was on her side; if she said that she did not wish to join the duke for tea, then she would not be forced to do so.
Composing herself, Isabella smiled. She would be damned if she was going to allow the duke to see just how much his ‘lie’ had wounded her. “I think tea shall be lovely, that is, if the duke will have us.” She turned defiantly toward him, angling her chin in a challenge.
Cassian’s lips parted a fraction of an inch, only so much that Isabella was able to tell the difference.
The look in his eyes was still veiled, but his breathing hinted at something deeper that had possibly shaken him.
“I would be delighted if you would both join us for tea. That way, we can begin planning the wedding.” His gaze hovered on hers, sending a wave of heat down her chest.
“Splendid, it is settled then!” Lady Kendrick clapped before wedging her way between Lady Isabella and Christine. “Now, shall we begin discussing what color dress Isabella should wear and how many guests we should invite?”
Isabella allowed herself to be dragged by the arm, but her heart and mind heard little of what was being said.
The truth was, she was angry with him. Angrier than she had been before. The look in his eyes had been so convincing that even she had believed him for a second. He had said he loved her, and she had wanted to say it back, and that made her angry.
Who did he think he was to toy with her emotions like that? Did he think so little of her that he would say the words upon command, and then continue to ignore her?
If that was truly what he thought of her, then she would give him a piece of her mind as soon as they were alone again.
He would not get away with his little performance, even if it was the last thing that she did!
She would see to it that he paid in full.
No man treated her like that, especially not the man she was going to marry.
A plan began to form in the back of her mind as they entered their carriage and began to journey back to Everthorne House.
She would get him on his own, and when she did, there would be hell to pay.