13. Isla #2
Was that spark of amusement alluding to activities other than simply looking out over the bay? Isla couldn’t tell and didn’t dare give voice to her thoughts.
Michael appeared in the doorway and announced, “Dinner is served.”
The Archduchess shifted forward in her chair. “Help me up, my dear. I believe it’s time to enjoy that meal you mentioned upon your arrival. We have much to discuss, you and I.”
Isla obediently placed her fingers beneath the old woman’s elbow and lightly grasped the wrinkled, spotted hand to help her to her feet.
Used to young and supple flesh, the loose, paper-thin skin covering those ancient hands had her handling Lady Pierpont with the gentle care she’d give to a newborn lamb.
Isla carefully grasped the arm and hand, thinking how the lady’s skin resembled a dragonfly wing, thin and delicate yet at the same time veined and brittle.
She’d seen Lady Pierpont dancing with Jonto and knew she was, at times, sprier than she appeared at present.
Wilhelmina sighed as she stood a moment to gain her balance. “I didn’t notice any clouds on my trip here, but the way my joints are aching, I’d say a storm is on the horizon.”
Glancing at James hovering nearby in case they needed assistance, Isla remembered the breeze coming in off the bay. “The wind was picking up as I walked along the cliffs, and I heard the change in the sound of the tide.”
Wilhelmina nodded. “Oh, yes, the quiet chuffing changes to an irritated slapping when the storm is brewing and then to an angry roar when the tempest finally arrives.” She closed her eyes a moment.
“Oh, how I do miss our walks along the cliffs.” Those clouded eyes focused on Isla.
“You were only a small child when your grandmother died, but I can remember times when she’d bring you along to teach you the ways of the cliffs and the songs of the tunnel. ”
With a regretful half-smile, Isla lifted one shoulder. “I wish I could say I remember walking with you, Your Grace, but she died when I was a very young child, and I don’t remember much about the time she spent with me.”
Wilhelmina fell silently into her memories as they walked arm-in-arm to the table where Michael stood at the head, holding out a chair.
Being a gentleman was deeply ingrained in James’s psyche, and it wasn’t surprising that although this was his home, he showed his respect by allowing the Archduchess to take precedence in the seating arrangements.
As Wilhelmina painfully lowered herself into the chair, Michael carefully pushed it beneath her, bowing slightly to confer his respect.
He then repeated the actions for both Isla and Celie.
Isla he placed on Wilhelmina’s left and Celie next to her.
James seated himself to the right of the Archduchess.
He nodded to Michael, who looked pointedly at two lower-ranking servants waiting respectfully on either side of the buffet, where a covered silver platter held their main course while other serving dishes held complimentary appetizers and side dishes.
Understanding the silent signal, the two men, who weren’t James’s customary servants, brought individual, specially designed porcelain shellfish dishes with several oysters on the half-shell and set them before each person.
As they did so, Michael poured Bordeaux into everyone’s wine glass, starting with the Archduchess, who turned to Isla with a much more serious look than before.
“I’m too old to waste time beating around the bush, my dear, so I’ll come straight to the point.
” She indicated James with a glance. “I instructed James to dismiss his usual servants for the evening and brought along my personal staff, who are the epitome of discretion.” She turned to Michael and then included Celie with a pointed look.
“I’m informed the two of you embody the essence of discretion as well.
You’ll speak to no one of what you hear this evening. Do I make myself clear?”
Michael’s previous military service rose to the fore as he pulled himself to his considerable height, clicked the heels of his perfectly polished shoes, and bowed. “You may count on my discretion as well, Your Grace.”
After the Archduchess dipped her chin to acknowledge his obedience, she pinned Celie with an imperious glare.
“I know that the only reason you nurture friendships with the town gossips is to help Judge Riordan obtain information that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Since I’ve employed him, and therefore, you, on many occasions, to gather intelligence, I know the two of you can be trusted to be discreet.
I would ask that you employ that discretion regarding tonight’s conversation. ”
Celie flushed and bowed her head. “I’ll say nothing, Your Grace.” She raised her gaze to meet Wilhelmina’s formidable one. “You have my word. However…,” she paused, “may I speak freely?”
James coughed into his fist, “I’d rather you’d not.” Celie was well-known for saying things that, at times, could cause offense if taken in the wrong light.
The Archduchess raised a single brow. “And I rather you would.”
Celie glanced from James to Lady Pierpont. “I’d simply like to say that I’m not as shallow as you paint me. I consider those women, the town gossips, as you refer to them, to be my friends. It would be mean-spirited of me to nurture their friendships simply to obtain information.”
The Archduchess studied her a moment before nodding once. “I’m glad to hear that, my dear.” Satisfied she’d gotten her point across in reference to the private nature of this meeting, Wilhelmina gracefully brought a half-shell to her lips and tipped an oyster into her mouth.
Taking that as their cue to begin the appetizer portion of their meal, the other diners followed suit.
No one spoke, unsure whether to make polite small talk or simply allow the Archduchess to run the conversation.
By their silence, each person guessed the latter option had been mutually agreed upon by unspoken consent.
The servants brought bowls of soup and refilled the wine glasses as necessary.
The uncomfortable silence continued, and after what seemed like ages, the old woman took one last sip of the crème d'asperges soup before resting the spoon on the edge of her saucer.
When Wilhelmina looked at Isla, who’d been about to take a sip herself, Isla quickly lowered her spoon back to her bowl and looked attentively at the older woman.
Wilhelmina’s pursed lips and angry scowl sent a shiver of fear down Isla’s spine.
“Under normal circumstances, I’d have this conversation with you in private, but I know you’ll need trusted friends and advisors to help you escape the tangled mess you’ve created.
I understand, my dear, that Lord Montfort has acted in a most despicable manner and that you naively and stupidly, I might add, stumbled directly into his trap. ”
If Isla thought she’d been blushing before, the heat that rose into her neck and face told her that had been nothing compared to what she was experiencing now.
She opened her mouth to defend herself but cut her words off when the lady barely held up one finger to silence her.
Thoroughly ashamed that her stupidity had reached this august woman’s ears, Isla stared at the soup bowl and waited for what else she had to say.
“You not only allowed your steward to denude your upper pastures of any fodder for your flock, but you also doubled your herd, betting that my grandnephew would offer you the chance to purchase Count Deverell’s land since you were his nearest neighbor.
” Wilhelmina’s voice rose, and she leaned forward to emphasize her next point.
“I have it on good authority that had he not given the estates to Admiral Jontoreaux, my grandnephew, against my advice, would have offered it to Montfort rather than to a woman whom he, in his misguided misogynistic thinking, believes should never have been allowed to hold land in the first place.”
Isla’s temper rose slowly, dangerously, like an adder lifting its hooded head, readying itself to strike. She crushed her napkin beneath the table to keep her mouth in check.
Celie, sensing Isla stiffening beside her, moved her heel over the top of Isla’s boot and pressed down, sending a silent signal to her friend that this was not the time for her to lose that famous temper of hers. She released the pressure when Isla pulled in a breath and forced herself to relax.
The Archduchess continued as though oblivious to the effect her words were having on the younger woman or, more probably, fully aware and purposefully ignoring Isla’s burning humiliation and anger.
“Not only that, Montfort has gone behind my back and sent word to King Jaydon that, in his words, he’d be willing to take the young Lady Brighton as his wife so that he could manage the land like a proper landowner.
” She sat back in her chair. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
Isla gathered her thoughts, needing to speak intelligently rather than from the ball of fury burning down low in her belly.
“While it’s true that I trusted my steward and my shepherd to manage my land and my herd, I have since taken steps to mitigate the damage they either knowingly or unknowingly wrought. ”
Wilhelmina scoffed and narrowed her eyes. “I find it inconceivable that a woman as bright as Alula Brighton would have such a na?ve ninny for a granddaughter. Unknowingly? Unknowingly? You give those cretins more credit than they deserve.”
Isla bristled at the words. “I was being polite, Your Grace. While I don’t yet have the proof, I knew the instant I saw what they’d done to my upper pastures that Lord Montfort had paid them to make me look the fool.
I knew they’d be drinking in every pub in the city, spewing lies about me to anyone who’d listen. ”
“And what did you do about it?”
“I fired them and took steps to mitigate the damage.”
“Such as?”