13. Isla #4
Isla wouldn’t survive the shame if she lost the estates where her grandmother had raised her mother and where she, herself, had been born.
Four generations of Brightons were buried in the family cemetery beneath the majestic willow tree near Windsong Lake.
The horses could see the tombstones from their paddocks, and Isla believed her loved ones buried beneath those elegant marble stones enjoyed the company of her majestic thoroughbreds.
And what would happen to the line of horses she’d worked diligently to produce from some of the best bloodlines throughout several kingdoms?
She’d sell the entire herd before she’d allow Montfort to have them.
Her jaw tightened as she resolved to burn Windsong Hall to the ground before letting him have any part of her ancestral home.
“Lady Brighton.”
She jumped when the Archduchess put a hand over hers. Her gaze jerked up to see concern in the older woman’s eyes.
“Are you well? You’ve gone pale.” Wilhelmina sighed. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have been quite so blunt, but I need you to understand the severity of the issue at hand.”
Isla’s nostrils flared. “Oh, I understand. Montfort has been playing the long game, whispering into King Jaydon’s ear, into anyone’s ear who would listen, telling them I’m not the woman my mother was.
That I won’t fight the way she would. That I’m incapable of running my estates and that he’ll swoop in and marry the ‘little woman’ to protect her and the Fachan’s Bay economy my poor management will imperil. ”
Isla’s green eyes resembled those of a caged eagle, piercing, angry, and fierce beyond measure. “Let me tell you, I’ll burn Windsong Hall to the ground before I see him take it. I’ll sell every horse in my herd, and then I’ll turn my attention on his estates and burn them to the ground as well.”
Celie put her arm around Isla’s shoulders, and James rose to come around the table to comfort her.
Lady Pierpont pursed her lips and sat back, clearly not expecting this vehement response from her old friend’s granddaughter.
Celie leaned in and spoke softly, trying to calm her friend. “We’ll find a way, Isla. We’ve only just begun to fight. You’ll see. We’ll save Windsong Hall.” She kissed her temple. “And if we can’t, I’ll be standing right beside you with the torch. I promise you that.”
“Celie!” James barked the name just as Isla burst into tears and ran from the parlor.
Celie was fast on her heels and slammed her shoulder into the front door Isla had pulled opened.
“No. You can’t run out of here crying as though Montfort’s won.
” Her voice was low and harsh as she admonished the younger woman.
“Get yourself together, girl. You need to show strength, not despair. Cry when you’re at home alone in your room, but not while running down Azure Road on your way out of town. ”
James lightly held Lady Pierpont’s elbow as she leaned heavily on her cane and stiffly walked into the foyer.
The lady nodded her agreement of Celie’s advice.
“You’d do well to listen to her, child. We have a battle to wage, and it’s never a good tactic to show weakness before that battle has even begun. ”
Isla accepted the offer of Riordan’s handkerchief with a grateful nod and daintily wiped beneath her eyes.
When she felt presentable again, she lowered her hand and glared at the old woman.
“Begun? It seems it began months ago, possibly years ago. Who knows when Montfort began his insidious campaign to own Windsong Hall? It sounds like he’s already won if he has King Jaydon’s ear. ”
Wilhelmina’s sly smile surprised her. “And it’s that fact that will allow us to triumph.
He believes he’s already won. Now, knowing that’s what he believes, what do you think his reaction will be when he hears that you left Judge Riordan’s home in tears?
” The Grande Dame narrowed her eyes. “I’ll tell you what he’d say.
He’d crow to all and sundry that you realize the error of your ways, and though it pains your heart, the realization that you’re in over your head and need his help has brought grateful tears to your eyes.
With a worldly look of wisdom, he’ll say God be praised because you’ve come to the only decision you could and have decided to cede Windsong Hall over to him by way of marriage and will come to his estates to live with him as his bride. ”
The Archduchess’s matter-of-fact recitation of facts allowed Isla to overcome her panicked wave of emotions. Her logical mind kicked in, and she realized that what Wilhelmina said was true. Her flailing mind had nearly sunk the boat before she’d put up even a semblance of a fight.
Seeing that her words were having the desired effect, Wilhelmina wafted her hand through the air, indicating Isla should join her.
“There are days when I can dance with that handsome pirate and days like today when I have difficulty making it from one room to another. Take my arm, child, and help me return to the table. We have much to discuss, you and I, if we’re to keep that bastard away from you and your inheritance. ”
Isla carefully replaced James’s hand beneath the old woman’s arm with her own, and together, they moved back to where they could begin mapping out their battle plans.