“I’m not. I want to kill the bastard as much as you do. However, we must make sure that we aren’t moving too soon. He knows she is here, I am sure of it. I can almost feel him watching. We will let’s let him come to us. We’ll be ready.” Peter’s voice was menacing with ruthless intent.
“I’ll go and check on her,” Dominic said, shoving to his feet. “I don’t want her alone.”
Minutes later he entered the lady’s drawing room, quietly closing the door behind him with a click, he paused and studied the room. Isobel was curled up on the chaise before the roaring fire, her head in her hands on the arm of the seat, apparently asleep. On the table beside her lay another untouched tray of tea and pastries.
She must have fallen asleep as soon as she sat down, Dominic mused. The room was cosy and warm, the shutters closed against the afternoon wintry chill. He crept quietly toward the chaise and knelt beside her. She was so beautiful. How in the hell could anybody hurt her? Unable to keep his hands off her any longer, he trailed a fingertip down the side of her cheek.
Isobel slowly became aware of being watched and tickled. Easing her eyes open, she was unsurprised to find herself inches away from Dominic’s. His gentle green eyes scanned her face searchingly. Isobel was sure he was going to ask her more questions about Rupert.
“I want you as my wife,” Dominic whispered softly, his fingertip moving down to curve around her lips. “Say yes.”
“You don’t need to make the sacrifice for me, Dominic,” Isobel reasoned. “I know I have behaved wantonly; more of a harlot, than a lady.” She could sense his hesitation, and pushed herself upright until she was sitting on the side of the chaise. She didn’t add that she wanted, needed, to hear him declare some affection towards her. He had been protective, and caring, and tender, while she had been recovering. His generosity towards her had been boundless. Yet, a part of her desperately needed to hear the true depth of his feelings. Preferably, before she entered into a lifetime commitment to him.
Isobel looked at him steadily. “I would make you a most unconventional wife, Dominic.” She chided softly, unable to come up with any more suitable argument with him so close, yet unable to tell him what she really wanted. She wasn’t sure she would like the outcome if he said he didn’t love her.
“You of all men should know that. After all, most girls would be horrified at the mere suggestion of leaving the house unchaperoned, much less in the middle of the night.” She turned towards him with a sad smile. “Or of residing here, for six weeks, in your bedroom.”
“I am glad you did,” Dominic declared with a smile.
“Are you? Would your family be, if they knew what I have done?” Isobel asked, knowing that Dominic’s sense of chivalry was pushing him to ‘do the right thing’ by her, whether he really wanted her as his wife or not.
“My family will adore you, of that I am certain,” Dominic said reassuringly, knowing she was looking for excuses. Isobel noted he said nothing about adoring her himself.
“Maybe so, but you cannot ignore what has happened to me. The circumstances I have experienced that will certainly banish me from the Ton should it ever become known. It would certainly bring disgrace and embarrassment to anyone associated with me. Even if you discount what I have done, there is the looming disgrace of my uncle’s behaviour that will bring scandal upon the few remaining family members we have,” Isobel said, rising to stand on trembling legs.
“Did you really have to go on a secret mission for the Prince Regent?” Isobel queried, quickly changing the subject. The thought of tarnishing Dominic’s good name made her want to cry, and she didn’t want him feeling sorry for her any more than he already did.
She knew instinctively that he was about to push her further about the suitability of their marrying, and she didn’t think she had the strength to deny him if he really pushed her. With her entire future happiness at stake, entering into marriage with Dominic was something she wanted, needed, to do secure in the kno
wledge he was as in love with her as she was with him. Despite recent events, she couldn’t live with anything less.
“Yes I did. I didn’t lie to you about it. I would never lie to you Isobel. Peter was with me and he wouldn’t lie either, you should know that,” Dominic reproached her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Several hours later, Isobel sat on the chaise in the drawing room. Peter and Dominic sat in the winged chairs on either side of the fireplace. The fire crackled heartily in the grate, giving the room a soft glow. Despite the intimate surroundings, Isobel could feel the tension fairly crackle in the air around them. She knew without asking that they were up to something.
“Is someone going to tell me, or do I have to nag it out of you?” Isobel’s brow rose haughtily. She hadn’t missed the measured look that Dominic and Peter shared, before Peter coughed uncomfortably before turning towards her. Whatever it was, he was clearly reluctant to broach the subject, and was unsure how she would react. The small hairs on Isobel’s neck rose in alarm. Whatever it was they were about to impart, she knew she wouldn’t like it.
“We need you to tell us, exactly, what happened while you were with Rupert.” Peter’s voice was gentle yet held a hint of underlying tension. Isobel was fully aware Dominic sat in silent contemplation of his boots, once again.
She sat and listened carefully when Peter recounted events at Willowbrook that led to her being removed by Rupert, only interrupting to correct him on one or two minor points before nodding for him to continue. Once recounted, an expectant pause settled over them and she knew what they wanted. Her stomach dropped to her knees. Suddenly the sumptuous dinner she had just consumed, felt like a lead weight in her belly.
Silence stretched between them for several moments.
“We need to start at the very beginning, darling,” Dominic declared softly, handing Isobel a tea cup, liberally laced with brandy. “I know this is going to be difficult, but if you feel you need to shout and get angry, do so. But please don’t spare us. We have, after all, both fought on the battlefields and have seen man at his worst. There is nothing you cannot tell either of us that would shock us.” He smiled softly at her knowing how much she was dreading this. Her hand trembled as she took a careful sip of the warm brew, before settling the cup on her lap with a rattle.
“Tell me Isobel, how long were you with Aunt Elspeth before Rupert arrived?”
“Two and a half weeks,” Isobel replied, remembering those hideous moments. “Aunt Elspeth was her usual vacant self, twittering on about something over tea. Ellison answered the door to Rupert who thundered in, ranting and raving about being kept waiting before helping himself to the decanters.”
Isobel’s voice was monotone as she remembered that fateful afternoon when her life altered so dramatically. She could view the scene as though from a far distance. “He said he had come to remove me. That you had died, leaving him as my guardian. I was stunned and horrified, mainly at the news of your death.” Isobel trembled so much she couldn’t hold her tea cup, and placed it carefully on the table before her. “I tried to ask him what had happened, but he said he didn’t have all of the facts, but a magistrate - a man called Worthing - had informed him of your death in Norfolk and that made him my legal guardian. He told me to pack immediately as I was leaving. He couldn’t remain in Willowbrook, and would see to its disposal at a later date.” She glanced towards Peter. “When I tried to argue with him that I should remain at Willowbrook, he began ranting that Elspeth was unstable and should be sent to an asylum. Elspeth became so distressed that I agreed to leave. But only after securing his promise that he wouldn’t have her sent away and she could remain at Willowbrook for the time being. I didn’t know what to think; what to do. I couldn’t believe you had died, but I didn’t know how to clarify it. I was stuck, and so upset. He gave me only a short time in which to pack.”
“Did he tell you where you were going?” Peter asked carefully.
Isobel shook her head. “By the time I had packed a few meagre belongings, he had summoned the coach and was leaving. I was ushered outside, and into the waiting carriage before I knew it. I insisted on Kitty coming with me. At first he wouldn’t agree, but when I said I needed a lady’s maid with me and flatly refused to leave without her, he agreed. It all happened so quickly, and I was so horrified with the news about your death Peter that I just couldn’t think.”
“Can you remember how long you were in the carriage?” Peter knew Rupert had lodgings in London that could be reached within a day.