Duke of Decadence (Lords of Scandal 9)

He wanted her. He’d said as much. So how did she get him? “You know me. I’m not good at this. If he were a deck of cards, I’d know exactly which one was about to play.”

Eliza tapped her chin. “What has he played so far? And I’m not asking you to turn the man into a metaphor of cards. What has he told you? What do you know about him?”

Isabella’s mouth turned down. Should she tell her sisters? “I truly want your help, but what he’s shared is private.”

“Private is very good,” Eliza smiled. “Is he baring his soul?”

Isabella looked up at the ceiling. “Yes. I think he has.”

“And did you share yours? Did you tell him that abandonment is what you fear?”

She hadn’t. And her wince alerted all her sisters of that fact.

“You should tell him,” Emily leaned forward. “That is your next move. He’ll want to protect you from that.”

“That’s right.” Abigail began excitedly tapping her shoulder. “That’s one thing we know for certain. He’ll go to great lengths to protect you. You should tell him for certain.”

She nodded, rising from her chair again before she’d even taken a bite. But her sisters’ words rang with a truth that she couldn’t deny. “I believe you’re right.” Swallowing down her fear, she turned toward the door. If she were going to do this, she may as well begin.

But after ten minutes, she was unable to find his study. She’d been there before but somewhere in the massive expanse of his home, she got turned around. She came out at the main stairs just in time to see her uncle leave.

She covered her mouth, her breath catching, as she watched his angry stride toward the door.

When the door slammed behind him, she stepped out of the shadows. Had he just met with Bash? What had happened?

Bash came down the hall too, striding toward her looking tall and strong and like a dream in the form of a man. A sigh escaped her lips as she stepped into his path. “Bash.”

He slowed and without a word, gathered her into his arms. “Isabella, are you all right? I’m sorry for—”

She shook her head. “Don’t apologize. Please. But I do need to speak with you.”

“I need to speak with you too, but I have several urgent errands to run.”

“Now?” she asked, biting her lip as she looked up at him. She’d used her sisters’ enthusiasm to bolster her courage and now she was losing her resolve.

“Keeping you and your sisters out of trouble is a full-time job,” he said, but his smile was soft as he stroked her chin.

“Oh.” Her insides melted a bit. “Those kinds of errands.”

“We’ll talk later.”

She nodded again. “We want to go to a party tonight we received an invitation for. I mentioned earlier that Emily has a very interested suitor. He’s asked for us to attend.”

He frowned. “Tonight? Considering everything, you should stay here.”

She shook her head. “But how can we unburden you if we don’t find matches?”

He sighed. “There is far less urgency for your sister to marry. I’ve decided on a solution already, so you don’t need to go.”

“What solution?” She reached for his hand, her heart thudding in her chest.

“That’s what we’ll discuss tonight.” He brought her hand to his lips. “Stay here and stay safe.”

And then he strode off down the stairs and out the door.

They hadn’t gotten a chance to speak, but tonight she’d tell him everything that was in her heart.

Chapter Seventeen