Isoline watched the scenery pass through the carriage window as it whizzed toward town. She took in a deep breath of fresh air and felt the sun warm her face.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” Bess observed.

“I am,” Isoline said with a smile. “For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel…” She paused as she tried to put a finger on this new feeling of contentment. There had been days since she came to Thornrush Manor when she felt happy. But this was new. This was stronger. This had permanence to it. For the first time, she could imagine the future beyond tomorrow.

“Safe,” she finally settled on. “I feel safe, secure. My life is not just here and now, but I feel like I can finally plan for the future.”

“Even after what happened with Mr. Tristan?” Bess asked, concern knitted on her brow. “You feel safe after that?”

Isoline did feel a twinge of queasiness in her stomach at the memory of Tristan and what he had tried to do. But she shook her head to dispel the memory.

“Tristan is gone,” she said confidently. “We don’t need to worry or fear him. Auntie has banished him and Auberon would do him great harm if he tried to come near us again.”

Bess chuckled. “I believe that’s true,” she said. “He had a monstrous fury in his eyes as he held him to the fireplace. He’d do anything to protect you.”

Isoline’s cheeks warmed at the knowledge. She had never known such protection, such devotion from a man. Even her own father would sell her down the river if he thought it would benefit the family. She sighed and shook her head.

“Let us have no more talk or worry of men,” she said. “We are going to have a lovely day.”

She admitted to herself that she was a little nervous that Tristan might be attending church that day as well, but she knew that he couldn't hurt her. If he even tried to approach her, Auberon would find out about it. Isoline had asked Auberon to attend church with her, if for no other reasons but to put rumors to rest that she had been courted by Tristan. But he laughed at the prospect. “The whole world is my church,” he said. “And I worship whatever I see.” She had seen the way he admired the view and knew his words to be true.

But she had also sent a note the previous day to the vicar and requested they have luncheon together with his family. She hoped the opportunity would arise where she could correct any ill-conceived notions about her and Tristan. She would probably avoid mentioning her relationship with Auberon as well. No need to alert the community about something that was only just beginning. Should they become formally engaged, she be so happy she would alert the newspapers herself. But until then, she preferred to keep her new romance private.

They arrived only a few minutes before the service began—by design, so that Isoline wouldn’t have to associate with Tristan should he make an appearance. But as she surveyed the congregants, she was glad to see he was not among them. Once again, she was warmly greeted by the vicar and his wife, but the rest of the parishioners kept her at a cool distance. She tried to not take this indifference personally. After all, they didn’t know her or how long she would be in town. Was she merely a treasure hunter or a valuable member of the community? They probably thought it best to observe her for a while before reaching out. Hopefully, her luncheon with the vicar’s family would convince everyone that she was someone worth welcoming into the fold.

As she made her way into the church and to a seat, she kept a warm smile on her face in the hopes that she would appear friendly and welcoming. A few people gave her polite nods in return, which was at least more than she received on her last visit to town.

After the sermon, she once again waited in line to thank the vicar and his wife.

“I heard she broke his heart,” a voice behind her said, and Isoline new instantly they were talking about her and Tristan.

“He can hardly leave his home for the shame of it,” another woman said.

“Ungrateful and cruel,” another voice said. “If I could hook a handsome, respectable lord like that, I’d snatch him up without a second thought.”

Isoline could not stand by silently this time and turned to face the gossiping ninnies.

“Then I wish you would,” Isoline said. “Then maybe he would finally leave me alone.”

For a moment, the women stood shocked into silence. But then they laughed.

“I suppose a great heiress like you doesn’t have to worry about the feelings of a man like Tristan,” one of the women said snidely. “Just string him along and then cut him loose when it suits you.”

“I never strung him along,” Isoline said calmly. “I made it clear from the first day that I would only ever think of him as a cousin.”

“And what about Lord Crowden?” another woman asked with a raised eyebrow. “Did you tell him he could be a cousin too?”

Isoline started for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Of course the ladies, and everyone else in town, would know about Cyril. She just hadn’t expected the incident to be thrown in her face so cruelly. It was certainly uncouth.

“Lord Crowden is a good man,” Isoline said. “And I wish him the greatest happiness.”

The ladies’ mouths gaped like fish. They certainly had not been expecting that response. Isoline’s options of what to do next flashed through her mind. Should she continue to correct them? Call them out for their nasty behavior? Offer an olive branch?

“But if you would like to know the truth of the matter,” Isoline continued, “please call on me at Thornrush Manor. I’d love to host you for tea.”

The ladies released a collective breath Isoline didn’t realize they had been holding. They too must have been anxious about what her next move was going to be.

“In all my years, I’ve never seen the inside of Thornrush Manor,” one of the women said as her face softened into something of a smile. “I would love to call on you, Miss Beresford.”

Isoline offered her hand to shake. “Please, call me Isoline,” she said.

The other ladies introduced themselves with the names Bess had told her on their previous trip, but she, of course, didn’t bring up the unpleasant rumors about them she had been told. She wasn’t sure how her aunt would respond to having the women in her parlor, but she would be sure to let her know in advance that they were coming so it wouldn’t be a shock.

After Isoline made her way through the receiving line, she waited outside until the vicar and his family were ready to take her to their home for lunch. No one else approached her, but she watched as the ladies she had spoken to made their way around to the other parishioners, whispering what little they had learned to their friends and husbands, who then looked at Isoline and gave her a smile that was friendlier than previously. She hoped that when she returned the next weekend, the community would be more anxious to get to know her.

“Nothing dispels rumors more quickly than the truth,” Beatrice, the vicar’s wife, said as she bounced a little girl on her knee.

“Perhaps,” Isoline said as she finished the fish that had been served for luncheon. “But sometimes letting people believe what they want is easier than exposing old wounds.”

“You don’t want people to know about Lord Crowden?” Beatrice asked.

Isoline shrugged. “They will know,” she said. “But I don’t want to have to explain it for the rest of my life. I’m ready to move on.

The vicar and his wife laughed.

“I think that people will continue to enjoy the gossip of many subjects long after the rest of us wish they were forgotten,” the vicar said.

Isoline shook her head as a housekeeper cleared away her plate. “That is surely truth,” she said. “The last time I was here, those women were gossiping about Aunt Bellamira, and she hasn’t left her house for ages.

The vicar poured himself and Isoline a small glass of port, but Beatrice declined.

“Your aunt is a unique matter,” the vicar said. “People will always wonder about the Grande Dame living in the mansion on the hill.”

Isoline nodded and sipped her drink. “I do suppose that is true. I can’t blame people for being curious.”

“Curious, no,” Beatrice said. “But unkind, certainly. You did a lovely thing by inviting them to tea.”

“I only hope they genuinely want to be friends and not just come to gawk at my aunt and her home,” Isoline said.

“I think it may start out as the latter,” Beatrice said honestly as she exchanged one child on her lap for another. “But let us pray it then becomes the former.”

“It might take a great deal of patience on your part, Isoline,” the vicar said, “to cultivate friendships in such a small community. I dare say even we struggle to find true companions.”

“You must be joking,” Isoline said. “I would think the vicar’s family would be the social center.”

“Alas, no,” the vicar said. “I grew up here, it is true, but I was gone for many years to university. And I returned dragging Beatrice in tow.” The two of them looked at each other adoringly. “My father…well, let’s just say he had quite a reputation in town that I have yet to quite overcome.”

“How do you cope?” Isoline asked. “Feeling like outcasts in your own home?”

“We do have some very dear friends,” Beatrice said, taking over for her husband. “But they took many years and much patience to form. It may take a lot of work for you to be accepted here, but it will be worth it in the end.”

“Marrying a local man would be the easy route,” the vicar said, but his quick laugh reassured Isoline he was only speaking in jest.

“Martin!” Beatrice shrieked. “You are terrible!”

“I…I am not completely against the idea of marrying one day,” Isoline said, looking deep into her goblet. “I only don’t want to be pushed into it with someone I detest.”

Beatrice was quiet for a moment, but she was quick to pick up on the true meaning of Isoline’s words.

“Do you have someone in mind, Isoline?” she asked.

Isoline paused, but then decided to be honest. She wanted the Edwards to be her friends, and keeping secrets or misleading them would not be the way to do that.

“I…I do have a gentleman caller,” she said. “Mr. Auberon Dracoia. One of my aunt’s tenants.”

The vicar and his wife both froze and stared at her. Then they glanced at each other uneasily.

“Your aunt…” the vicar asked cautiously. “She approves of this man calling on you?”

“Oh, yes,” Isoline said quickly. “She is quite fond of him.”

The Edwards seemed to breathe a little easier at that knowledge.

“Well, who am I to second-guess your guardian,” the vicar said as he finished off his drink.

“You wouldn’t approve if you were in her place?” Isoline asked, but the vicar didn’t respond. “Please, tell me if there is anything about him I should know. He seems like a wonderful man to me, but I don’t know anything about his reputation in the community.”

The vicar nodded. “It isn’t that he has a bad reputation,” he said. “But that he has almost a nonexistent one. He’s practically a hermit.”

“He is a solitary person,” Isoline conceded. “He is very happy on his little plot of land, free to pursue his art.”

“He is handsome, wealthy, talented,” Beatrice said. “You have to wonder why a man like that—one who could have his pick of ladies or live anywhere or do anything—would hide himself from the world.”

Isoline’s mind tripped over Beatrice referring to Auberon as wealthy. She thought he had nothing to his name but a small cottage he didn’t even own. Did Beatrice know something about Auberon’s situation she didn’t? Or was she only assuming he was rich because of his carefree existence? She wanted to know more, but was afraid of looking ignorant if she asked. She decided she would have to ask Auberon about it directly when she saw him again.

Isoline smiled politely. “I thank you for your concern,” she said. “But he is only calling. It is nothing serious yet. I have no idea what the future will hold. I only told you because I want us to be true friends. But, please, do not tell anyone else.”

“Of course, of course,” the vicar said. “I would be a poor vicar if I could not keep the confidence of each one of my parishioners.”

“Well, I am afraid I must excuse myself,” Beatrice said as she stood. “I must put the children down for a rest.”

“I should excuse myself anyway,” Isoline said. “I have taken far too much of your day. But I have greatly enjoyed the company. I do hope you can come and visit me at Thornrush. We have plenty of land the children could run around on and some lovely ponies they could ride.”

“Mama!” the boy cried. “Can we ride ponies?”

“Pony! Pony!” the girls chanted.

“Oh dear,” Beatrice said as she watched her children quickly spiral out of control. “I believe I will now get no rest until I take you up on the offer.”

“I’m so sorry,” Isoline said, but she couldn’t help but laugh as Beatrice and the housekeeper worked together to round up the children for their nap.

“Have a safe journey home,” Beatrice said as she finally managed to wrangle her son out of the room.

The vicar laughed and followed Isoline out the door. Bess, who had taken her luncheon in the kitchen, was waiting for her with her wrap.

Isoline shook the vicar’s offered hand as she descended the steps of their modest home. “I did so enjoy today. Thank you for the lovely meal and conversation.”

“We must do it again,” the vicar said, but Isoline could tell he wanted to say something more, so she lingered. “But…forgive me for speaking out of turn, Isoline. But I do hope you will take my—our—concerns about Mr. Dracoia to heart. Granted, I don’t know the man well, and I know his family and yours go back many years. Do be cautious, though. I would hate for something to happen to you.”

What exactly did he think Auberon was capable of, Isoline wondered. If he was truly worried that Auberon was a rake, he could speak more plainly without causing offense. No, Isoline had a feeling he had some other concern, something he was afraid to give voice to.

“I greatly appreciate your counsel,” Isoline said. “I will be careful and make sure every aspect of our courtship is above reproach.”

The vicar smiled, but his lips were pressed tightly together. Isoline could see he was fighting the urge to say more. Finally, he nodded and shook her hand vigorously. “That is all I could ask,” he settled on saying and then motioned toward her carriage.

As she and Bess rode home, Isoline watched as storm clouds gathered in the distance. Just what was the vicar trying to warn her about?

“Did you have a nice trip to town?” Bellamira asked as Isoline joined her in the parlor when she returned.

When Isoline saw her aunt, she nearly gasped. She looked very tired and worn. Her hair was thinner, more flat and grey. It seemed as though it was taking all her energy to sit up straight in her chair.

“Oh…yes,” Isoline said, trying to mask her shock as she went to warm her hands by the fire. The storm had rolled in and Isoline’s skin felt damp. “It was lovely. Thank you for asking. People were much more friendly this time. I think some of the ladies may even call for tea later in the week, if you don’t mind.”

“Hmm, in seventy years no one but the vicar has deigned to call on me,” she said with a scoff.

Isoline nodded sympathetically. “If you would rather they didn’t call, I will understand,” she said. “I know you value your privacy. I could call on them instead.”

“No, no,” Bellamira said. “They can come. Let them gawk and stare and get it out of their system. It is those who come back for a second visit who might be interested in more than just ogling the old widow.”

“You are so kind to humor me, auntie,” Isoline said. “I do hope I can make friends here. Become part of the community.”

“Your wide-eyed optimism will never cease to humor me,” Bellamira said. She made a move as though to get up, but it seemed as though she didn’t quite have a strength. She quickly recovered by turning toward the fireplace, as though that was what she had meant to do in the first place.

Isoline hesitated to inquire after her aunt’s health. She didn’t want to remind Bellamira about the rumors of her being a treasure hunter. But what if something was truly wrong? What if something were to happen to Bellamira? Would anyone really believe her if she said she knew nothing about her aunt’s health?

“Dear auntie,” Isoline finally said. “Are you feeling quite all right? You have seemed a bit tired lately.”

“What?” Bellamira asked, surprised. “I’m sure I’ve never felt better.”

Isoline nodded. “Of course,” she said. But she was far from satisfied. Perhaps she should try talking to Bellamira’s maid. She would know if there had been any changes in Bellamira’s health lately.

“Speaking of callers,” Bellamira said suddenly. “My solicitor will be coming by soon. He’s traveling up from York.”

“Your solicitor?” Isoline asked. “Why will he be visiting us?”

“Just a bit of business to attend to,” Bellamira said casually, as though discussing the weather. “I haven’t updated my will in ages.”

Isoline felt her heart bang like a sledgehammer in her chest at the mention of Bellamira’s will. Of course, she didn’t say she was naming Isoline as heir, but why else would she mention it? Isoline was too stunned to speak, so she just nodded instead.

Bellamira pushed herself to her feet and walked toward the door. “I just didn’t want you to be too surprised when he came by.”

“Of course, aunt,” Isoline said. “I look forward to meeting him.”

“I believe I shall retire for the rest of the day,” Bellamira said. “This rain is seeping into my bones.”

“Of course,” Isoline said. “Good day.”

Bellamira nodded toward her and then left the room. As soon as she was gone, Isoline nearly felt her knees give out and she collapsed onto a nearby sofa. Of course, she hadn’t said it plainly, but Bellamira’s meaning was clear.

She was going to make Isoline her heir.