Isabella was beginning to feel her mind slipping as she turned the small garden in the back of the house for what had to be the hundredth time.
With the season starting in earnest now, Lady Gilcrest and Lady Louisa were engaged most afternoons and evenings. Though both ladies had insisted Isabella come along with them, she had firmly refused.
They were kind enough to shelter her over the past month. They didn’t need the added burden on their reputation to be seen with her in front of the town.
Instead, Isabella was left at the house alone most days. She tried to stay put in the small drawing room and embroider or read, but with the glorious sun shining down almost every day, she couldn’t help but want to be outside in its warmth.
She thought for a moment of when she and the duke had sat on a cold stone bench in the dark. Isabella had confessed that she could never get used to the cold weather so far up north.
When the prospect of their unity was so close, Isabella had not once considered living her whole life up at Wintercrest Manor. Now that she was returned to London, she still missed Wintercrest and its inhabitants, but she could not help but enjoy the sun.
“You wicked minx,” a voice called into the garden, “out here taking turns with your bonnet in your hand.” Viscount Dunthorpe said to Isabella as he made his way to her in a teasing manner. “What will the other ladies say?”
“They will not say a word of it,” Isabella said, placing the confounded conformity back on her head before taking the Viscount's arm. “I am not acceptable to be in proper society. I might as well look the part.”
In all honesty, Isabella had learned to despise her large brimmed bonnets, as Lady Abigail had done. But she reminded herself that London was different and the sun could be harsher.
“Don’t be so down, Izzy,” he said affectionately, as he took her for yet another turn. “It is right awful outside these walls. I fear the town has gotten even more gossipy since you left. It would not suit your often-loose tongue at all.”
Isabella pinched his elbow in a sibling gesture. Colton had always included Isabella in his big brotherly duties.
“I have actually learned very well how to control my tongue,” Isabella said, sticking her sun-warmed chin in the air.
Lord Dunthorpe looked down at her with his disbelieving brown eyes.
“It's true,” she continued. “The housekeeper at Wintercrest, Mrs. Peterson, she was just about the most awful woman I have ever met. She was so cruel and short with everyone. Very often, she was abrasive with me. I did a very good job of keeping my mouth shut in those situations.”
Lord Dunthorpe raised a blond brow again in disbelief.
“I did. Well, at least I did for as long as she was in earshot,” Isabella added with a giggle.
“As I suspected. I suppose it is better than the governess telling off the head housekeeper. I must admit, however, I would have been sorely sad if you had said you had cured your tongue altogether. Its sharp bite has been quite entertaining for me.” He thought for a moment, “Well, at least when I am not the one it is pointed at.”
“It is about to be pointed at you right now if you do not stop your irritating teasing,” Isabella responded, looking up at her dear friend's older brother.
“Come then, let us drink some tea. Perhaps the refreshment might protect me from your wrath or, at the very least, your pinches,” he added playfully, leading her back into the house.
They went into the drawing room and each took a seat on opposite sofas. Isabella began to pour as the tea was placed before them.
“Do tell me what you have been up to over the last year. Have you finally found a young woman to tame your wild nature?”
“No,” he said, leaning back in his seat and dropping an arm across the top, “I’m afraid I offend and terrify all those I encounter.”
“That can’t be true? You are charming.”
“Yes, but then I open my mouth,” Lord Dunthorpe said with a wide smile. “Most ladies don’t approve of my racing or other eccentric habits.”
“I suppose you would be quite a handful. Don’t worry; I am sure there must be one miss up to the task of taming your wild ways.”
“Yes, well, Mother and Father are quite hoping so. I think they fear that I will never marry. I suppose,” he said as he wrinkled his brow in thought, “I have found plenty of misses’ as you have mentioned, wanting to change me, but I would rather like one who would join me, instead.”
“Well then, don’t let her see you set your traps before you marry her. One look at your breakneck speed and I scarcely think she would ever get in a carriage with you again.”
“You’ve seen me, and you still get in carriages with me.”
“And I say a little prayer every time,” Isabella retorted with a smile.
“I’ve got some news for you, Izzy,” Lord Dunthorpe said after a small lull in the conversation. “I’ve debated telling you over these past few days, but I think I should.”
“Well, what is it?”
“The Duke of Wintercrest and his family have recently taken up their London home.”
Isabella did her best not to show any reaction to the news although her heart leaped instantly in her chest. “Oh,” was all she could find to leave her lips.
“I found this out when we received an invitation to a ball they are having to introduce the duke officially. It is in a fortnight’s time.”
“I must admit, I am a little surprised they sent you that invitation. The duke thought it would be a nice treat for me to have Louisa present. I didn’t think after…well, I guess it just goes to show how kind they are.”
“The invitation included you, as well,” he said gently. “Do you think you will go?”
“I can’t imagine that I could stand to do so.”
“Because of your feelings for the duke” Lord Dunthorpe said this as a fact more than a question.
“How did- did Louisa tell you?”
“No. It was just pretty easy to see that you were heartbroken. Not to mention the fact that you have talked on end about every member of that household except the duke.”
Isabella looked down into her teacup, embarrassed that she had given herself away. She knew she would never overcome her feelings for the duke, but she had hoped that she was better at hiding them.
“I guess the only reason I bring all this up is that I think you should go. I know that it's not something you're going to decide on lightly, so I thought I might give you plenty of time to think it over.”
“Oh, I really couldn’t. Mr. Jenkins has high hopes for our case, but I can’t imagine all will be solved in time. I wouldn’t let your family be seen in public with me, or disgrace the Wintercrests like that.”
“You will never be a disgrace to this family, so don’t you ever think that,” Lord Dunthorpe inserted. “As I said, I am just telling you now so that you can consider going over the next few weeks.”
Isabella sat in her shared room, later that evening, reading a book. The Gilcrests were currently at a dinner that they had been invited to, so Isabella had the whole of the house to herself. A soft knock interrupted her reading.
“Beggin’ your pardon, miss, but a caller’s come to the door,” the maid's voice said smoothly.
“A caller? At so late an hour? Please, just tell them the Gilcrests are out for the evening.”
“I did so, miss. He said he has come to see you.”
“Oh, alright then,” Isabella said, taking a moment to fix her hair and smooth her cotton dress.
She couldn’t help but get butterflies as she made her way down the stairs and into the drawing room. It had only been a few hours since Lord Dunthorpe had divulged that the Duke of Wintercrest was in London. She had thought of nothing else since that moment. As much as she had told herself that she hoped the duke would move past her, she also secretly hoped he was the one who had come to call.
However, when she entered the room, she did not see the tall, broad shoulder figure of the duke, but rather the friendly face of Mr. Jenkins. Isabella did her best to hide her disappointment both inwardly and out.
“Mr. Jenkins! How nice of you to stop by,” Isabella said, sitting down.
Mr. Jenkins looked as nervous as he had that very first meeting in his office over a year ago.
“Is something wrong?” Isabella asked.
He moved in a jerking manner as he came to take a seat.
“I am sorry to call on you at such a late hour, but I figured you wouldn’t want me to wait a moment before telling you.”
“Yes, please do. You are scaring me a little,” Isabella said as she fidgeted with her own hands in her lap.
She tried her best to seem cool and collected. Inwardly, she had been a flurry of emotions since leaving Wintercrest. She wasn’t sure that she would be able to stand any more bad news if that was what Mr. Jenkins came to deliver.
“I spoke with several of my colleagues. As you know, I am preparing to take your case before a local judge and call for a public revoke of Mr. Smith’s claims. I am sorry to say that, after I explained the whole of the situation to them, they did not find it very favorable to us. In fact, a fear they brought to my attention is that if we do take our current case before the courts and the judges don’t side with us, Mr. Smith may take his cause with more evil intent.”
“I can’t possibly see how he could make things any worse than they already are.” Isabella did her best to control the sorrow and rage both vying for her attention.
“Well, he could take you to debtors’ court and demand the money from you. As of now, he is simply using his false claims to hold off his own debts. He may, however, take things farther. If he does so, you may find yourself in debtors’ prison.”
Isabella covered a gasp. She couldn’t even begin to understand how her life had turned around so much since her father’s death. How had she gone from a respected young woman to a possible imprisoned criminal?
“I know this all sounds very awful right now. Please, let me assure you that there is still one last hope.”
“Well, by all means, tell me quickly.”
“You remember that, at our first meeting upon your return to London, I assured you that all payments would be deferred until we won our case?”
“Yes,” Isabella encouraged, not seeing how this could be the start of good news.
“I actually fibbed a bit. It is not the case. In fact, the Duke of Wintercrest has asked to be sent all bills pertaining to your legal counsel and in return, asked that I keep him informed on all matters pertaining to your case.”
“He did what?” Isabella stammered in disbelief.
“I have also been in conference with him much over the last few days,” Mr. Jenkins continued. “He has provided me every resource at hand. I met with him just before coming here and informed him just as I have told you.”
“And how is this a ray of hope for me? At the moment, I only feel shame and guilt that my past employer would take so much upon himself.”
“After I informed His Grace of the current circumstances, he promptly stood and announced that he would now handle the matter himself.”
“What does that mean?” Isabella asked, her emerald eyes filling with fear for his reputation.
“I cannot say with complete certainty. I would guess, however, that the duke intends to meet with Mr. Smith and settle the matter. It has been done before with gentlemen of the duke’s means.”
“You mean you think he will pay Mr. Smith to stop harassing me. I could never allow such a thing. There must be a way that will not involve the duke. I won't see his reputation, or his family’s, for that matter, ruined over me.”
“I’m very sorry, Miss Watts, but at this time, I fear that this may be the only way for you to escape such a wicked man. I don’t agree with the fact that Mr. Smith will be getting what he wanted and that justice was not able to prove the right. The law is a delicate matter, and sometimes the only means of justice for wrongfully accused, such as yourself, is out of my hands.”