“How long does he stay?”
“A week. I intend to make the best of it.”
“And so you should.” Isabella scrutinized the next gown Molly brought forward from the wardrobe. This one was of mint green chiffon. The fabric would cling to her curves and move with any gentle breeze. “It is a contender,” she told her maid. But would the pastel color make her blend in too much at the gathering? At least if Louisa were busy with her husband, she’d stop poking into her life.
“Enough of Louisa’s life,” Mariana interrupted from her spot lounging on her stomach on Isabella’s bed, her legs crossed at the ankle, a copy of La Belle Assemblée open in front of her. “You didn’t answer her question.”
“Which was?” Really, did any of this matter?
“What is wrong with you? Even I’ve noticed it in recent days.”
“When you’re not mooning about the imminent arrival of Lord Albert?” Isabella couldn’t resist teasing.
Mariana rolled her eyes. “At least I’m open to courtship.”
“Not this again.” She turned to Molly, who shrugged and went back to the wardrobe.
“Anyway, you’ve changed in the past handful of days, Izzy,” Louisa continued, for now with Mariana’s backing, she had more fuel for her fire. “In fact, you’ve been acting weird since we went to that gypsy fair.”
“I have not.” She fingered the fabric of the next gown Molly brought over, this one turquoise silk with a white chiffon overlay, the bodice glittering with seed pearls and clear glass beads. “I’m the same woman I’ve always been.” She fought off the damning heat in her cheeks at the lie. No, she wasn’t the same at all, for her life had changed. It was more exciting now that she and the captain were openly talking and sparring.
Every morning since they’d chatted at the stream when he’d rested his horse, she’d met him on the lane. Both mornings, he’d ridden, and when she’d asked him why he didn’t walk over, he’d indicated his cane and said anything over two miles and his old wound would scream at him. When she’d made the appropriate comments, he’d waved them off and accused her of looking at him with pity. He’d said the injury had happened and he dealt with it.
But she’d caught the lingering bitterness in his voice. To banish it, she dared him to gallop through the countryside, and when he had, she’d squealed and reveled in the rush of the wind in her face and the friction of their bodies moving together as Ares had attempted to fly.
Louisa snapped her fingers, recalling Isabella’s attention. “There, you see? Once more you don’t attend us.” She shot a speaking glance at Mariana, who shrugged. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a beau.” Her sisters both laughed. “But it’s you, and we all know none of your suitors invoke the slightest interest.”
“There you go.” She returned to contemplating gowns, but she couldn’t quite banish the smile from her lips. “What gown shall I wear this afternoon?”
“Does it matter?” Mariana asked. “No one of consequence will attend unless Papa specifically asked men to come from London.”
“No one of consequence to you, you mean,” Louisa accused. “I know for a fact that Mother made certain some of Isabella’s more interesting suitors were invited.”
“Ugh,” she uttered before she could recall the response. “Why on earth would she do that?”
“To see you matched, of course,” Mariana said with a laugh. She turned a page in her periodical.
“I don’t need a match.”
Mariana’s eyes sparkled. “You are missing out, especially on kisses.” She grinned at Louisa. “Lord Albert might not be much to look at, but his kisses are divine.”
“One doesn’t need a match to indulge in kissing,” she said before she thought about it. As heat bloomed in her cheeks, she shrugged. “So I’ve been told.”
When Mariana snapped her gaze back to Isabella, she sighed. “You’re so naïve, Izzy. Mother means to match you this summer. I think she’s got a private wager between her and Papa. And quite frankly, I think having a husband will be good for you.”
“Why?”
“You’re too wild, too…” She waved a hand.
“Different than what is popular or accepted?” Isabella finished for her in a quiet voice. “Not all of us are fit for ton life, or even wedded bliss.”
“Talk to Mother, then. She won’t budge in this.”
Neither will I. “Then I hope she hasn’t offered something of value, for she will lose, and with large disappointment.” Isabella had plans of her own and she meant to lead the captain a merry chase—or chase him if called for, because she would have him one way or the other. Yet the thought of her parents placing a wager upon her marital prospects irked her. Why couldn’t they accept who she was and what she wanted from her own life?
Louisa shifted in the chair. “Don’t you want to fall in love, Izzy?” She rested a hand on her still-flat belly. “To marry the man of your dreams?”
What did love have when adventure and passion were in the offing? Isabella sighed and told Molly she’d wear the turquoise silk. “One doesn’t need marriage to find love.” And one didn’t need love when an affair would provide excitement and fulfillment.
Both of her sisters gawked at her.
It was Louisa who spoke first. “What will you do once Mariana is gone from home?”
“Continue my life, I expect,” she said with a heavy dose of sarcasm. When they returned to London at the end of the summer, she’d never see the captain again. The muscles of her stomach clenched and a feeling akin to fear took up residence in her chest. How utterly… odd. It wasn’t as if she was fond of him in any way. “Being unattached has advantages.” Would he come to Town if she sent for him? Or… a new thought occurred. Would her parents agree to let her remain in the country by herself?
The concept of rattling around the manor house appealed greatly. If she must live in England, she would do it on her own terms.
“Such as?” Mariana asked as she closed her magazine and sat upright.
“Freedom. Choices. Focusing on other pursuits that have nothing to do with being someone’s wife or arm ornament.” It sounded like a great life indeed.
“Don’t linger too long. Life is lonely without a man,” Louisa said as she struggled out of the chair. “I should know. I miss my husband fiercely.”
Isabella smiled. It was time to shock her sisters. “Who says I’ll be without a man? It’s the marriage I don’t want, and I’ll wager that more men are interested in the same than not.” She winked.
Both of her siblings stared at her with varying degrees of worry and astonishment.
Oh, yes, the chase would be such fun.
The mid-afternoon sun warmed her face as she flitted from table to table on the back lawn. Nearly thirty guests in attendance, it was a decent-sized crush, and her parents reigned over it in all their glory. Beyond the area where a late luncheon was being served, her father’s well-tended hedge maze waited for unsuspecting travelers or intrepid explorers. It had been an age since she’d last gone through, and this year’s pattern was different, since her father had the whole thing reworked. It had taken a host of gardeners a month or so to relocate the shrubberies. No matter, she meant to lure a certain captain to its heart later.
Then she gasped as her gaze landed on him. He sat at a table, his back to the maze, but another man shared the table with him—perhaps a friend? Isabella took a step in that direction and paused, conflicted. Good heavens, were they lovers, and was that why the kiss in the book shop hadn’t seemed to affect him? For that matter, none of the kisses she’d stolen from him had aroused him to passion. Never once had he returned the overtures with gusto or interest.
Of course, that’s my luck. The one man I want for scandal is already involved in such.
Yet her curiosity wouldn’t calm. She had to know more.
The longer she stared, the more the picture changed. Knowing she had to complete her circle of greeting and visiting, Isabella kep
t an eye on the captain as she moved. He chatted with various eligible ladies who came to his table. Each time, he’d stand and greet them, looking for all the world like the perfect gentleman. When he did the pretty and brought their fingers to his lips, her chest tightened.
How very odd. Never had she felt such a reaction before when other men talked with her friends or even her sisters.
“It’s a pleasure seeing you again, Lady Isabella,” a man said from beside her.
For a second she’d forgotten her duties, and she came back to the task at hand with a start. “I’m sure it is,” she murmured. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember the man’s name, though he seemed vaguely familiar. “I’m sorry, but your name has escaped me.”
“Mr. Maxwell Collingsworth. Second son of the Viscount of Waterbury.”
“Ah, yes. Of course.” Another member of the ton. How very tedious of you, Mother.
“The countess encouraged me to speak with you,” he continued, apparently unaware or uncaring that her attention was elsewhere.
“Is that so?” She frowned. The captain smiled at something one of the ladies near him said. The other man with him chuckled.
“Yes. Your mother said you’re husband hunting and that I should spend time with you.”
That brought the whole of her focus back to him. “She did.” Isabella looked the man up and down. Perhaps as tall as the captain, his features were strong and handsome, and his ruddy gold hair gave him the appearance of an Adonis in the sun. Not to mention he was several years younger than her. But he didn’t capture her imagination like the captain had. Plus, he was entirely too polite.
“Yes, so if it isn’t too much trouble, would you like to take a stroll with me later?”
“I’m afraid…” All set to decline, Isabella changed her direction. There was no harm in leading this pup into a halfway secluded spot on the property, especially once she secured the captain’s interest. If Captain St. John’s jealousy were activated, he’d be all the more inclined to meet her in the maze. “Actually, I would like that very much. I’ll come find you this evening after games are well underway.”
His hazel eyes rounded with surprise. “Thank you.” When he made a move to grab her hand, Isabella danced out of reach.
“Later.” Then she winked to ensure his interest. “I must continue my greetings.” When did I become a heartless flirt? Then she gasped as she made her way toward the captain’s table. Perhaps she’d become such due to lack of interest, and flirting amused her, passed the time, made the visits by countless potential suitors more bearable.
Once she gained his table, she tamped the urge to groan. All but one of the ladies had left. Of course Squire Brown’s youngest daughter would linger, sniffing around what would be the catch of her lifetime. Everyone in Buckinghamshire knew she wished to wed. The groom didn’t matter, as long as he saved her from the shelf.
The only consolation was that the captain looked utterly pitiful while the woman went on and on about her prized spotted rabbits, and did the captain wish to come out to see them.
Poor man. “Dear me, Patience. If you try any harder to snag a man, your desperation will show,” Isabella said in as dry a tone as she could muster as she drew to a halt behind the other woman. “Perhaps practice your wiles on the butcher’s son. He’s easier prey.”
Patience spun about and her upswept mousy brown hair teetered dangerously. It would soon escape its pins. She glared at Isabella. “You are a horrible woman, and if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself in the same straits I am in.” But the objective had been achieved. She fled over the lawn without a backward glance.
The man with the captain couldn’t hide his laughter. In fact, he didn’t even try. His great guffaws rang out over the lawn.
Isabella bit her bottom lip to keep from joining in. Then she focused on her quarry. “Good afternoon, Captain St. John. I’m glad you could make it.” She smoothed a hand down the front of her turquoise gown in an effort to snag his full attention. “There is much entertainment in the offing.”
“I don’t doubt it.” His stormy gaze bore into hers. Amusement and something else she couldn’t quite identify roiled there, but he smiled. “Allow me to introduce you to Jensen. He’s a friend and former first mate.”
“Charmed.” When the man took her offered hand, she smiled while bouncing her focus between the two men. The man with the sandy-blond hair had the bearing of a sailor, just like the captain. “A friend, you say. Not a lover?” Their relationship needed clarification.
The captain’s face went beet red. Jensen dropped her hand and nearly doubled up with laughter. “No.” He shook his head. “Jensen is my best friend. Since our days in the war. He now serves as my valet and butler out of a misplaced sense of obligation.” He shot a look to the other man, who merely shrugged and wiped away tears of mirth.
“I see.” She wished the best friend would politely excuse himself, for she wanted the captain alone. How did one broach the subject of a carnal liaison?
Jensen coughed softly. “I do believe I’m in need of a beverage. If you’ll excuse me?”
Well, at least the man could read signals. Isabella nodded. “It was nice to meet you.” When the man loped off, she settled her gaze on the captain. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Not especially.” He gripped the silver head of his cane more tightly.
“Oh? Why not?”
“Too many women.” He cast a look about the grounds that teemed with life. “I’d rather not give any of them the impression I’m available.”
“Are you not, then?” That would seriously put a damper on her plans.
The captain met her eyes. His slow smile ignited tiny fires in her blood. “Not for the price they’re offering.”
“Yet you are still here. Has something caught your fancy?” She resisted the urge to fan herself with a hand.
“Perhaps.” He didn’t elaborate and she didn’t ask, but they both knew the meaning of the unspoken words.
Isabella trembled. Her heartbeat tripped into a fast rhythm. “If you have interest in seeing the maze, I’m delighted to show you what’s at the heart of it.”
“Oh?” He lowered his voice and took a step toward her, his eyes darkening ever so slightly. “Is it worth my while to navigate all the twists and turns?”
“Seek me out if you wish to know the answer.” She winked. “Some say it’s much like puzzling out a woman.”
“Intriguing, but if the maze is like a woman, it’s no doubt a difficult one, and those are to be avoided at all costs. Why should I put forth such effort?”
“Perhaps it’s not so much a difficulty but merely a challenge.” Isabella came closer to him enough that she caught a whiff of his shaving soap. “One can never have enough challenges in life, don’t you think, Captain?”
“It is food for thought,” he replied. Interest flared in his eyes.
“And when the challenge has been met and overcome, bliss will surely follow.” Never had flirting been such fun.
“Of that, I’m quite certain,” he said in a whisper, and his gaze fell to her mouth. “I cannot help but wonder, though, once the challenge is conquered, what happens next?”
“That remains to be seen. Perhaps another challenge will arise.” Tingles shot down Isabella’s spine. If they were alone right now, would he kiss her? Because they weren’t, she couldn’t encourage him. “If you must know, I favor going through the maze at twilight. Perhaps I’ll see you there.”
Then she turned and walked away, and it took all her willpower not to run over the lawn with a laugh. Her heart pounded as if she’d done just that. Regardless of the interest, was the captain hooked?
Only time would tell.
Chapter Ten
Throughout the afternoon, Peregrine went through the motions of attending various entertainments—except the hedge maze. While couples and groups meandered through that piece of artistry, he kept himself true. He would meet Lady Isabella at the heart
of that maze at twilight, and God help him when he arrived.
Had she hinted at more or did she truly just want to show him how to make it through? With the lady, one never knew, but she was a delightful mix of intrigue and maddening distraction, and he intended to learn more.
Once luncheon had concluded, the tables and chairs were cleared away, and games upon the lawn were set up. Isabella challenged him and Jensen to a few games of Battledore and Shuttlecock, whereupon the object of the game was to keep a feathered shuttlecock in the air by hitting it with small rackets called battledores.
She was quite competitive, as was one of her sisters who she partnered with. The afternoon sun, coupled with the exertion, had them all panting and flushed midway into the second match. During the games, Isabella made certain that she came into close contact with him, which resulted in her brushing against him or reaching over him, lunging into his path. Once he figured out her actions weren’t entirely game-focused but more of an attempt to touch him, he responded in kind, much to Jensen’s apparent amusement.
It was the next best thing to dancing, and with each “accidental” contact, the wont to whisk her away and take her into his arms grew. If the sister knew what they were about, she said nothing, for she was quite busy in routing Jensen, who had an unknown skill with the battledore.
Eventually, all of them declared defeat. Keeping the shuttlecock aloft had been more of a challenge than they’d anticipated, but Peregrine indicated he’d be game for another round later. The lady’s sister left their group to join another while Jensen murmured something about seeking out refreshments.
Isabella’s eyes sparkled like jewels in the sunshine. “May I hold you to that promise, Captain?”
“Of course. I make it a point to never disappoint a lady,” he said in an amicable tone, but his smile was genuine as he reached for his cane. The exuberant exercise had tasked his thigh muscles and now they throbbed their displeasure.
“That is good to know.” Her answering smile reflected in her eyes. “I enjoyed playing… the game with you. It was rather nice to pit physical prowess against intelligence.”
Lady Isabella's Splendid Folly: a Fortune's of Fate story (Fortunes of Fate Book 7) Page 10
