You’re being ridiculous, Isabel. The man is a rascal. Decent, but a rascal, and you have no reason to be thinking such thoughts about him. Even if he is your husband.
“Isabel?”
“Yes?” She squeaked, jumping in surprise at the sound of her voice. The second she was lost in thought, he must have attempted to speak with her. Blinking several times, Isabel quickly pulled herself together. Her hands smoothed the wrinkles of her skirts while she found what she hoped might be a convincing smile. “Did you say something?”
He looked at her over the glasses in a way that was quite unsettling. Never before had she thought about someone wearing spectacles appearing dreadfully handsome. What was happening to her? Trying to ignore the sudden pattering in her heart, Isabel straightened to understand his repeated question.
“Do you wish to go?”
“Oh! Well. I… I only know the Baron and his wife in passing,” Isabel said slowly while pulling herself together. “It is a generous offer, and it is the holiday season. It would be the polite thing to do, but we can decline should you not desire to attend.”
Sebastian stared at her for a long moment. “So you do not wish to go?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then you do?”
Her shoulders dropped. “I do if you wish to go, that is what I am trying to tell you.”
“That hardly makes any sense, because you cannot imagine or know what I wish if I haven’t said it,” he pointed out. Then his lips curved up into a partial smile. “If it goes badly, are you looking to have someone else to blame?”
It was impossible not to blush with a handsome man smiling at her, however small it might appear. Isabel drew in a measured breath while hoping he wasn’t noticing. This felt very much like he was teasing her and she still couldn’t pull her thoughts together. It wasn’t often she felt this silly. Blaming it on a sleepless night, she gave a short nod.
“Perhaps I am. Will that affect your decision?”
“Not at all.” He tossed the invitation down on the table between them before leaning back in his chair. Removing the glasses, much to her disappointment, Sebastian set them aside. “I have been meaning to speak with him for some time. His wife rarely leaves the estate, so it’s difficult to encounter him in the city. This would be a perfect opportunity. You’re not concerned?”
“Should I be?”
A new expression that she could only call concern brushed over his features. “It will be our first public event as a couple. Seeing as we wed to avoid a scandal, there is the risk that it might be brought up in conversation.”
“Oh.” Touched, Isabel needed a moment to think. She wasn’t used to anyone trying to help her like that. “Thank you for thinking of me. But I shall do well. It wouldn’t be the first scandal I’ve weathered. That is,” she hurriedly went on, “not that I cause many scandals. That was the first. But I was included, that is, my family was…”
Sebastian nodded to show he understood. Relieved, she stopped her blabbering. “I only wished to be certain. It is next week, I see. I believe a neighborly gift might be in store. I have something for the baron, should you wish to do anything for his wife, and if you need anything…”
“Anything?”
Clearing his throat noisily, he awkwardly waved at her general direction. “We haven’t discussed finances, but the village shops all have my accounts if you wish for anything.”
“Oh.” Isabel glanced at her dress. She’d grown used to using what she already had. The green one she kept nice for special moments like her wedding. Marrying him, she knew that could change but out here it was hardly a bother. “That is good toknow, thank you. I’ll send them a response now,” she added before taking the invitation and hurrying out the door.
Away Isabel went, decidedly losing herself in this new opportunity. It had been a while since she had anything specific to plan for or look forward to.
Strolling through the nearby village with Amber at her side, Isabel found a few gowns and pieces ready-made that would do well on her so long as her maid added a few flounces for added length. A beautiful fur-lined cloak was purchased for the baroness, as well, before they traveled home.
The next couple of days flew by before she could finally bathe and dress in her new red gown with four flounces and silver threading on the sleeves.
“How beautiful! I cannot stop admiring it,” her maid crooned. “It’s so well made. That seamstress deserves to be in London, I tell you.”
“Indeed,” Isabel murmured, for she couldn’t agree more. “What a shame everyone wants their seamstress to be French. At least half of them are lying, I tell you. But Mrs. Dodson is too kind to be a liar. And apparently too busy creating beautiful gowns. We’ll have to visit her again soon, I think.”
Beaming, Amber nodded and then lowered the thin strand of pearls on Isabel’s head before winding the wire holding them together through her curls. They’d decided to go for acomplicated twist with braids intermingled, and now there were pearls to be woven one.
Eventually the maid finished with a contented sigh. “There we are. How beautiful you are. This is how you deserve to already dress.”
Trying to hold onto that confidence on her way down the hall, she came around the corner and stopped short of her husband talking quietly with their butler. The older man was meeting Sebastian’s eye, which was an improvement since their arrival here. She smiled to herself and took another step forward. Only she stopped when Sebastian turned to her.
Something about the duke stilled.
