He looked displeased to see her, even more so after he heard of her intentions.
“I was going to summon you tomorrow, but it is good that you have come. I must admit, I am sorely disappointed in your actions.” He told her, eyes narrowed.
Isobel stood still, confused.
“Me? What have I done?” she questioned, taken aback.
“The Duke of Dellamere discovered your identity yesterday. I believe you gave your word to keep it a secret, and yet, barely a day after you were given the task, you immediately reveal yourself to someone.”
“I did notrevealmyself. He followed me and threatened —”
“Your behavior has been unacceptable! Many people have asked me if you are truly fine because you have been behaving strangely since you fell ill! I decided to observe you, and I’ve noticed that your manners are not like Valerie’s at all! I cannot imagine what is so difficult about acting like a proper young woman. Did the people who raised you not teach you how to act properly? You need to be more careful. Need I remind you what is at stake?” Gregory snapped.
That was… unfair. How dare he stand there and judge her upbringing when he had purposely abandoned the role when he abandoned her? What gave him the right to question her when he did not care about her at all, but was only concerned about her usefulness to him?
Pain swirled in her chest, and she fought back tears in order to defend herself.
“You should have been there, then.”
Gregory’s eyes widened. “What did you —”
“If you were going to complain about my inadequacies and how different I am from Valerie, then perhaps you should have been the one to raise me — to raise us both. And ensure that we both were proper enough to fit your standards. You do not have any right to toss me aside, then contact me when you need a favor, and judge me for my shortcomings when you never cared to oversee my childhood yourself. Neither do you have the right to insult me or my family. They have done more for me than you have ever tried to.”
Her father was clearly surprised by her outburst, so much so that he looked as though he had been thoroughly reprimanded.
“You do not understand,” he said quietly, moments later. “You do not know what I have been through — what I had to do to ensure the survival of this household. We were so poor that we could barely afford to eat every day. And your mother… she birthed you both, and she has been so excited to have twindaughters, but I knew… I knew we could not keep you both. We had not even named you by the time I decided to leave you at the monastery. You weren’t singled out and disregarded. I only did what I believed was the only chance we had at surviving.”
Isobel had always wondered what the reason was behind her separation from her birth family. And although the reason seemed logical enough, the sides of her that had been hurt over the years and repeatedly since she arrived at this house were too raw to accept his excuses with remorse.
Even if they had struggled once upon a time, they looked well-to-do now, enough that he had decidedly had two more children after Valerie. So clearly, things have gotten better. Why did they not look for her? Why did they not try to visit or contact her?
She had waited all her life for some sort of message or summons, in hopes that they had thought of her as much as she thought about them. But she has never received any form of consideration. Not then and certainly not now, as she was assuming her sister’s identity after the attempt on her life.
He was not even asking her how she was dealing with all of this, if she needed anything. All he could focus on were the things that were wrong, while she risked her life for the daughter he had chosen and the family he held in high regard.
She tried to calm the fury that had been growing within her and understand his own side of things, but she could not forget the hurt that resided within her.
“You didn’t even try. I waited, for years and years, for something. Anything you would have been willing to give, I would have been more than happy to receive. But you gave me nothing — because deep down, you had tried to forge me the moment you lowered me into the stairs of the monastery. I didn’t want you to come back for me. I didn’t expect that you would have brought me back here. But I thought you would have at least visited me more. I wish you had been more concerned about me — the way you seem so concerned about my flaws.” Isobel said quietly.
Gregory stared at her silently, seemingly at a loss for words, and that was all she needed. Without another word, she turned around and left the study, disappointment weighing down her heart.
She was on her way back to her room when she recalled that she was to have another tutoring appointment with the Duke, and she sighed, feeling drained already.
Isobel considered simply heading off to bed, to leave all these troubles where they were meant to be — elsewhere — at least for the night. But then she remembered she had promised Nora to do everything in her power to protect Valerie and ensure that she was all right.
While she doubted etiquette lessons would directly influence Valerie’s wellness, it might be what would allow her to find the person responsible for this problem. And quickly enough that she would be out of their way for good.
With a deep sigh, she turned around and walked to the library.
On her way there, she met Deborah, who looked rather startled to encounter someone else so late.
“Oh dear,” she gasped, eyeing Isobel from head to toe. “I thought you were a phantom or something equally nefarious! What on earth are you doing up and about at this hour?”
Isobel knew she needed to be careful with her words, especially with Deborah. For some reason, Deborah’s mannerisms of immense concern and sweet demeanor left a rather sour taste in her mouth. She could not put her finger on why that was exactly, but she knew that everyone should be suspected until she found evidence that claimed otherwise.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping for two nights now,” Isobel said, letting out a real tired sigh. “I thought I might try reading a boring classic to lull me gently to sleep.”
Deborah frowned for a moment, then she nodded. “I am sorry to hear that, my dear. I can only imagine how exhausted you must be. I will leave you be. Have a good night.”
