“R-Richar— Your Grace? What in earth are you doing here? And why did you ask me that? I am returning home, of course!” She told him, shock still evident in her expression.
Richard looked frustrated, a light sheen of sweat visible on his forehead as he breathed heavily. He refused to look away from her, and soon, his gaze made her nervous enough to want to draw back, even though she had nowhere else to go.
“You cannot simply leave!”
Isobel gawked at him. “I do not understand. My work at the estate was done. Arnold has been arrested with proof of his crimes that were submitted to the constables. My sister is hale and hearty and is planning her new wedding date. Cecil is safe. I have done what was asked of me — and dare I say, more! Is there a reason why I should not have left?” Isobel questioned, utterly at a loss.
Richard looked angry. She had only seen him this upset hours earlier when he had beaten Arnold. And even then, there was a specific kind of wrath that did not measure up to and simultaneously fell short of what was targeted at her currently. She did not know what to make of his mood, even more so about the sinking suspicion that it had more to do with her and less about her actions.
“You did not say goodbye.”
Isobel could not help the incredulous exhale that left her. She stared at him, waiting for him to rescind what was obviously a farce of an excuse, but he met her stare sternly.
“You… you came all this way… because I did not say goodbye?”
She hoped it was a mere jest and he would send her off without causing much more of a fuss. But it would seem the stars were aligned to favor anyone but her, because the stubborn man stuck fast to his excuses.
“Yes. That is exactly right,” Richard stated, obviously lying.
Isobel inhaled so sharply that she felt the breath choke her.
She was doing her best — had been so determined to purge herself of these feelings that wanted to cling to a man that didn’t belong to her. But she kept being pulled back, as though fate was trying to mock her for yearning for someone she could never in her wildest dreams have.
He… he kept getting her hopes up and dashing them as though she were worth nothing more than a cheap toy. He had his preferences and had explained that she met none of his criteria, and she had done her best to come to terms with it.
So why did he have to punish her so?
“Why are you doing this to me?”
Richard’s expression dimmed slightly, and he spoke up, for the first time seeming less like he was spilling whatever came to mind.
“What do you mean —”
“Why do you insist on making things difficult for me?” she pressed further, her throat tightening as she blinked unshed tears back. “I held my end of the bargain, and I tried to move past whatever was between us. But you insist on confusing me, on playing with my heart. It is so weak and tired already, Richard. This back and forth… it is killing me. I have alreadymade peace with my fate and I have accepted that I won’t have the man I love, but you –”
“Stop,” Richard ordered suddenly, looking at her as though he was seeing her for the first time. “Did you just — did you say the man you love? You love me?”
Once again, Isobel found herself staring at the man before her in utter disbelief.
“I — yes. Clearly. I thought — was that not obvious?”
Richard inhaled sharply, and when he let out his breath, it came with a request.
“Marry me.”
Isobel’s heart sank and then shot up so fast, she was certain she felt it hit her throat.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Marry me,” he repeated easily, as though it were that simple.
“Why on earth should I do such a thing?” she snapped, feeling irritation well up within her.
“Why would you not? You just admitted you love me. What is stopping us from getting married?”
Isobel let out a hollow laugh and told him bluntly,
“Do you not already have someone who fits your requirements perfectly? Someone you practically emphasized was better than me in every aspect?”
