“I do not know what you think you’re doing or what purpose you have in this house, but you will tell me right this instant who you are.” He demanded.
Isobel felt her body stiffen as she tried to think of a plan on what to do or day, but she couldn’t help but stare, his presence much more imposing than that of many others that she had crossed paths with. There was something about the way he looked at her that weakened Isobel’s mind and resolve, something about his handsome face that whispered impending doom into her mind.
Her sister, Margaret, had once warned her about situations such as these.
“Do not ever be alone with a man. They cannot be trusted to control themselves, and many feel as though they are entitled to the spoils of the world. Do not give them a chance to mistake your free spirit for naivety.” She told Isobel.
And now, she was in such a situation, with a man who seemed to have picked up on the farce she was and seemed determined to get to the bottom of the secret that she had been told to keep.
“I am the bride –”
“Stop lying!” he snapped, stepping towards her all of a sudden. Isobel startled into stepping back, her heart thundering in herchest when she hit a solid wall after only two steps. “You are not Valerie. Tell me who you are right now, or I will march back down and announce to everyone that you are not who you claim to be.”
Isobel shook her head desperately, scared that he might keep his word. The closeness between them allowed her to see his eyes, to note the seriousness in them, and to observe the way his jaw twitched as he spoke up again,
“I will give you five seconds. If your response is not satisfactory, I am going to drag you down to where the others are, and you will confess.”
Isobel tried to beg, but she couldn’t find her voice all of a sudden, and she stared at him, eyes wide, as he began to count down.
“Five… four… three… two –”
“Her twin!” Isobel cried, breathing heavily. “I am her twin!”
CHAPTER FOUR
“You’re her… what?”
His stern expression gave way to confusion, and Isobel winced, realizing she had barely had the assignment for up to a day, and yet she had already been caught.
“Her twin. My name is Isobel.”
He stared at her, as though he was trying to conjure up another explanation for her existence. When it became clear that there was no other possibility, he questioned,
“Why are you impersonating her? You are here, wearing her clothes and dwelling in her room. What are you trying to achieve?”
The intensity of his eyes on her had not wavered in the slightest, and it was starting to twist Isobel’s insides into knots. The little distance between them was hindering her ability to breathe, andshe couldn’t help but push at his chest, a little shocked by the taut muscle she could feel beneath his clothes.
He regarded her with a strange expression and then stepped back, finally giving her some space to articulate her thoughts better.
“I am trying to save her life. She was poisoned and is currently unconscious, hidden away somewhere else, while I keep up the ruse of all being well and find who might be responsible. It’s what Lord Gramfield asked me to do.”
“Lord Gramfield? Your father?”
Isobel blushed, knowing it was strange that she was referring to her father so formally, but she couldn’t bear to refer to him as ‘father’. Not when she already had a father who had loved her immensely despite her not being his flesh and blood, while her birth father had only sought her out because he required her assistance.
“Y-Yes. He was worried that if the other guests found out, it would disrupt the wedding festivities and the wedding might be called off. It is better this way, to investigate while Valerie recovers. I am only here to help.”
The strange man paused thoughtfully, the sternness in his expression clearing up even more. But that did not mean she was not suspicious of him.
“Do you usually accost women and barge into their rooms?” she couldn’t help but blurt out, frustrated that she had been caught so soon.
“Excuse me?” he raised an eyebrow at her.
“You stared at me blatantly all morning, and when you finally approached me, I did not receive so much as an apology or even an introduction. I don’t know who you are, or how you knew I was not Valerie. But you have been rather rude to me.” She pointed out, folding her arms.
He stared at her for a moment, then he scoffed.
“My apologies, Miss Wightman, for my rudeness. Next time I see a suspicious person who I believe might have infiltrated the home of people I care for, I will be sure to make necessary introductions before I challenge their identity.” He told her, his tone far too placating to be genuine.
