Her hand went over her heart. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but I’m afraid she’s not at home. I hardly know what to make of all this. It’s such a predicament. She spoke about returning to Scotland before the end of this week, you know. I cannot understand it. Surely the two of you can… She’ll be home eventually if you would like to stay?”
Returning to Scotland? What the devil would she do there? Without me?
Ronan had half a mind to storm past the woman an investigate the house just to be certain that Isla wasn’t hiding anywhere. He wouldn’t put it past her.
But there was Julian taking his arm. “Very good, my lady, thank you for your time. We’ll return on the morrow. Ronan?”
The two of them grudgingly returned to their horses. All the while, Ronan was shaking his head. “How did I not see it? She’s not going to Scotland. She doesn’t have anything there for herany longer. Did Dunn scare her into leaving? This makes no sense,” he griped in frustration.
“I agree, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you,” Julian promised. “Let’s go to the clubs to see what anyone else might know.”
CHAPTER 33
“It was tedious, yes, but at least the crab was divine,” Genevieve whispered to Isla with a small chuckle as the two of them stood in the corner of parlor.
Isla, for her part, struggled in vain to smile.
Coming to this dinner party had been a bad idea from the beginning. But what could she do? Her mother was unbearable, her sisters were confused, and it didn’t help that Doreen had arrived that morning with Hector in hand.
“I’m here to stay with you,” her maid had announced with a hopeful smile. “The duke says I am to remain in his employ and paid, and I do hope you’ll keep me on. It has been a pleasure, and I’ve learned so much.”
So it wasn’t like Isla was able to let her go.
The arrival of Hector had only thrown matters into more chaos that morning, and Isla had needed an escape. Tonight’s dinner party was at a friend of Genevieve’s. So when Genevieve had showed up with her carriage to pick up Isla that evening, there had been no way to refuse the invitation.
“Delicious,” Isla now managed a jerky nod for Genevieve. Her nose was bothering her. She hoped it looked all right. After crying herself to sleep the past couple of nights, she hadn’t been able to put herself to rights.
Genevieve gazed around the room one more time before looking to her. “I hope you don’t mind my speaking on such a personal matter, Isla, but I rather feel we are meant to be good friends.” Isla stiffened. “Are you well? Is anything amiss?”
Yes. No. Yes. Everything and anything is wrong. Nothing is right and I’m frightful that nothing will ever be right again. I don’t suppose I’ll mingle in society like this again. Even if I do divorce and remarry, no one will have me. I’ll lose everyone. Already I’ve lost a husband. Then I’ll lose my family and then my friends and I…
A gentle hand gripped her elbow. “Deep breaths, darling.”
She tried to obey while avoiding Genevieve’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I’m not feeling well.”
“Of course not. Why don’t you take your leave down the hall to call my carriage? I’ll say our farewells to Judith. I don’t think she’ll mind terribly. Besides, we were here for the entire supperand that’s more we can say for everyone else,” she added with a light smile. “Go on, then.”
Nodding her thanks, Isla moved to obey. She moved her head again to those she passed by. There were the other wives of the other dukes who waved, along with a few others. Only she and Genevive were without their husbands apparently––Julian was off elsewhere had been all the duchess could say.
Duchess. Strange. I suppose I won’t be one myself for much longer. A divorce will be less scandalous than my departure to be with another gentleman. It will be better for my family, and will allow Ronan to… move on.
Isla paused against a wall to catch herself, needing more air. The dinner party had been a mistake. She’d hardly said a word or listened to anyone. She was fortunate that Genevieve had been kind enough to sit beside her and carry conversations for them.
It would be the last time she saw Genevieve most likely.
Inhaling deeply, she forced herself to keep moving. “This is not the time to pity myself,” she muttered under her breath as she made it to the door.
A footman went to see about the carriage. She was alone then, a quiet moment where no one was there to bother her or make assumptions or judge. No one knew what she was doing now; she hardly knew herself. Only that it would continue to get more and more worse before it could get better.
If it will ever get better.
“Ah,” Genevieve said brightly as she arrived at the same time as her carriage. “Splendid. Shall we?”
“I suppose so. Thank you once again for allowing me use of your carriage,” Isla said after climbing in. “It was very thoughtful of you.”
The woman beamed. “Certainly! I thought it might be more fun for us. Julian left early for the day and I couldn’t help but wonder if your duke would care to attend the party either. Do not misunderstand me, I do adore these parties. But she hosts them so frequently and always brings in a few dull acquaintances. What a relief it was to have each other tonight.”
“Indeed.”
