“Tell her,” Anthony said.
Patrick straightened his jacket. “Anthony told me about…the incident, and I told him that, had I known, I would have taken my responsibility if you were sure the child was mine.”
Her eyes flared wide with horror.
“I’m sorry,” Patrick said. “I didn’t mean to imply anything.”
Isabella’s cheeks flushed. “You were my first and only one before my marriage. I know you didn’t mean to cause me trouble, and I agreed to everything we did together, but you ought to take your responsibility. You were the father of my child and…” She swallowed hard and left the room.
Anthony went after her.
As he followed his wife, Patrick shouted, “I’m sorry.”
“Isabella.” Anthony chased her up the stairs.
When they’d arrived on Mytos, she hadn’t been able to climb the stairs without taking a breather. Now she went up faster than a deer. She raced past her bedroom and went further up to the unfinished sunroom.
“Isabella.” He followed her.
She faced the window from where the secret garden was visible.
“Darling.” He put a hand on her shoulder.
“I didn’t have anyone else. I was with Patrick once, and then you. And no one else.”
“I don’t care how many lovers you had before me. I don’t care about who your first one was either, as long as I’m the last one.”
“What was the purpose of confronting Patrick?”
“He’s my brother. He must face the consequences of his actions and grow up.”
“You could have told me you knew the truth.”
“The truth doesn’t change how I feel about you. I love you. Nothing is going to change that.”
“I love you, Anthony.”
There was a knock on the door. “May I?” Patrick stood on the threshold of the dusty room. “I want to apologise.” He bowed from the waist. “I caused both of you a lot of suffering, and I’ll make amends. I promise. I say stupid things when I’m agitated, and I take every single stupid thing I said back. Please forgive me, Isabella.”
She stared at him for a long moment before nodding her head once.
“What can I do to make amends?” Patrick asked, his voice cracking.
Anthony held her hand. “Let’s start with taking Maiden Hill back.”
* * *
The gueststhey’d invited for the ball kept arriving at Sirocco House for three days. Wave after wave of sweaty and panting lords and ladies flooded the house.
Isabella had to neglect the secret garden to welcome the guests and take tea with them. Their quiet corner of the Mediterranean Sea had become crowded in a short time. But she smiled when Helen climbed the stairs to the main entrance, cheeks red and sweat glistening on her forehead. Her maid and footmen followed her.
“Helen.” She opened her arms to hug her sister. “Thank you for coming.”
Helen hugged her back. “I wouldn’t have missed this ball for anything in the world, and I’m happy to see you fully recovered.”
“I’ll show you your room. You’ll love it.”
As they went upstairs, Helen gazed around with interest. “This palace is magnificent.”
