Page 29 of Engaging Sir Isaac

Thinking back on that moment in the conversation, which had seemed innocent enough at the time, Isaac gave a slow nod. “It may have been a flippant statement. But yes. The phrasing was odd.”

“I should like to know why her family fell from Society’s grace.” Silas’s eyebrows drew together, a hard line appeared along his jaw. “If she intends to mix with my wife, I do not want to discover something particularly nefarious. Esther has only just found her footing in Society, after all.”

“It cannot be all that dreadful if the Marchioness of Alderton has allowed Miss Wedgewood into her home,” Isaac argued, though why he felt the need to come to Miss Wedgewood’s defense he did not know. It probably had something to do with the sweet picture she had made that afternoon, playing in the gardens with his nephew. She had appeared so innocent and happy, and then a moment later, quite sad and lonely.

“The marquess openly lives with his mistress in London,” Silas reminded Isaac, somewhat icily. “The eldest son in the family gambles as though money falls from the sky. The rumors I have heard about the second son are even worse than that. And we cannot forget what Lord Neil attempted with my wife, or Lady Olivia with you. That family has few morals. If they were not protected by Prinny’s friendship—”

Isaac clamped a hand on Silas’s shoulder to stop his friend’s litany before it turned into a tirade. As a man of principle and honor, Silas deplored lack of the same in others. The elite of England were well divided between those that lived however they pleased and those who held themselves to a moral standard whereupon virtue was more highly prized than vice.

“I agree,” Isaac said quietly, firmly, “that Miss Wedgewood’s association with that family is a mark against her, at least from our perspective. But in all of my interactions with her, even when I was behaving uncivilly, she has conducted herself well and given me no reason to think ill of her.”

That much was true. Even her brief attempt at flirtation, while irritating, hadn’t approached inappropriate behavior.

“I know. I agree; she seems kind and amiable.” Silas rubbed at his forehead and looked over his shoulder to the stairs. “But I do not want to see Esther hurt by a false friend. That is all I am worrying over, like a nursemaid.”

“Essie would not appreciate that comparison.” Isaac chuckled. “Or the fact that you are considering ousting Miss Wedgewood from our company. Do not fret, Silas. Miss Wedgewood has been astonishingly open, forthright even, when we have been in conversation. If you like, I will see what more she will tell me in regard to her family. I will let you know if anything strikes me as suspect.”

“Thank you, Isaac.” Silas relaxed at last, the hardness fading from his expression. “I would appreciate whatever help you can offer. Your sister’s happiness is everything to me.”

“Thank goodness for that. If I ever suspected otherwise, I would have to challenge you to a duel.” Isaac grinned at his oldest friend, then finally took up his hat and set it firmly atop his head. “Do not worry so, old man. If I can face down a squad of French soldiers, I can certainly face down a woman such as Miss Wedgewood.”

“But the French took your arm,” Silas pointed out, his grin appearing. “That hardly gives one faith in your abilities.”

“So they did. But I cannot imagine Miss Wedgewood taking more from me than that.” He grinned slyly at his brother-in-law before bowing his way out the door to his waiting horse. He did not think upon what he had promised, or why, until he had nearly arrived at his own doorstep.

True, he had held some suspicion regarding Miss Wedgewood’s place among them at first. But as he had told Silas, after several interactions, he thought her harmless. He even found her company pleasant. Her laughter contagious. Her gentle smiles…stirring.

Millie Wedgewood made him curious. Silas had just given Isaac the perfect excuse to feed that curiosity. Not that Isaac particularly needed or wanted to do so. Not at all. But—

“Anything to take my mind off of myself,” he muttered aloud in the semi-darkness. His horse twitched an ear back at him, but otherwise there was no indication given he had spoken aloud.

Perhaps all he needed was a distraction of some sort. Something to think on other than his estate. Another layer of thought to cover the memories of war. Yes. That was why the idea of coming to know Millie better intrigued him. The fact that he would put Silas’s mind at ease at the same time would only make the endeavor more worthwhile.

When Isaac retired that night, lying in bed, he tucked his hand behind his head. Staring up at the ceiling in his room, he conjured the image of the auburn-haired woman, delicately built, with warm brown eyes. Lovely woman. Still, the same niggling thought plagued him; however had someone such as she fallen into company with Lady Olivia?

Chapter 10

Millie went in search of Lady Olivia shortly after she rose, only to be informed Lady Olivia had left for the day to make visits among her friends. Although Millie hardly expected her hostess to pay her much attention, the information that Lady Olivia had left the house for the day without a word stung her pride. They were not friends. They were temporary allies.

The difference in Lady Olivia’s treatment of Millie, an insignificant person by nearly all measure, and Lady Inglewood’s, firmed up Millie’s resolve to end her agreement with the marquess’s daughter.

Wandering about the house, Millie tried to find a diversion other than the art room. As much as she enjoyed her artistic pursuits, she could not abide the small room, and had spent all the previous day with the countess at that work. She needed something else to distract her. Anything else to distract her.

Somehow, she found her way out of doors, gloves in hand and a straw bonnet upon her head. She went to the stables, without any intention of riding, and stopped before a stall to greet the same horse she’d ridden her first day at the house. When she had met Sir Isaac for the first time.

He had played the part of an impudent servant with such easy charm, even if his accent was rubbish.

“What are you smiling about, Miss Wedgewood?” a voice asked, startling her from her thoughts. She turned away from the horse, withdrawing the hand upon its warm nose, and saw Lord Neil standing a few paces away. A groom led a horse into a stable; Lord Neil had returned from a ride.

“Nothing that would interest you, my lord,” she answered, turning away from his narrow-eyed gaze.

“You really are terrible at falsehoods, Miss Wedgewood.” Lord Neil came to stand beside her, laying his hand against the horse’s neck and giving it a firm pat. “Which is why I cannot surmise why you and my sister are acquainted. You are not Olivia’s usual sort of pet.” He withdrew and kept walking down the wide lane between the two rows of stalls.

With nothing better to do, Millie followed along after him. “I cannot tell if you mean to slight your sister or me, Lord Neil.”

“Both, I should think.” He shot a cocky grin over his shoulder at her. “Olivia for being foolish enough to bring you here, and you for coming. Nothing the two of you do together could possibly be counted a success. I believe your goals must necessarily be at odds. Whatever it is you are planning.”

“And here I thought you were all laconic boredom and indolence.” She affected an innocent mien.