Page 153 of Courting the Wrong Duke

William.

Before she could decide whether the sight of him brought relief or irritation, another man emerged beside him.

Gabriel.

“What on earth are they doing here?”

Isabella came to the window and looked down. The moment she recognized the second figure, her expression hardened.

“Is that Gabriel?”

Apparently hearing his name despite the closed glass, or perhaps merely recognizing the movement above, Gabriel looked up.

And grinned.

It was an extraordinarily foolish grin for a man standing beneath the bedchamber window of an unmarried woman after midnight.

Isabella’s expression darkened. “I am beginning to reconsider my earlier position on murder.”

Rosalind pushed open the window before Isabella could find something suitable to throw. Cool night air swept into the room as she leaned toward the opening.

William stepped forward below. “Rosalind.”

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“I need to speak to you.”

“At midnight?”

“Yes.”

“Beneath my bedchamber window?”

William glanced toward the front of the house. “In retrospect, the door might have been simpler.”

“No,” Gabriel called from beside him. “I told him this was more romantic.”

Isabella leaned out beside Rosalind. “If you say another word about romance, Mr. Frost, I shall empty the washbasin over your head.”

Rather than appearing concerned, Gabriel grinned up at her. “Good evening, Isabella.”

“It is nearly morning,” she informed him.

“You look lovely.”

“You can barely see me.”

“I have an excellent memory.”

Rosalind caught Isabella by the arm when she leaned a little farther out the window. Whether her friend intended to argue or simply drop the washbasin on Gabriel remained unclear.

William, at least, seemed to appreciate that this was hardly the time for flirting. “Rosalind, please come downstairs. We only need a few minutes.”

Her amusement faded. “No.”

Isabella folded her arms. “An excellent answer.”

“We found something,” William said. “Something important. Meet us in the kitchen, if you prefer. We can speak there without waking your mother.”