Page 155 of Courting the Wrong Duke

The words cut through the garden.

William looked only at Rosalind. “I am not here to defend Algernon.”

Something in his voice made her grip the sill more tightly. “What happened?”

“We searched his study.”

Rosalind’s heartbeat quickened. “And?”

William glanced once toward the neighboring houses before looking back at her. “Please come downstairs.”

She studied him for several seconds.

Everything she had told Isabella earlier remained true. William did not need to lie to her to place her father in danger. He did not need to deliberately betray her. His ignorance alone had already been enough to make her doubt herself once.

But the man standing below her window did not look ignorant now.

He looked frightened.

The moment Rosalind closed the window, Isabella turned to her. “We are not actually going down there.”

“Yes, we are. They found something.”

“They could be attempting to lure us downstairs so the Duke of Aldermere can stuff us into another carriage.”

Rosalind gave her a pointed look.

Isabella considered her own argument before sighing. “Admittedly, it seems quite unlikely.”

“Quite.”

“Still, I do not trust either of them.”

“Neither do I. Not entirely.” Rosalind pulled her dressing gown more securely around herself. “But if they know something about Papa, I intend to hear it. We listen to what they have to say and nothing more.”

“And if they attempt anything?”

“We scream loudly enough to wake Mother, every servant in the house, the neighbors, and probably half the square.”

Isabella nodded approvingly. “Good.”

Rosalind started toward the door, only to realize her friend had not followed. When she turned, Isabella was surveying the room with a thoughtful expression.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking precautions.”

Before Rosalind could ask what that meant, Isabella crossed to the hearth and reached for the brass poker.

“Absolutely not.”

Isabella looked over her shoulder. “Why not?”

“Because you cannot creep through the house in the middle of the night carrying a fireplace poker.”

“I can if everyone is asleep.”

“Isabella.”