Page 72 of Courting the Wrong Duke

“I imagine smiling at him now and then would accomplish a great deal.”

Rosalind tilted her head thoughtfully. “Perhaps.”

“And looking pleased whenever he enters a room.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It may become easier with practice.”

Rosalind was still deciding whether to be offended by the observation when another knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Isabella appeared almost immediately, already dressed for venturing into town. She wore a simple lavender walking dress with a sketchbook tucked beneath one arm and a pair of well-used gloves in the other.

She stopped upon seeing Rosalind before the mirror.

“Well,” she declared. “I leave you alone for one evening, and somehow Lord William Sinclair has begun courting you.”

Rosalind glanced at her reflection. “He is not.”

Isabella's brows rose. “That is rather unfortunate, because half of London appears to believe otherwise.”

“Half of London is supposed to believe otherwise.”

Isabella stared at her.

Rosalind sighed. “It is a pretend courtship.”

“A pretend courtship?”

“Yes.”

Isabella wandered farther into the room, her expression shifting from amusement to unmistakable interest. “I believe you had better explain.”

Rosalind turned from the mirror. “It is entirely practical.”

“Those are invariably the words spoken immediately before something becomes terribly impractical.”

“Isabella.”

“I'm listening.”

Rosalind explained the arrangement. Allowing society to believe William had begun paying his addresses to her would quiet some of her mother's fears and give London something more interesting to discuss than her father's disappearance. More importantly, it provided a perfectly respectable reason for Rosalind and William to spend considerably more time together while continuing their investigation.

When she finished, Isabella regarded her thoughtfully. “I see.”

“Do you?”

“Perfectly.” A smile slowly returned to her face. “You have acquired a handsome suitor who is not truly your suitor.”

Rosalind rolled her eyes. “That is what you have taken from everything I just told you?”

“At present, yes.”

“But?”

“But I suspect London will enjoy the romance considerably more than either of you intends.”