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Chapter 33
The weather was beautiful the next day, so the party moved outdoors. Men played lawn games while women sat with children by the sidelines, watching their gentlemen in their masculine pursuits.
Isabel was especially glad that day because she’d gotten to spend some time with Millie, and Millie had gotten to see her parents interact with the members of thehauteton.
Isabel and Rhys had agreed that Millie would not have a governess for a while, and Isabel thought it imperative for Millie to learn etiquette by observing and copying others. And to have so many people interacting at once worked for her benefit.
But there was another reason she was enjoying that day. She loved watching Rhys in any kind of strenuous activity. That man was incredibly gorgeous. The wind in his hair and the sun on his skin only improved his overall appeal. Isabel watched as his muscles bunched beneath his clothes and fanned herself.
“Isabel.” Millicent tugged on her sleeve.
“Yes, dear?” Isabel turned to her.
“Can I go play over there?” Millie pointed to a lone tree a few feet away, where a few children laughed as Josephine Claremont, the troupe’s lead actress, seemed to be performing some overly dramatic skit.
Isabel smiled. “Of course.”
She stood to accompany Millicent, but before she could take a step, Millie had already taken off in the direction of the laughing children and entertaining actress.
Isabel followed her slowly, occasionally turning back to look at her handsome husband. She basked in the feeling of happiness, wondering how everything had turned out so perfect when somebody called her name. She stopped in her tracks and looked in the direction of the sound. Isabel shielded her eyes from the sun and squinted at the approaching lady.
As the woman caught up with her, Isabel finally recognized her. It was Lady Mowbray, Rhys’s late wife’s sister.
“Can I help you, Lady Mowbray?” Isabel asked with a sweet smile.
“On the contrary, my lady. I might be able to help you,” the woman answered and looked around.
“Oh?”
“May we take a walk? I won’t take much of your time, I promise,” the woman insisted.
Isabel threw one more glance toward Millicent. She was surrounded by children and laughing uproariously at something the actress had done. Isabel looked toward her husband, who didn’t seem to notice her disappearance from the sidelines, then turned back to Lady Mowbray and nodded. “Very well, let’s walk.”
They moved away from the house with unhurried steps.
“What did you want to speak to me about?” Isabel asked after a moment of silence.
Lady Mowbray looked around again as if afraid of something or someone. “I’ve wanted to talk with you since the moment I arrived. Actually, since the moment I heard the news of your wedding.”
“Well, in that case, I am very curious to hear what you have to say,” Isabel said with a tight smile.
Lady Mowbray fiddled uncomfortably with the tips of her gloves. “I am usually not one to meddle, you see. But the marquess was married to my sister. I don’t know if he told you—”
“He did,” Isabel interrupted.
“Oh… Well, then you know who I am. And you know that my sister died because of him.”
Isabel stopped sharply in her tracks and clenched her jaw. “Lady Mowbray, I do not mean disrespect, but I am not certain you know all the facts involving your sister’s death, and you are not clear-headed enough about this.”
“And are you the one clear-headed?” Lady Mowbray countered.
“I know you must have loved your sister very much,” Isabel tried to say softly.
“And I saw the way you look at the marquess. You love him,” Lady Mowbray insisted. “And perhaps that love is impairing your judgment.”
Isabel let out an impatient breath. “What it is you wanted to say to me, Lady Mowbray?”
Tears appeared at the corners of her eyes. “I loved my sister. I still miss her immensely.” She swallowed and dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. “And she wasn’t an angel, I shall be the first to admit, but she did not deserve to die.”
