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Rhys just stared at them blankly.What is going on?
He had not anticipated a rejection. While sitting across from the scandalous St. Clare and his wife, all Rhys’s thoughts had been occupied by his misfortune. He was upset that he’d have to marry a woman he did not want.
Not even once had he considered that she would give him a clean way out. But now that she had, he felt oddly bereft.
“You heard her, Vane. She is not marrying you, and that’s that,” came Gage’s steady voice.
Rhys did not understand her brothers’ support. Their name would be associated with a ruined sister forever. “Surely, you know this is a mistake. You are a peer, Gage. Your reputation will be in tatters after this scandal.”
“And so will yours,” Gage said calmly.
And don’t I know it!“So why would you agree to this madness? Your sister clearly has no regard for you or anyone else in this room!”
“Careful,” Gage growled and stepped forward. “Or you might earn yourself a spot at dawn.”
“Perhaps some tea is in order?” the duchess intervened cheerfully.
“No, I am not in a dining mood. Thank you.” Rhys turned on his heel and stalked away before the scandalous family dragged him into a duel.A duel!That’s the last thing he needed.
* * *
Isabel stood shaking in the library, watching the marquess stalk away.
Her hands were clammy, and her heart was rioting inside her chest. What had just happened?
“I better follow him,” St. Clare said. He bent down and placed a lingering kiss on his wife’s cheek.
Isabel barely paid attention to her surroundings. She was in a state of shock.
“Where in the world did that come from?” Evie exclaimed as soon as the door closed after her husband. “I thought you were the most sensible in your family.” She came toward Isabel with a puzzled frown on her face.
Adam wrapped a protective arm around Isabel’s shoulders.
“I thought you were going to accept him,” Richard said.
“I-I do not know what came over me,” Isabel stammered out. “But after what probably constitutes as a proposal in his addled mind, I imagined my entire life with him. I imagined looking at his disapproving frown every time he saw me, and I just could not accept. I am so sorry, Richard.”
“Do not apologize, sister. We stand by you without question.”
“I shall be honest. I am puzzled by his behavior,” Evie said. “He was very adamant against marrying you and the way he approached it… He said something about your past. Did you ever cross paths? Perhaps you offended him without noticing?”
“I—” Isabel shook off Adam’s arm. She was getting over-warm and a bit unsettled. “I-I don’t think I’ve ever met him in my entire life. I heard he married young, right around the time our… when—”When our brother died.And then their mother.
Isabel couldn’t finish the sentence aloud. There was too much grief in the Lewis household around the time of Samantha’s debut. Add to that Isabel’s broken betrothal to Stanhope, and Isabel had spent most of her years out of society’s eyes.
“And then when I returned to society, he was already widowed, living at his estate, a hermit. I don’t believe we have crossed paths.”
Evie frowned and looked at the door. “He was nothing but gracious toward me when we visited his estate. I cannot explain the change of attitude.”
“Well, it does not matter anymore,” Richard said. “We are not to be connected to the arrogant arse by marriage. You did well, sister. Let us go home now.”
“Yes, please. I believe I’ve had enough excitement for one day,” Isabel said, still shaken by the experience.
“Perhaps you’d want to leave through the servants’ exit to avoid all eyes on you?” Evie offered solicitously.
“No.” Richard’s voice was stony, confident. “We shall not hide out. Neither of us has done anything shameful.”
Isabel smiled. She could use the vote of confidence.
