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Fiance? Isabel didn’t even realize that her mother was engaged. Was this what she had been hiding before?
“She ... Mother ... why didn’t she tell me?”
“The engagement only happened a couple of days ago. From the way your mother was, I think she was confident that it was going to happen.”
“But I didn’t even know she was being courted by someone. That’s something I should have known about.”
“It’s only a recent thing, according to her letter.” Richard paused. “And there were a few feelings that the pair needed to process before they realized they were better together than you were.”
Isabel frowned.
“What are you talking about? Who is paired better with Mother than with …?”
Then the penny dropped. Very fast. From Richard’s expression, she had figured it out. Isabel was sure that her mind had stopped working. She had to be dreaming.
“Mother and the Duke of Galliston? They’re engaged?”
“According to your mother, the duke asked her to marry him, and she accepted. And the same day he proposed, Galliston funded the rest of the expedition.” Richard arched an eyebrow. “I’m sure we have your mother to thank for that. She must have said something to him.”
Isabel swayed. Her former fiancé and her mother? When did that happen?
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to understand. Not right now.” Richard put his arms around his wife, kissing her forehead. “Only know that we can go to Africa together, and we had better not waste it. We can figure out the ins and outs of their relationship another time.”
“Aren’t you the slightest bit curious about when they started courting?”
“I am, but it’s not my business.” Richard smiled. “Right now, my business involves celebrating. And I know Father and Thomas have gone to Exeter for the day. They’re not going to be back until late.”
Isabel understood the implication. She giggled, glancing over at Cook. She had almost forgotten he was there. The man rolled his eyes and threw up his hands.
“Be off with you two. There are some things I should not be privy to. This is one of them.”
He went inside, and Richard pulled Isabel in for another kiss.
“How about it? We’ve got the house to ourselves, and I think we can celebrate on our own until my family gets back.”
Isabel grinned, running her hands through his windswept hair.
“I think that sounds like a very good idea.”
THE END
