AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I see.”
Richard didn’t, and he didn’t like it. He had thought friends wouldn’t turn away and ignore their past. From the way Isabel was, she was close to ignoring it altogether. He could understand trying to fit in, and he knew the purpose for it. But it felt like Isabel was taking it a step too far.
“I was going to compliment you and say that the change suits you.” Richard shook his head. “Now I’m not sure I could.”
“Why not?”
“Because I preferred the woman before.”
Isabel frowned.
“That woman was a child. She was interested in silly pastimes. I don’t have time for that now.”
“What we did were silly pastimes, were they?” Now Richard was upset. “You think you can just forget everything we did as children? Or what happened more recently?”
Isabel’s face was red, and Richard knew she was thinking about the kiss. Her jaw clenched.
“I should have said no to that. What you did was pushing the boundaries. We could have been caught.”
“But we weren’t, and you didn’t,” Richard shot back. “Are you going to ignore what we did like you’re ignoring the fact you’re giving up a life you said you would never walk away from?”
Isabel flinched.
“I said a lot of things.”
“I know you did.” Richard sneered. “But it’s not good enough for your future husband, is it? He doesn’t want to know what you got up to with me when we went scavenging for beetles and butterflies, falling over in the mud, or falling down crevices where you would have to be hoisted out. Or the times you and I would lie on the grass and just stare at the sky to watch the clouds. Not exactly something you can talk to a potential husband about, is it?”
Isabel swallowed. She was shuffling from foot to foot, looking like she didn’t know whether to burst into tears or hit him. She chose somewhere in the middle, taking a deep breath and focusing on him a cool stare that Richard felt down to his toes.
“That was when we were children,” she said stiffly. “I recall that period of my life, but I’m not going to be returning to that. Nor am I going to be led astray by you. I won’t be doing that again.”
“You didn’t seem to be complaining at the time.”
“Like I said, that was then. This is now.” Isabel stepped around him and walked away. “Good day, Mr Sidney. I hope your exhibition goes well. I’ve got a lot of things to do today, and I don’t have time to talk to you.”
Richard watched her go, noticing how she swept by Hester and headed onto the grass. Hester gave him a curious look before following Isabel, catching up to her as they approached the picnickers. Lady Dunley was probably one of the people on the blankets, but Richard wasn’t about to go looking for her.
He turned away and walked off, his heart heavy as it sank to his belly. Whatever had happened to Isabel in the last few weeks had changed her, and not in a good way. She was cool and haughty. It was almost like she was looking down her nose at him. Not the woman he knew and had fallen in love with.
That woman wasn’t there anymore. The woman standing before him a moment ago had been a stranger, someone who wouldn’t have anything to do with him if given half a chance. And that made Richard feel two inches tall.
He had only just come to terms with his sudden feelings for Isabel Moore, and she was already gone.
#
“Is the Duke of Galliston here yet, Mother?” Isabel asked as she came into the morning room.
Lady Dunley looked up from her book and frowned.
“Was he meant to be coming here today?”
“Of course he is. He told you about it on Monday,” Isabel huffed. “I can’t believe you forgot about that! He said he had something exciting to talk to me about, and he would make sure not to be late.”
She looked at the clock. Gallison said he was good at timekeeping, but he was running late today. Isabel was getting antsy. Did that mean something had happened to him? Was he all right?
Isabel told herself to calm down and remember where she was. She was a lady; she didn’t panic or show extreme emotions. They had to be cool and refined, as Lady Blythcourt told her. Ladies had to maintain their composure as it showed they were in control. It made a woman look more attractive.
The Duke of Galliston certainly thought so. He had been courting Isabel for the last six weeks, and the time they spent together was getting longer and longer, to the point he had actually spent the whole day with her. Isabel had never felt so elated. All these gentlemen wanted her attention whenever she went out, and they found her charming, but the duke was at the front. He had been very focused on her, and Isabel felt like she was walking on air.
