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“I’m just jesting with you, Richard.” Cohen gestured at an exhibit across the room. “Would you tell me about this piece, Professor? I’m a little confused as to what it is, and it’s fascinating me.”
The two men moved away, and Richard was left on his own. He knew he should mingle a little, but the thought of talking to anyone of a higher status didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t want to speak to someone and watch their eyes glaze over. They might find everything fascinating, but they wouldn’t want to know the details.
Anyway, who would want to speak to the assistant? He was still, in essence, a servant. Nothing to them. What would a servant know?
Then Richard heard a voice that had his heart missing a beat. He turned and saw Isabel with her back to him, asking one of Ainsley’s fellow explorers about a statue nearby. Galliston was with her, Isabel holding onto his arm. He was looking at her a little oddly as Isabel and the professor exchanged animated words.
Richard found himself watching her, seeing the real Isabel coming out. This was the person he admired the most. It was nice to see her training to become a lady hadn’t completely obliterated everything.
Although from the look on the duke’s face, he wasn’t really expecting it. How did he not know what the real Isabel Moore was like?
Richard wanted to go to her and greet her. But that would mean interacting with Galliston, and he didn’t really want to do that. The man made his skin crawl. Isabel had to be courting him for just the money. True, he was good-looking enough, but there was nothing about him that would make him attractive.
Then it was like Isabel sensed he was looking at her. She looked over her shoulder, and her eyes locked with his. They widened a little, and then she gave him a smile that punched him right in the gut. How could she smile at him like that and not realize the turmoil she was causing?
Galliston said something to get her attention, and Isabel responded. Then she was easing away from him and walking towards Richard. The duke looked unhappy as he followed her, Lady Dunley not far behind them. Richard had barely noticed her, but of course, she would be chaperoning her daughter. Although from the expression she was wearing, she wasn’t too happy about it.
“Mr Sidney.” Isabel reached him and dropped a curtsy. “This is a stunning exhibition.”
“I ... thank you.” Richard barely managed to remember a bow, unable to stop staring at her. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight.”
There was a lie, and he almost winced as he said it. Isabel shrugged and nodded at Galliston, who had materialized at her side with a pointed glare at Richard.
“The Duke of Galliston is considering being a sponsor for Professor Ainsley, which I find admirable. He offered to bring me here tonight, and I couldn’t pass up an opportunity. Especially with such fascinating artifacts. All of them from West Africa?”
“Mostly the countries of Liberia, the Ivory Coast, and Ghana. I believe there are a few from Morocco as well.”
“Interesting.” Isabel’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the exhibit beside Richard. “And you helped catalogue all of it here?”
“Most of it. I have helped with the finishing touches.”
Richard tried not to blush as Isabel turned her smile on him.
“You always said you wanted something like this. That being around history in our country was almost like experiencing it in the country of origin.”
“On days like this, it feels like a pale imitation.”
Both of them jumped when Galliston loudly cleared his throat and took Isabel’s arm.
“I think we need to get a drink, Isabel, darling. I’m sure your mouth needs wetting after such a ... conversation.”
“What? Oh, right. I think you’re right.” Isabel swallowed and squared her shoulders, her warm expression turning a little cool. “If you’ll excuse us, Mr Sidney?”
“Miss Moore.”
Richard watched the two of them go, Galliston shooting a scowl over his shoulder at him. What had just happened there? And the possessive way Galliston was holding onto Isabel’s arm was making the hairs prickle on the back of Richard’s neck.
He didn’t like that. Not at all.
“You’re going to have to be careful with my daughter from now on, Richard.”
Richard turned. Lady Dunley was standing beside him, watching her daughter walk away.
“How so, My Lady?”
“Because the duke isn’t going to let another man, no matter his status, talk to his future bride no matter how well they know her without his approval. And from the look on his face, he doesn’t approve of you.”
“He can’t expect to stop Isabel from seeing friends …” Richard stopped. “Wait a minute, did you just say future bride? They’re engaged?”
