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Chapter 19
Marjorie knew that Isabel hadn’t slept well in the inn. She had tossed and turned so much it woke Marjorie up. And this was after she had stayed up reading her father’s journal. Marjorie hadn’t heard a word from her daughter. All she had heard were the turning of pages and the occasional sob. Whatever had been written was having an effect on her.
But Marjorie couldn’t really ask her daughter about it. Not with Galliston sitting across from them. The duke was still very curt with both of them, and that smarted. It wasn’t her fault that this had happened, and it wasn’t Isabel’s fault that she was in love with someone else.
She might not have said it out loud, but Marjorie didn’t need to guess. She knew the signs. Isabel was in love with her childhood friend, and it was agonizing for her. From the way he looked at Isabel, the feeling was mutual.
If he were a man with a title, then there wouldn’t be any problems. Unfortunately, life didn’t end up wrapped neatly with a bow on top. Practicality had to be put first. Marjorie was just lucky that she had fallen in love with her husband before they married. That was a rare thing in their time. Affection and caring for the other half would eventually come, or it wouldn’t at all. Marjorie had had something special.
If only her husband had told her about his problems, about what he really wanted. Would he have kept away from gambling? Marjorie didn’t know. She was still upset that he had lied to her all those years. But after reading his journal, something she had vowed to him when he was alive that she would never do, she understood him a lot more. And she understood what Isabel was going through.
Her husband had married and kept within Society’s confines, and it had eventually destroyed him. It would do the same to Isabel. Marjorie didn’t want that. Her ideals about her child becoming a lady of Society were gone now. It was not worth losing Isabel over.
She would be fine. She would figure out something of her own. Somehow.
It was just after lunch when they finally arrived in London and pulled up outside Galliston’s townhouse. Galliston jumped out when the door opened and reached in for Isabel’s hand. She took it mutely and climbed out, keeping her gaze averted and clutching the journal tightly to her chest.
“I’ve already sent word to your servants that they are to move themselves in here,” Galliston said as he reached back into the carriage for Marjorie. “Your belongings are already prepared for you.”
Marjorie stared.
“Isn’t that a little presumptuous?”
Galliston fixed her with a hard glare.
“I meant what I said about you and your daughter staying with me until the wedding. I won’t have her going off on another dalliance with Sidney. Unless you want me to break the engagement now and leave you homeless?”
Marjorie shivered. Why did he have to sound so horrible? She took his hand, trying not to think about how soft and warm his fingers were against hers, and allowed him to help her onto the pavement. Isabel was already going up the steps, her head down as she entered the house. Galliston sighed.
“I hope she snaps out of her depressive state soon.”
“Let Isabel figure things out in her own time. It’s best that you do that.”
“It’s not very ladylike.”
Marjorie smiled.
“My daughter is a woman who knows her own mind. When she wants to.”
Galliston stared at her.
“Much like her mother?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“You know your own mind, Lady Dunley. I’ve always noticed that about you.”
He noticed? Marjorie swallowed and smoothed her hands on her coat.
“Are we going inside, or are we going to stand here talking? It’s getting a little chilly.”
Avoiding his gaze, she hurried into the townhouse, trying not to stare at how huge it was. Her London home could have fit twice into his house, and there would still be room for more; she was sure of it. Allowing the butler to take her coat and hat, Marjorie headed into the nearest room. It looked to be the drawing room, the wallpaper a bright pink, along with the furnishings. A very masculine colour.
Everything about the townhouse spoke to Galliston’s personality. He was daring and bold. But Marjorie had sensed something in him back in Devon. He was still a little unsure of himself. Even when he was planning to make Richard’s life a misery, he sounded nervous about losing what he had.
Marjorie hadn’t expected the duke himself to be so insecure about who he was. It made her wonder why he was.
There was a movement behind her, and Marjorie turned to see Galliston stepping into the room. He was watching her closely, his gaze drifting over her. It sent a shiver down her spine, which Marjorie tried to ignore. She gestured to the room.
