Is that annoyance in her voice?
Yes, Anthony decided. Yes, it is. He offered her his most dazzling smile in return. “There was actually something which I wished to talk to you about,” he said. “But since you weren’t at home when I called, your parents were kind enough to offer me tea while I waited for your return. But now that you’re here, perhaps you’d like to join me outside for a moment? The weather is beautiful, and I would love an opportunity to admire your garden a little closer.”
Isabella’s eyes flittered first to her father and then to her mother. Finding no help from either, her mouth opened in a gape.
Amused by her astonishment, Anthony stepped toward her and offered his arm. “Shall we?”
It took a second or two for her to react. Without a word, she gave a slight nod, placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and allowed him to escort her from the room while he thanked the Chilcotts for their hospitality.
Outside, the late afternoon sun was casting everything in a dreamy glow, including Isabella, whose hair shone with streaks of gold, while her face radiated a vitality reminiscent of the outdoors. Anthony’s heart thudded in his chest as he stopped their progress toward a low stone bench and turned to face her instead, deciding that it was too chilly to sit. “You were very distressed at the modiste’s earlier today,” he said. “Would you like to tell me why?”
“Not particularly,” she muttered, avoiding his gaze. Taking a deep breath, she expelled it with a loud sigh. “Why can’t you just do as I ask and leave me in peace?”
“Because I believe you’re worth fighting for,” he murmured.
Her head shot up at that pronouncement and she stared back at him for a long moment, searching for an answer to some determining question.
“You resent me for leaving without a word of warning, I think. And I believe Lady Harriett also plays a part.” She looked away again, cheeks flushed and jaw clenched. “First of all, the reason for my sudden departure was a family emergency. My aunt suffered a stroke, so my mother and I hastily went to see how she was faring. Since my cousins had not yet arrived, I took it upon myself to see to all the necessities until they were in a position to take over. I meant to write and offer an explanation, but I’m afraid I forgot, with everything else that was happening around me.”
She was looking up at him now with quivering lips and watery eyes, and Anthony knew that she did not fault him for his actions. She was just as kind, selfless and loving as he knew she was. “I’m so sorry,” she said, reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze of sympathy. “You’re a good man, and I . . . I’m afraid I thought the worst of you.”
A wisp of hair had come loose and was fluttering gently against her cheek. Anthony brushed it aside with his fingers and tucked it behind her ear. “You thought I’d abandoned you, is that it?”
She nodded wistfully.
“And I’m guessing Lady Harriett was there to reinforce this doubt?”
“She told me that the two of you are to be married and that you’d left for London in order to make the necessary preparations.”
Bloody hell!
The anger that gripped him was unlike any he’d ever experienced before. It curled itself around him, tugging at his very core and demanding him to seek satisfaction for the wrong this wonderful woman before him had been subjected to at the hands of that harpy.
“When I asked her to leave you alone after your hasty departure from the modiste, I did not know the extent of her untruths. Had I done, she would not have gotten off as lightly as she did.” He made a mental note to pay a call on the Croonings. It was one thing to have a jealous streak, but to spread lies in which he and Isabella figured was unforgivable and without pale. “Needless to say, I have no intention of marrying her, since there is only one woman for whom I hold an interest. Unfortunately, she is quite determined to marry someone else.”
There was a pause as she gazed back at him with endless amounts of regret. Her lips parted slightly and he held his breath, wondering what she might say—if she would refute his statement and tell him what she so obviously wanted to say, that the only man she planned on marrying was him.
“Lord Kingsborough,” came a voice from directly behind him. Whatever Isabella might have thought to say would have to wait. Turning, Anthony was surprised to be met by the very curious gaze of a girl who shared Isabella’s coloring. Her attire was scruffier, however, and it looked as though there were leaves in her hair. “Miss Jamie Chilcott at your service,” she said. “How do you do?”
Anthony stifled a grin and offered her a gallant bow. “I trust you must be Miss Chilcott’s . . . sister?”
“I certainly am,” Jamie confirmed with a cheeky smile. “And since I’ve heard so much about you lately, I thought it time I made your acquaintance—see what sort of man has captured my sister’s interest.”
“Jamie!” Isabella cried, sounding both embarrassed and horrified.
Anthony’s grin turned to a heartfelt laugh. “And do you approve?” he asked, his attention still on Jamie.
The girl frowned, as if giving the matter a great deal of thought. “That depends,” she drawled with a casualness belying her age. Heaven above, this girl would be trouble when she grew older—Anthony just knew it.
“On what, exactly?” he asked.
Jamie shrugged. “You’ll see.”
“Jamie,” Isabella warned as she drew out her name for emphasis. “What are you up to?”
“Oh, you know, Izzie—the usual.” And with that, Jamie folded her arms across her chest and marched over to the stone bench, where she took a seat, not in the least bit bothered by the cold, it would seem, and looking much too smug for someone who wasn’t up to mischief.
Anthony felt an eerie sense of uneasiness wash over him—as if he was about to be made the butt of a joke. There was no doubt the girl was up to no good, and rather than be annoyed by it, Anthony felt rather humbled. She was testing his mettle the only way she knew how, to ensure that her sister made the right choice. It was endearing, really, in a way, though Anthony sincerely hoped he wouldn’t end up covered in mud as a result. His valet would have a fit.
Recognizing that there was no point in worrying about what was surely to come, Anthony decided to tell Isabella about his plans for the following day.
“And my mother agreed to this?” she asked as she stared back at him in wonder.
“I don’t believe she felt as though she had much choice, given that the invitation was issued by my mother.” He decided that it was time to go. She and her parents had a lot to discuss—far more than Isabella could possibly imagine. With a bow, he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Until tomorrow, Bella.” Turning to Jamie he added, “A pleasure to meet you, miss.”
Jamie nodded with an impish gleam to her eyes. What on earth was she up to?
And then Anthony felt it—a movement in his jacket pocket, as if something was squirming about in there. His own boyish instincts took over, and, acting as nonchalant as possible, he said, “Perhaps I ought to check the time first.”
Eyes on Jamie, he stuck his hand inside his pocket until he felt something soft and slippery and very much alive. “What the . . . ,” he gasped, feigning surprise.
Jamie’s eyes widened while Isabella turned an accusatory glare on her sister.
Staggering backward a bit, Anthony yelled, “Oh my God! It’s got me! Help! Get it off of me!” He fell to the ground, pretending all the while to be struggling with the creature in his pocket.
“Good Lord, Jamie,” Isabella cried, rushing over to where Anthony was lying. She looked over at her sister with a scowl. “What did you do?”
“I . . . I . . . ,” Jamie stammered, standing perfectly still but looking suddenly pale.
“Isabella,” Anthony groaned.
“Yes,” she said, kneeling down to offer her assistance and shielding Anthony from Jamie’s view.
“I think it will take both of you to pull me free from this beast,” he said with a wink at Isabella.
She smiled back with sly understanding. “Yes, yes of course,” she said, nodding profusely. “Jamie, do come and offer your aid. The duke is in a terrible muddle, and all because of you, I suspect.”
“Oh . . . please hurry,” Anthony yelled, satisfied to find Jamie springing to his side in the next instant. “Isabella, if you could move aside a little so Jamie here can get a hold of my arm.”
Isabella dutifully moved aside while Jamie bent low, a move that proved detrimental, for as soon as Anthony had the girl within reach, he grabbed hold of her with his free hand, yanked the other—which was clutching a small frog—from his pocket and dropped the amphibian down the back of Jamie’s gown with a shout of victory.
Jamie yelled with surprise and started jumping about, trying to rid herself of the creature, while Isabella and Anthony both sat back on their haunches and laughed at how funny she looked.
“I’ll get you for that, Kingsborough,” Jamie grinned as the frog fell from beneath her clothing and started hopping away.
“Not if I get you first,” Anthony said, leaping to his feet and chasing after the girl until, catching her, he proceeded to give her a good tickle.
Jamie squealed, laughing harder until she eventually begged for Anthony to have mercy on her.
“It looks as though you’ve finally met your match, Jamie,” Isabella said as she came toward them with a sparkle in her eyes that told Anthony that she highly approved of the way in which he’d handled her naughty sibling.
“And he, in turn, has passed the test,” Jamie said happily as she stuck out her hand toward Anthony. “It’s an honor to know you, Your Grace.”
The girl’s words warmed Anthony’s heart, encouraging him in his plea for Isabella’s hand, for there was acceptance to be found in them. With a bow, Anthony bid Jamie and Isabella good day, whereupon he started down the path feeling both lighthearted and cheerful.
He could feel Isabella’s eyes upon him as he strolled away from the cottage and made his way back toward Main Street, where he found his carriage waiting. Climbing in, he settled himself against the seat with a smile. That had gone rather well, he thought, and with the Chilcotts now on his side, there was no question that Isabella would soon be his wife. The day had definitely gotten a whole lot brighter.
Chapter 22
“Heaven above, you can’t be serious!” The exclamation came from the duchess a split second after Anthony announced that Isabella was in fact the granddaughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Deerford, not to mention daughter of the infamous Lady Margaret.
Anthony would not have been surprised if she’d had a fit of the vapors, but instead she just reached for her sherry and took what most would have considered to be an inappropriately large sip. Anthony smiled. He then explained the situation regarding Mr. Roberts, adding that he and Mr. Chilcott would have a word with him together. “So please don’t mention anything about my forthcoming proposal when they visit. I’d like to do this by the book and without another man’s intention to offer marriage hanging over us.”