“Why not?”
He looked at Mira, seeing her confusion, before looking to Isabel again. “Because men will think I am an opportunist,” he said. “Marrying you for your title on your deathbed. They will believe I’ve stolen Axminster from you.”
“Not if it is my wish,” Isabel insisted. “Mira, find the physic. Bring him here right away. And grab any servant you can find. Send them to me. Hurry!”
Mira stumbled up from the stool and fled the chamber, leaving Douglas standing there, torn as he’d never been torn in his life.
“Do you truly think to do this to me?” he hissed. “I cannot do it!”
“Douglas,” Isabel said in a voice that sounded more like herself. “Look at me—I am dying. I want to know that Axminstershall go on after my death. I want to know that the young ladies known as Axminster’s Angels will continue through Mira. And I want to know that the next Earl of Axminster is a worthy man. You deserve this. You have been a good friend and advisor. I want to do this. Please.”
“I willnot.”
“You promised me that you would do anything I asked. Will you now refuse to honor your word?”
He looked at her as if he wanted to wring her neck because they both knew, as an honorable knight, he was bound to follow through. Still, he protested.
“I promised you I would do anything you asked before you asked me this… this terrible thing,” he said. “You knew you were going to do this all along.”
“I did.”
“You knew I could not refuse you!”
“I knew.”
Douglas was so angry that he had to turn away from her. He was ready to kick her bed and yell at her, but he couldn’t bring himself do to that to a dying woman. Even if shehadmanipulated him. He struggled to calm himself before turning to her once more.
“I appreciate that you want to know Axminster will continue in good hands,” he said. “I am honored that you would entrust it to me. But can you not see the burden you are placing on me by asking this?”
Isabel had started to open her mouth when Jonathan suddenly appeared. He looked between Isabel and Douglas.
“What is amiss?” he asked, moving toward Douglas. “Mira told me to come here right away.”
Douglas sighed heavily and gestured toward Isabel, who turned her attention to Jonathan.
“I want to marry Douglas and pass the Axminster title to him, and he is refusing,” she said. “What kind of man refuses someone on their deathbed? He promised he would do as I asked and now he is trying to go back on his word.”
Jonathan’s eyes bugged. “What’s this?” he said, shocked. “You… you want tomarryDouglas?”
“I have no heirs,” Isabel said. “I want to die with the peace of knowing Axminster will continue with Douglas as the earl. The only way to do that is to marry him, but he seems to think that men will believe him an opportunist for this, so I will tell you, Jonathan, that I make this request with a clear mind. I make it selfishly, because I do not want Axminster reverting to the Crown. I want Axminster’s legacy to continue, from de Kerrington to de Lohr, where I know life at Axminster shall go on as usual. You are my witness, Jonathan. Douglas has not asked for it. He does not want it. ButIwant him to have it. When I am gone, he may marry Mira and Axminster shall become theirs, remaining strong for years to come.”
Jonathan understood a little more now. As he pondered the situation, Mira returned with the physic. Two servants wandered in after them, wide-eyed, going to stand in the corner. There were six people in the room as Isabel coughed again, struggling more to breathe as the moments ticked away.
As her life ticked away.
Time was of the essence.
“Jonathan,” she said, weaker now. “Tell them what I told you.”
Jonathan did. He explained Isabel’s wish without mentioning Douglas’ reluctance. When he was finished, no one seemed particularly moved or surprised except for Mira. Hearing it again, as explained to her by Jonathan, made her realize she’d heard it correctly the first time. But it also made her realize why Isabel had made the request—not on a whim,not foolishly, and not because she was in love with Douglas. She did it selfishly, as she had said. Much as she had negotiated a betrothal with Jerome to save Axminster, she was trying to force Douglas into a marriage for exactly the same reason.
She wanted to save her home.
As Douglas stood in the corner and fumed, Mira knelt down beside Isabel.
“Is this truly what you want, my lady?” she asked, putting a gentle hand on Isabel’s forehead. “Of course we want to carry out your wishes, but this… this is something quite serious. Are you certain this is what you want?”
Isabel looked up at Mira. “Of course it is,” she said softly. “You should have been my daughter, Mira. It is only right that you succeed me as the Countess of Axminster. How proud I am of you already. I know that you shall do great and wonderful things.”
