Right now, though, Felicity was frowning. “You’re not engaged to the Duke,” she said. “Why do people think that you are?”
Isabella couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “It’s pretty clever of me, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t think so at all! Isabella, have you beenlyingto people about this? Haveyoubeen spreading the rumor that you’re engaged to the Duke?”
“It’s gotten them talking, hasn’t it?”
“I can’t believe you would do such a thing! When we both know that you have no such engagement at all! Why would you lie about this?”
“What kind of night have you been having, Felicity?”
“What? Why are you asking me that right now? This is about you.”
“Just answer the question, please.”
“Well—my night has been good,” Felicity admitted. “Three gentlemen have already asked me to dance, and you know that doesn’t always happen.”
“That’s right,” Isabella said. “People think the Duke of Windhill wants me, Felicity, and that’s making them turn their attention to you. You’re the loveliest young lady at this party, of course, but you know as well as I that people don’t notice us. But now, they will. Now I’ve given them a reason to notice you, and they’llbe able to see just how wonderful you are. It won’t be long at all before you find yourself a match.”
“Rosalind is going to befuriouswhen she finds out what you did.” Felicity sounded rather awestruck. She had always feared Rosalind’s temper more than Isabella had.
“Well, she isn’t going to find out tonight,” Isabella replied. “She’s not even here. She had to stay home because she’s ill.”
“I know,” Felicity said, “but she’s sure to find out eventually, and then she’ll be outraged. And so will Father.”
“Let them be outraged. What can they do about it? By then, if my plan goes well, you’ll have already secured the attention of a worthy gentleman, and your future will be set. There will be nothing Father or Rosalind can do to take away what will be yours as a result of this plan.”
“Maybe they won’t be able to disrupt my future,” Felicity agreed, “but what about yours, Isabella? When Father hears what you’ve done, he may never let you attend another ball again. He isn’t going to like this at all, you can be sure of that.”
“No, he won’t,” Isabella agreed. “And perhaps he will stop me from attending future balls. But what of that?”
“How will you find a husband if you can’t attend balls?” Felicity demanded.
“Oh, that,” Isabella said dismissively. “You know that I never planned to marry, Felicity.”
“I know you never believed you could. But why not? If you’re so sure it can happen for me, why couldn’t it happen for you?”
“Father would never make the effort for me. He never even allowed me to have a debut season. You know that. I’m only allowed out now as a chaperone for you.”
“I still don’t understand why Father wouldn’t let you have a season of your own,” Felicity said.
Isabella reached up and touched the mole on her cheek, just below her eye. “I’m no beauty,” she said. “Our parentage is struggle enough, but looking the way I do…”
“I think you’re beautiful,” Felicity said loyally.
Isabella smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “But the gentlemen of the ton won’t see it through your eyes. I don’t have the kind of beauty they’re looking for the way you do.”
“You’re much lovelier than Rosalind.”
“You only say that because we know what she’s like as a person. Someone who didn’t know her wouldn’t think so.”
“They would,” Felicity countered. “She might not have a birthmark on her face the way you do, but her features are so unbecoming. She’s dreadful to look at.”
“Well, don’t let Father hear you sayingthat.”
“You know I won’t. But really, Isabella, you mustn’t give up on the idea of your own future when you could easily find a match if you only tried! And now, you’ve spread this rumor, and who knows whether Father will ever allow you out to a ball or a party again? You might have destroyed your last chance at making an impression on a gentleman.”
“Well, if I did spend it, I spent it on my sister,” Isabella said. “I can think of nothing better to have purchased with it than a future for you, Felicity. That’s all I care about.”
