If she was a friend of the Viscount’s, perhaps she had noticed that he wasn’t always a very agreeable man. Perhaps she understood that he was someone who would put his own selfish interests above the needs of his daughters.
Isabella didn’t particularly need this lady she didn’t know to recognize that truth about her father, but it was very interesting to see that someone might have done so.
She wondered how her father knew Lady Reeves, but of course, she couldn’t ask that question with both of them standing right there because it was the kind of thing the Viscount would never have answered for her. He would tell her to mind her own business, or perhaps he would make up some condescending reason why it was foolish that she should even ask. Isabella had no interest in being spoken to that way in public and certainly not in the company of the admirable lady before her. Though they had hardly been introduced, Isabella found herself wanting to make a good impression. She wanted Lady Reeves to think well of her. Maybe it was just because she could see that her fatherdidn’twant that—but Isabella suspected it was something more.
She took her sister by the arm. “Come and say hello to Arthur,” she told Felicity. “I know how eager he is to see you again.”
She deliberately hadn’t extended the invitation to her father, and it seemed likely that everyone present had noticed that fact. But for the first time, it really didn’t matter to Isabella what her father thought of her or how he reacted to the things she said or did. There was nothing he could do to her. Thanks to her marriage to the Duke, she was free.
Felicity was right. Marrying had been the best thing for her, and even for her own sake and not just her sister’s, she was deeply glad and grateful that she had done it.
She took Felicity by the arm, and together the two sisters walked back to Arthur’s side to enjoy the festivities without their father.
CHAPTER 21
Arthur, it transpired, had also found company with a gentleman Isabella had never met. They both smiled as she approached.
“This must be your wife,” the unfamiliar gentleman said. “She’s lovely, Arthur. You didn’t tell me how beautiful she was.”
Arthur’s response was clearly annoyed. “I most certainly did tell you,” he said. “This is Taylor Badington, Earl of Henrough?—”
“And your best friend,” Lord Henrough said with a rather cocky smile.
“When he behaves himself appropriately,” Arthur agreed. “Taylor, this is my wife, Isabella, Duchess of Windhill, and this is her sister, Miss Felicity.”
“I see that the the good looks run in the family.” Lord Henrough cocked his head. “These are Lord Cliffrows’ daughters, are they not?”
“They are,” Arthur said.
Isabella understood what Lord Henrough was getting at. “We take after our mother,” she explained.
“Well, your mother must have been a great beauty,” Lord Henrough observed with a smile, and Isabella decided that she liked him.
“I’ve been asking Arthur to bring me over to Windhill Manor ever since the day you two were married,” Lord Henrough said. “It was so unfortunate that I couldn’t join you to celebrate the wedding, and of course, I wanted to meet my good friend’s new bride.”
“You and I discussed this,” Arthur pointed out.
Had they? Isabella couldn’t help wondering how that discussion had gone. What had been said?
Fortunately, Lord Henrough seemed only too willing to satisfy her curiosity. “Arthur didn’t want me to meet you, Your Grace,” he said to Isabella. “He wanted to keep you all to himself—and I think he feared I might be a bad influence upon you as well.”
“And was I wrong to think it?” Arthur asked his friend.
“Oh, no, I suppose you weren’t. But you really can’t hope to keep someone so lovely all to yourself, you know! Others are going to notice her beauty as they should. You should just be glad that you’re the one she chose, Arthur. I don’t know what it is you have that makes her want you, but it seems to me that you made a very lucky match.”
Isabella couldn’t help giggling. “You’re a tease, Lord Henrough.”
“Oh, he’s incorrigible,” Arthur said. “You can see why I would want him kept away from civilized people.”
“And Miss Felicity,” Lord Henrough went on, “I don’t imagine it will be very long before some lucky gentleman makes you his wife as well, but before the opportunity is gone…perhaps I might steal a dance with you tonight if you would do me the honor?”
Felicity blushed. “The honor would be mine, Lord Henrough.”
She handed him her dance card, and he filled in his name. “I’ll be back to claim my turn with you,” he promised.
“You don’t want to dance with her right away?” Arthur asked.
“Oh, what’s the rush? The night is young. Let her make the rounds here at the party, let her get her bearings and see what other gentlemen these festivities have to offer. I don’t think she’ll find anyone as compelling as I can be, but let her have a look, eh?”
