When the visit finally came to an end, George rose with a satisfied smile. “Penelope, be a dear and escort Lord Hartenshire to the door.”
Before Penelope could move, Isadora shot up from her seat.
“I will do it,” she said firmly.
“Isadora—” Her father frowned.
“I insist.”
Hartenshire chuckled as if he found her little display of defiance amusing.
“Ah, the formidable Lady Isadora,” he mused as she led him through the corridor. “So protective of your dear sister.”
Isadora did not respond.
Once they reached the entrance, she turned to him, knowing that they were finally out of earshot lest George tried to stop her. “Perhaps you and Penelope are not such a good match after all.”
“Do I ask why you think that?” Hartenshire responded, seeming bored.
“Yes, it would be in your interest to.” She narrowed her eyes. “It is not merely about titles and wealth. A marriage should be built on something more.”
“Oh, Lady Isadora, you are delightfully naïve,” he laughed at her, his tone dripping with condescension. “It is not a matter of agoodorbadmatch. It is a matter of what Iwant.”
Just as I had thought.The man did not care for anything outside of himself.
“And what about what Penelope wants?” she demanded.
“Your father was right about you,” he said. “You have been nothing more than a nuisance to me all evening. Why don’t you do yourself and your sister a favor and stay out of this?”
“I will not stay out of it,” Isadora shot back, refusing to be intimidated. “Penelope deserves better than?—”
“Than me?” Hartenshire interrupted. “And who, pray tell, is better?”
“Someone who respects her.”
“Respect,” he repeated with a laugh, as if the very word amused him. “How sweet. Tell me, Lady Isadora, do you truly believe respect is what builds a successful marriage?”
“It is certainly a better foundation than greed and ambition.” Isadora gritted her teeth.
“My dear, you misunderstand the world entirely,” he said smoothly. “Marriage is not about feelings or some silly fantasy. It is a transaction. Your sister understands that, even if she lacks the will to say it aloud.”
“She has said it aloud. She does not want this.” Isadora clenched her jaw. “And she does not wantyou.”
“Because you have filled her head with nonsense,” Hartenshire said. “Your father did warn me beforehand about this as well.”
Lovely. What else had George said to him?
“Because she is afraid to stand up to our father,” Isadora countered.
“Or perhaps she is afraid of disappointing you,” he smirked. “Have you ever considered that, dear Isadora?”
A chill ran down her spine at the way he said her name, the way he let it roll off his tongue.Evilwas the only way that she could describe that sound.
“I suspect this has very little to do with your sister,” he continued in the same tone, “and far more to do with you.”
“Wh—What are you talking about?” The implication caught Isadora off guard.
“Oh, come now,” he smirked. “You can hide behind your concern for Penelope all you like, but we both know the truth. No man is interested in you.”
