“Well, I think we shall soon have the perfect opportunity to find out! It’s always a bit chaotic during the hunt, and therefore a perfect time for an engaged couple to sneak a moment to themselves.”
Isolde felt her blush deepen at the idea.
“I shall make sure it happens!” Tatiana continued. “All you and Thaddeus need is time alone together to properly speak of your feelings.”
Isolde’s heart skipped a beat at the idea of being alone with Thaddeus, of perhaps finally knowing how he truly felt about her.
“Thank you, Lady Tatiana,” she said, her words warm with the genuine gratitude she felt.
Tatiana laughed again and reached across the table to take Isolde’s hand.
“Of course! After all,” she gave Isolde a cheerful wink, “what are sister-in-laws for, if not to help in moments like this?”
***
At the end of the week, guests began to arrive for the hunt. Isolde was beside herself with excitement because this year the invitation had been extended to her father, brother, and sister, as well.
She was a little nervous, too – not only because her family would be mingling with all of Thaddeus’s friends and acquaintances, but because of how Tatiana had promised to get her a moment alone with Thaddeus. She hoped it would happen.
When her father’s carriage pulled up, and the door opened to reveal Cornelia, Isolde felt her heart leap.
She was relieved to see her sister looked well, and while they both restrained their joy at being reunited to a respectable level, she could tell by how hard Cornelia squeezed her hand that her sister had missed her as much as she had missed her sister.
Her father seemed in good spirits, as well. He was no doubt feeling chuffed about being included among all these noble – and wealthy – gentlemen. Only Thomas gave her pause, coming last out of the carriage and giving her a smile that did not reach his eyes.
She soon found out why, when her brother seized a quiet moment to pull her to the side.
“Things have only gotten worse with Father, Isolde,” he told her in a worried whisper. “I’ve done everything I can to rein him in, but it just isn’t working. Of the winnings that Lord Hartington helped him recover from Lord Crowley, nearly half of it is already lost again.”
“Oh, Thomas. I’m sorry to have left you to deal with this alone!” Isolde chewed her lip in worry, wondering what they could possibly do to keep her father’s gambling in check.
“That’s not all. Izzy …” Thomas paused, and she could tell by his face that he hated to tell her this next part. “There’s been talk of marrying Cornelia off shortly after you are wed. And not just to anyone, Isolde. To Lord Crowley.”
Isolde gasped, and her heart sank. It had been bad enough hearing that at one point she might have suffered the fate of marrying Crowley, but to think of it befalling her sweet baby sister … it was too much to bear.
Isolde shut her eyes and tried to contain the revulsion that washed over her body. What could she do to stop this from happening?
“I shall speak to Lord Hartington about this. Perhaps there is something he can do to help.”
“Lord Hartington?” Thomas sounded surprised. “Have the two of you grown so close that you could confide in him about this?”
Isolde could feel her cheeks heating, and she hoped that Thomas could not tell.
“I wouldn’t say we are close,” she demurred, “but he is a kind man, and he has been good to me so far. I believe if there is something within his power to do, he will do it.”
“Then may there be such a thing,” Thomas said, and the desperation in his voice made Isolde’s heart hurt. “We are running out of time and options.”
She squeezed her brother’s hand and offered him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. Just then, another round of guests arrived, and Isolde turned toward the door.
Thaddeus was already there, greeting everyone as they stepped down from their carriages. He was just shaking hands with a tall blond man, who Thaddeus seemed to know well.
Then Thaddeus held up his hand to a woman emerging from the same carriage. She was beautiful, with gleaming blonde hair and blue eyes. Even after she had descended from the carriage, she lingered near Thaddeus, even going as far as to lay her hand on Thaddeus’s forearm. Isolde felt a hot spike of emotion, and it took her a moment to realize that it was jealousy that she felt.
“Seems you’re not the only woman Lord Hartington is close to,” Thomas murmured near her ear. “You should keep an eye on her, if you don’t want to lose your fiancé.”
Isolde’s stomach felt tied in knots and her jealousy felt tinged with nausea. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she and Thaddeus had laid out a very clear plan, one in which she had no real claim on him.
Still, Isolde could not keep herself from staring at the blonde woman until she had moved away from Thaddeus’s side.
