Finally, breakfast was over, and the party started to prepare for the hunt. As they made their way outside, a few people started pointing down Hartington’s long drive. A carriage was making its way toward the house. Everyone watched as it came to a stop and the door creaked open.
Isolde’s heart jumped into her throat when Lord Crowley stepped out.
He beamed brightly at the assembled crowd, as if he thought they were there for him personally. He climbed down and made his way over to Thaddeus, who Isolde noticed was staring at Crowley with barely concealed surprise.
“Apologies for not being here yesterday, Hartington, but you know how business can be. Ever so grateful for the invitation.” He stuck out his hand to Thaddeus, who merely looked at it.
“Ah, Crowley!” It was Lord Bradshaw’s voice that rang out as he made his way to where Crowley and Thaddeus stood. He took Crowley’s outstretched hand and shook it, turning to face Thaddeus.
“Harrow, I ran into Crowley earlier in the week and took the liberty of extending him an invite to the hunt. The more, the merrier, eh?”
Thaddeus’s face was stormy, and Isolde was suddenly taken back to the night of the ball, when he’d seen Crowley attacking her in the garden. She felt quite sure at that moment that Crowley was not welcome at Hartington.
And yet, what could Thaddeus do? It would cause a great deal of talk if he were to turn Crowley away, after his friend had invited him.
Isolde was torn, half of her wishing Thaddeus would grab Crowley and throw him back into the carriage, ordering him off the property forever – but the other half of her was terrified at what that sort of scene would do to this already precarious situation. Isolde thought she saw the same battle playing itself out on Thaddeus’s face.
Finally, he seemed to swallow his anger and shook Crowley’s hand. Relief and disappointment mingled in Isolde’s heart.
“Lord Crowley, what a surprise that you could join us. I trust you’ll have a pleasant time. We were just about to prepare for the day’s hunt.”
Crowley grinned widely.
“I’m sure I’ll have an excellent time, Lord Hartington. Thank you for your warm welcome.”
Isolde turned away, not wishing to look at the man anymore. She was heading back toward the house when she heard Thaddeus call her. Turning, she saw him striding her way. He beckoned her to follow him with his head, and she did, both of them stepping away from the crowd. Nerves fluttered in her stomach – perhaps he would finally explain about last night.
“There will be a lunch at the estate’s hunting lodge today. I’ll see you there.” He looked at her as though he was trying to tell her something important, but Isolde was perplexed. Everyone would be at the lunch, why should they not see one another there? And why wasn’t he saying anything about last night? Did it really matter that little to him?
She felt her throat tighten with emotion but clenched her teeth. The courtyard was full of people – there were many eyes on them. She needed to play the part.
“Of course, My Lord,” she said, as sweetly as she could manage. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Crowley wander over to her family. She remembered what Thomas had said and struggled to contain her panic.
“Excuse me, My Lord,” she murmured, already moving away even as she made her curtsey to Thaddeus. She reached her family a little out of breath and found Crowley and her father laughing together over some shared joke. She glanced at Thomas and could tell from his face that he was as nervous as she.
He was standing beside their father, a barrier between Crowley and Cornelia, who was practically hiding behind Thomas and looking deeply uncomfortable.
Her mind raced, thinking again of how she needed to fix this, and quickly. She couldnotlet her father marry Cornelia to that horrible man. Even now, thinking of the feeling of his hands on her at the ball made her feel sick.
“Ah, Isolde!” her father said cheerfully upon noticing her, clueless to the feelings of all three of his children. “One daughter successfully engaged, and working on the same for the other!” He had the audacity to wink at her. She blushed at the way he was discussing marrying off his daughters in such a public way, as if they were nothing but business deals.
She forced herself to take a deep breath. She could not solve this entire mess right now. But she could, at the very least, get her sister away from Crowley for the moment.
“Cornelia, I’ve come to fetch you so you can come with me and help me with the games for the day,” she said, giving her sister as comforting a smile as she could muster.
“Now, Isolde,” her father said, frowning, “I had actually planned –”
“I’m so sorry, Father. I’m afraid Cornelia will be indispensable, and I must steal her away.” And without waiting for another word from her father, Isolde looped her arm through her sister’s and drew her away.
“Thank goodness, Izzy!” Cornelia whispered once they were a decent distance away. “I loathe that Lord Crowley. And I fear the worst as far as Father’s plans for me.”
“I know,” Isolde said grimly. “But don’t worry; I won’t let it happen.”
She tightened her hold on her sister and vowed she’d keep that promise.
***
The games had been set up by the lake today, not far from the hunting lodge where lunch would be served. Isolde did her best to enjoy the games, but as relieved as she was to have Cornelia safe among the ladies for a few hours, she could not help her thoughts from returning to Crowley.
