But Isolde shook her head. “I shall endeavor to forgive my father, but I shall not allow him to cast one more shadowupon our lives. We have had enough grief and strife. Let’s tell everyone. I want to shout it from the rooftops.”
She turned to Thomas.
“Thomas, Lord Hartington and I are engaged to be married. And not because of the bet. He has asked me properly, and I have accepted.”
Thomas stared at her, his eyes round in surprise, then slowly a grin spread across his face, lighting it up.
“Well,” he said, “You had better hurry and tell Cornelia. She’ll be cross if she finds out you told me first.”
Isolde ran to hug him, and then she turned to hold her hand out to her fiancé, so they could break the happy news together.
Chapter 30
Once Isolde’s family knew, Thaddeus could not wait to return home and tell his own family. He bid Isolde goodbye with a promise to return the next day and hurried back to Hartington.
He found both his mother and sister in the parlor. His mother looked up and smiled at him.
“You look happy, my dear,” she said as he bent to kiss her cheek.
“I’ve been to see Miss Fairchild.”
“Ah, yes, the funeral was today!” Tatiana exclaimed, then frowned. “But why should you look happy after that? I admit Miss Fairchild’s father seemed to lack a great deal, but to be happy over his death …”
Thaddeus laughed.
“Surely you do not think me so unkind, Tati? No, I am happy because I have very good news, the best news.”
Both women gave him their full attention, Tatiana looking eager and his mother nearly expressionless, reserving her emotions until she heard the news.
“As you know, the engagement between Miss Fairchild and me came about in an unconventional and unfortunate way. We proceeded with it as an arrangement that might be mutually beneficial, but this afternoon we ended that arrangement.”
Tatiana gasped, and he held up his hand to let her know he was not finished.
“We each admitted that we cared deeply for the other, and I asked her to marry me properly, for love this time, and she accepted.
Tatiana gave what could only be described as a squeal and leaped up to hug him.
“Oh I knew it! I knew you were falling in love with her! Oh Thad, congratulations!”
He laughingly accepted her hug and congratulations and then turned to their mother. He was alarmed to see her looking serious.
“Mother?”
She shook her head slowly.
“I’m sorry, Thaddeus, but I cannot allow it.”
Tatiana gasped.
“But Mother …”
Thaddeus squeezed Tatiana’s hand to let her know he would fight this battle and sat down next his mother.
“Why not?” he asked softly.
She patted his cheek, her gaze softening.
“This whole business is best left in the past. It was a reckless choice to intervene and tie yourself to a woman you don’t know, and now I fear she has used your affections and kind heart against you. You must understand, Thaddeus, what some people would do to have the kind of position being your wife affords one.”
