“Marguerite. Explain yourself,” he grunted to Lady Kendrick, and Isabella was surprised by how he addressed his grandmother.
She’d expected the older woman to flare up in annoyance at his blatant disrespect; however, she smiled instead.
“It is as you have heard. Lady Isabella and I will be founding a ladies’ club together,” she declared with vim.
“Is that so?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced back at Isabella.
Lady Kendrick nodded. Yet, the Duke hardly seemed impressed as his burning gaze remained on Isabella, peering intently at her.
Her pulse skittered alarmingly, and her body felt heavy and warm under the weight of his gaze.
He leaned back and folded his arms. The simple motion, however, unfastened one of his buttons, revealing a glimpse of his hard chest.
Isabella looked away instantly, for she’d hate to be caught blushing by the one who caused it.
“And where would these club meetings take place?” The ’duke’s eyes darted from Isabella to his grandmother, before returning to Isabella.
Why does he keep looking at me as if I were something to devour?
Her heart skittered again, yet she could not deny the delicious pang in the pit of her stomach.
“Here in the house, of course. Where else? My old bones need life injected into my days, and what better way than a club full of spirited young ladies?” Lady Kendrick released Isabella’s hands, folding her arms to match her grandson’s stance.
“I forbid it,” he refused bluntly, shaking his head.
“You forbid it? Cassian, I forbid you from forbidding me to do anything!” Lady Kendrick retorted with an air of simplicity.
“This is not how it works, Marguerite. I would go cold before I watch my household turned into a social hall.” His eyes flashed with anger, adding to his dark aura.
With a hand on her chest, Lady Kendrick gasped dramatically, shaking her head afterwards. “What, pray, is to become of me in my old age? Must I be condemned to sit alone with naught butmy knitting needles for company?” She paused, lifting her chin with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Surely, you’ll grant your grandmother a touch of excitement, will you not?”
A deeply etched frown creased the duke’s brow. .
“Yes, if it is within my capacity. But you, of all people, should know I have no desire to see my house overrun with a crowd I cannot control.” He grunted in reply.
Lady Kendrick’s face fell, possibly having no fight left in her as her earlier excitement dissipated.
Isabella stepped forward; she wouldn’t let him kill their plan before its inception. “If I may, Your Grace, I think it unfair that you refuse the plan even before hearing what it would entail, simply because of the inconvenience you assume it would pose to you.”
She could tell that not only the duke but also his grandmother was taken aback by her words. Still, she pressed on; after all, the ’duke’s refusal affected her plans as well. She had spent a week imagining how it would be to learn unconventional skills alongside women like herself, women who sought freedom in every possible way.
“This club wouldn’t simply be a place where ladies would come to gossip if you had that notion in mind. It would be a place for women with difficulties they can’t quite voice in fear of incurring a scandal.” She held her head high, staring back at him despite the quickening of her pulse.
The Duke walked forward, stopping in front of her. “Regardless of the reason for the club, the fact remains: my peace will be disturbed.”
Isabella stood firm, refusing to back away. “In a mansion like this one? I highly doubt it, Your Grace.”
He flared at her, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. “Lord only knows how many ladies would be in attendance at each meeting. Unmarried young ladies, parading the halls of an unmarried duke.” His words hung in the air, heavy with accusation.
“Quite arrogant of you to think the ladies would solely be here for you, don’t you think, Your Grace?” Isabella challenged, a brow raised as she crumpled the fabric of her yellow dress in her fists.
The duke then took an intimidating step towards her, but she wasn’t going to stand down. He would have to agree to their demands.
He parted his lips to speak, but before the sound of any consonant could flow from his lips, a groan of pain from the right of her commanded his attention.
The two rushed toward Lady Kendrick with outstretched arms, holding her from toppling over.
“Oh, Cassian, you left this old woman standing for so long. I cannot feel my hip,” Lady Kendrick cried.
