Husband and wife shared a glance, and then Mrs. Hopper chuckled. “It’s a rather funny story. You tell it, Herb.”
Until then, Isabella realized she hadn’t even known their Christian names, but then she’d always been raised among the nobility who referred to their servants by their last names. As always, that line between employer and employee had to be drawn.
But as she sat here with these common folk, Isabellafoundthat shepreferred the simplicity of conversing with whomever one wished.Korina had told her it was like that in America, but she hadn’t really thought anything of it…until now.But she found thatshe didn’t have toconcern herself overholding her cup at a wrong angle orworrywhether she was takinginappropriatesizedbites for a lady. And never would she have gone anywhere with her hair unbound or without a bonnet, her mother under the constant fear that her pale skin would gain an unsightly freckle.
The changewas rather refreshing.
As Herb began to speak, she turned her full attention to him. “I suppose I should start with a bit of history.” He winked. “WalmerCastle was built as one of three forts designed to protect the Kent coastline from attack.Deal Castle andSandown Castle are the other two, although the latter is sadly deteriorating and no longer fit for habitation.I fear these days it’s mainly used for illegal smuggling.” He took a sip of his tea.“As for Walmer,Lord Liverpoolneeded someone to look after the castle in his absence. Since he’s seldom in residence,it’s been a holiday of sorts for Ethel andme, as our little house in the village is nothing compared to the grandeur of thiscastle.”
Isabellagrinned. “It sounds rather romantic.”
“Just wait until you tour the earl’s quarters,” Ethel piped up. “Theyare fine to be surewithits own sitting room, and even asmall library in the study. There will be plenty to keep you occupiedduring your stay here.”
Isabella pushed her eggs around her plate.At this point shedidn’t want to imaginehow long that would be.“It all sounds delightful,truly, and while I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I wonder if it would be possible togo down to the beachat some point?I used to enjoy swimming as a child.There’ssomething so…freeing about being immersed in the sea’s waves—”
“Out of the question.”
***
Ridge’scurt tonecaughtthe attention of the entire assemblage as he walked across the lawn to join them. Hetook noteof Mrs. Hopper’s disapproving look, butit wasthesuddenimage ofLadyIsabella scantilyattiredinsomethingwetandtransparentthathadquite overwhelmedall five of his senses.
“Surely there’s no harm in a brief—”Mrs. Hopper attempted to come to Isabella’s defense, and as long as he’d known the elderly couple, itcertainlyhadn’t taken long for them to fall under the lady’s spell.
Ridge set his jaw and interrupted her argument.“No. It’s too risky.”
“Even with youthereto protect me?” He slid his gaze to Isabella, whose dark eyes were sparking with challenge. “Surely you could take a gun with you?” She daintily wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Or perhaps even man one of the cannons…”
Heshook his head. “You think all of this is funny? That it’s some sort of game?”
“Of course not!” She returned hotly, throwing down her linen and rising to her feet. “Isimplythink you are giving Simon too much credit. He’s not this hardened villain that you believe him to be. He’s a coward who would run from the law instead of facing hisowncrimes.”
The other three occupants were wiseenoughto remain silent as Ridge and Isabella faced off with one another. “And yet,” he began, knowing that he was about to deliver a low blow, but one that would hopefully, get her to see reason, and hide the panic that threatened to rise to the surface whenever he imagined her coming to harm. “He was convincing enough to coerce you into running away with him.”
She gasped, her fistsvisiblytightening at her sides. “Howdareyou! That’s not fair!”
“Who said anything about life being fair?”hesnapped. “You’ve been living in a dream world, LadyWistenberry. It’s time you woke up.”
Crack!He saw the slap coming, but he didn’t try to stop her as she walked up to him and delivered the blow. Besides, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t deserved it.
Silence followed her departure, while Mr. and Mrs. Hopper and Claudia looked at everything—but him.
Fine.If they wanted to believe that he was some cruel taskmaster, then he wouldn’ttry todisillusion them. He’d made it perfectly clear that hehad beengiven a specific task, to complete a mission. So if he had to earn a fewdisapprovinglooksto accomplish his goal, then so be it.
Ridge Claymoore didn’t fail.
***
Isabella refused to the let the self-pitying tears fall. Mr. Claymoore might have been an arrogant ass just now, butwhat made her even more furious was thathe wasright.
And that was the most upsetting part ofitall.
Shehadfallen right into Simon’s trap, and for someone who wasstill rathernaïve to the ways of theworld;one slipand she could end upon aship bound for France. While Mr. Claymoorecould have been a bit more considerateof her feelings,shereminded herself that shewas a means to an end to him—andnothing more. It was hisjobto keep her safe.
In that respect, had she really expected anything less from him?
Without any true destination in mind, she headed toward the earl’s apartments.She was a bit too restless to sit still andfind something toread, but at least browsing the library might help to ease her troubled mind.
However, the moment she walked up the stairs and entered the grand hall, decorated in a lovely shade of peacock blue with several gold, gilt-edged paintings hanging on the walls,and a glass-domed ceiling in the midst of it all,she had to pause and admire her surroundings. The earl certainly had made it into a hospitable residence, bringing modern London into thesixteenth century.
