Isabella awokea bit later than usual the next morning. The excitement at Sandown must have been more tiring than she imagined—or else it was Ridge and his sensual ministrations that hadkept her in dreamland. Her cheeks heated at the memory,herdesireto see him again more urgent than she wanted to admit. At leastshe had the perfect excuse for seeking him out at the earliest opportunity. She wonderedhow Ridge had fared with his prisoner,andshe yearned to discoverif he’d learned anythingof import.
She wasjustputting thefinishing touches on her hair whenClaudia walked in.
“What are you doing out of bed?” Isabella asked.
Claudia curtsied. “Not to worry, my lady. I’m feeling much improved after yesterday. I’m more than capable of resuming my duties.”
Isabella eyed her critically, but after a moment, she nodded her head. “Very well.” She looked back at the mirror and sighed. “I daresay I’ve been having trouble taming this one curl.”
Claudia moved forward, her satisfied smile reflected in the glass as she took up the pins and began to fashion Isabella’s hair. “I daresay there’s been quite a bit of excitement going on this morning.”
Isabella’s heart leaped. Hadsomething happened with Simon?“What is it?”
“Oh, it’s nothing bad, my lady.” The maid lowered her voice, as if what she was about to impart was a highly regarded secret. “It’s just that the Prime Minister is here!”
This made Isabella’s eyebrows rise. “What’s he doing here?” She wasn’t sure why she was surprised. After all, she was a guest at the castle where he was the Lord Warden. If anyone had a right to be here, it was Robert Jenkinson, the Earl of Liverpool.
“Mr. Claymoore wrote to him in London and explained what happened the day you went to Kingsdown,” Claudiaexplained. “He arrived early this morning with a mannamed Montgomery.” She shuddered. “Hewould be dreadfully handsome, if it wasn’t for the chilling, direct stare in those icyblue eyes.”
AllIsabella could think of was that her time with Ridge had come to an abrupt end. “Where are they now?” she asked quietly.
“They’ve been in Liverpool’s salon with Mr. Claymoore since their arrival this morning. However, the earl personally invited you to supper this evening. Shall I press the mauve gown?”
Since Isabella was going to be entertaining one of the most important members of Parliament, she wanted something extra special. “Actually, I have something else in mind.” She opened her dressing table and removed the gold ribbon that Ridge had purchased for her. She held it out to Claudia. “Would it be possible to add that to one of my gowns by this evening?”
“Of course, my lady.” Her maid eyed it critically. “And I know just the dressthatwillcomplementthis perfectly.”
“I trust your judgment, whatever it might be.” Isabella rose to her feet. “I’lljusthead down to the kitchens to see if Mrs. Hopper might need—”
But her maid was already shaking her head. “Oh no, my lady. Ethel said that you weren’t to come downstairs while the master was in residence. She said that it wouldn’t be proper.”
“I see.” Isabella sighed, but her presence in the kitchens, rubbing elbows with the hired helpwouldbeinappropriate in London,andhighly frowned upon.
As a viscountess, and the daughter of a marquess, it was apparent that social class distancing was adhered to, even in a remote setting on the coast of Kent. While Mr. and Mrs. Hopper might have allowed her close association before, the line of distinction was now drawn. Unfortunately, Isabella had grown more accustomed to a common life in the past few days than she’d ever had as a lady of society.
But she couldn’t ignore who she was, even though she might wish with every beat of her heartthat she could be someone else.
***
“What an exciting adventure you’ve had, Claymoore.” Ridge shifted his gaze to Logan, who worehis generally, smug expression. “I’m almost jealous.”
Ridge snorted as Logan took a sip of his brandy. While many would think it was a bit early in the day for spirits, not even noon, the man had always indulged in his own pursuits.
Enclosed in Liverpool’s salon, the three of them had taken position about the room. “Really, Montgomery,” Lord Liverpool chidedgently. “We are here to discuss matters of state, not to torment our fellow agents of the Crown. Try to remember that we are supposed to be workingtogether.”
“Very well.” Logan gave a long-suffering sigh. “I will try to be on my best behavior.”
“Now,” the earl began, “Let’s discuss this prisoner you have stored in my castleat the moment.While the personal attacks that you included in your letter to Montgomery, as well as the fire have all been rather distressing, pray tell me you have learned something useful through all of this.”
“I have.” Ridgenodded. Herecalled the moment he’dwavedhis bottle ofvinaigrette under hiscaptive’s nose. The moment the man hadwoken up, he was horrifiedat finding himself in the dungeon of the Lord Warden.Regrettably, Ridge hadn’t even had to throw one punch before his tongue had loosened.“After learning that he could be hanged for treason alongside his master, Wistenberry’sformervalet was rather forthcoming with information.”
“Indeed.” Liverpool folded his hands over his midsection. “Do tell.”
Ridge was more than happy to comply. “John explained that Wistenberry hadcapturedan English spy, onewho’dhelped to turn thetide of the war,convincing several countries to reenter the battle against Napoleon. Inreturnfor the spy,Wistenberrybarteredwith the French military forsafe passage through theContinent, along with a rather healthy sum of payment upon delivery.”
He withdrew the packet from inside his jacket and tossed it down on a table in the middle of the room. “There’s about twenty thousand pounds in there, not including the dowry that I removed which should be returned toLady Isabella.If nothing else, it should take the sting out of being a widow and the scandal she will have to contend with when this is all over.”
Liverpool nodded. “Very commendable of you, Claymoore.”
