Isabella’s lips twisted. “I suppose I’ll live out my days as a torrid spinster who couldn’t even elope properly.”
Claudia’s face fell. “Don’t even jest about that, my lady. You are not at fault in any of this. Lord Wistenberry coerced you to run away with him.”
“He did,” Isabella concurred. “But that doesn’t mean I should have gone, or that I won’t receive all the blame and censure for it.”
“It’s just not fair,” Claudia said, obviously irritated on Isabella’s behalf.
“No one said life was,” Isabella returned gently. “At least I’ve accepted my fate.”
Without anything else to say, Claudia fell silent, for which Isabella was grateful. For all that she might put on a brave front, inside she was quaking with nerves about her future.
Or rather, a lack thereof, for a lonely existence was all that stretched before her.
Hoping to focus her attention on something a little less melancholy, she asked, “How did I even get here?”
“Mr. Claymoore, my lady,” her maid replied. “He arrived with Mr. Montgomeryand a man named Rutherfordearlier this morning.” She lowered her voice and held her hand up to her mouth as if imparting something extremely confidential. “They’ve been closeted with Lord Liverpool ever since.” Isabella had to roll her eyes as Claudia actually glanced about the room before adding in a whisper, “What was it like in France?”
As if choosing to reply for her, Isabella’s legtook up a persistentthrobbing. With agrimace, sheanswered, “Painful.” With that, she rose to her feet to test her weight. Her leg screamed in agony for a moment, but after she took a few small steps, the pressure began to ease. When she thought she would be well enough to walk without assistance, she turned to Claudia. “I should like to get dressed and go have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Hopper.”
Her maid stood,forehead wrinkled in confusion. “But what about the earl? He might wish to invite you to his quarters—”
Isabella waved her hand. “He’sobviouslypreoccupied with other matters. I shouldn’t like to disturb him.”
Claudiabobbed a light curtsy. “In that case, I’m sure Herb and Ethel will be more than happy to see you.”
Isabella smiled, perhaps a bit wistfully. “And I, them.”
***
Half an hour later, whenIsabellawalked into theservants’dining hall, shewas greeted with an exclamation and a hearty embrace from Mrs. Hopper. “It’ssogood to see you, my lady!” She nodded toward Claudia, who stood beside her. “I’m sure your maidtold you thatwe were all terribly concerned.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “I daresay itmakesmy hearthappyto see youup and about after such a terrible ordeal.”
“It’s certainlya reliefto be back on English soil,” Isabella replied.
Ethel huffed. “No doubt those French frogs weren’t very hospitable!”
Isabella thought of the smugglers milling about the harbor and said noncommittally, “On the contrary, they were quite friendly with certain visitors.”
At this, Mr. Hopper chortled. “I’ve had several positive interactions with the French in the past. Of course,” he amended. “I’ve given up that particular trade in recent months, ever since the war started to turn rather deadly. Too much risk involved.”
Isabella thought of her bandaged leg. “Indeed, Mr. Hopper.It’sdefinitelynot an experience I should wish to repeat.”
While dinner was filled with laughter and merriment, Isabella found that although her spirits were a bit more revived, there was still something…missing.
Once the meal had concluded, Isabella rose to her feet. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to take a walk.”
Mrs. Hopper looked at her kindly. “Of course, dear. Fresh air does wonders for a melancholy heart.”
Isabella was a bit taken aback. She hadn’t realized she’d worn heremotionsso plain to see, but apparently she had.
She wasn’t even sure where she might go, but she found herself heading for the bastions. She didn’t think there was any restriction on her movements now that Simon was off in France, but she’d seen quite enough of the sea to last a while.
Isabella gravitated toward the place she’d last been with Ridge—the Smuggler’s City, notwithstanding.
As the sun began to dip into the sky, she gripped the stone ledge and recalled Ridge and those sensual caresses. If she closed her eyes, she could almost feel his hot mouth closing around her nipple…
Her eyes popped open on a short burst of air, the fantasy all too real.She glanced out over the water and found it hard to imagine that not even a full day had passed since she’d stood in this very spot, so much had happened since then.
But now that she was back here, andhadfound a moment of solitude to reflect on everything, she was flooded with memories of her time with Ridge. How she yearned for him to take her in his arms and kiss her until all the unpleasantness of the past twenty-four hours melted away.
