Isobel let out a quivering breath at the mention of her sister’s future. She knew she had failed. Keeping Joan safe and allowing her to live a life without pressure was the only reason why Isobel agreed to the marriage.
And now, Joan would have the same weight hoisted onto her shoulders.
Father scoffed, his hands clasped behind his back. “This was the one chance we had to make sure the family was going to survive, and you ruined it.”
Joan sighed. “Father, that’s not fair. Isobel hardly knew Lord Sinclair, and she was still going to try and marry him for the family. You can’t blame her when he was the one who changed his mind.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Father rounded on her. “And what haveyoudone for the family? You could marry. You could get a husband with more money than your sister and yet you’ve done nothing.”
“Father!” Isobel flew from her seat, getting in between Father and Joan. “You and I agreed thatwewould fix this. You promised that Joan didn’t have to be involved.”
“When you can’t do the task you were given, she can.” Father stepped closer to her, a hint of brandy on his breath. “One task is all I gave you, Isobel, and you could hardly do that.”
“One task that even you couldn’t secure!” Isobel snapped, stepping closer to Father, hands balling into fists.
“We never should’ve had you,” Father spat, venom and hatred lacing his words. “If you were a son, I wouldn’t have to deal with your inability to obey your father.”
“Well then I guess you’ll be happy to learn that as soon as Joan is married to a good man, I’ll leave for the monastery, and you won’t have to deal with me again.”
Father laughed, his eyes gleaming. He nearly doubled over with laughter as he shook his head. “If you think you’re going to get away from me, then you’re mistaken.”
“You don’t want me around, so why bother holding onto me?”
“You’ll make me more money at a brothel than you would at a monastery.”
Joan gasped, tears springing to her eyes and a broken sound coming out of her. Isobel couldn’t do anything. She was rooted to the spot, left staring at Father and wondering who he was.
He smirked, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Your mother may have left us years ago, but you at least inherited her beauty. Men will pay a good deal of money for you.”
He had never been a kind man, often using his words and manipulation to cut her down, but not once before had he ever threatened something so horrid. Though, the scent of alcohol on his breath might have aided in the particular cruelty he was displaying.
I’m not safe here. Joan isn’t safe here. I must do something to save Joan. Something that means he’s never going to be able to get his hands on her.
She had no doubt that Father would sell them to work off his debts, and while she could endure that life, Joan wouldn’t be able to.
A knock came at the door before one of the footmen entered the room. “The Duke of Foxdrey is here for you, Lord Leyton.”
Father scowled and tugged down his waistcoat, adjusting his shirt as well. “Send him in at once.”
The footman left the room a moment later before reappearing with the Duke of Foxdrey behind him.
Isobel did her best to avoid making eye contact with the duke, returning her attention to the half-finished canvas.
But when she felt his gaze burn into the side of her head, she looked up. His eyes widened, nostrils flaring.
So he had come.
A strange calm settled over her chest. The waiting—her father’s shouting, his threats, his pacing—was finished. Whatever reckoning was due, it had arrived at last.
Andrew stared at her for a moment, trying to process the woman in front of him. He didn’t know what his wild cat was doing in that house, but he heard the shouting before he walked into the room, the threats of sending her to a brothel echoing through the hall.
His little darling would eat men alive if she was sent to one.
She had to be Lord Leyton’s daughter. There was a familiar pattern of freckles across their cheeks, and she certainly got her height from him, but the similarities ended there.
He plans to sell his daughters to a brothel to settle his debt. What a dreadful man.
Andrew knew little about this family, but he understood plainly that he didn’t want to see her living that kind of life. He didn’t want that life for any woman that did not choose it for herself. It wasn’t for women like her who were so full of fire. They would burn too bright in a dark place like that and then they would eventually lose their light.
