“Darling?”
She turned, staring at the man in the doorway. The Duke of Foxdrey stood tall with that teasing smirk he wore so well turning up the corners of his mouth. She supposed some women might find it charming.
Isobel would be in her grave long before she ever found the man who called her a feral creature charming.
“You,” she hissed.
He chuckled, stepping out onto the terrace. “You don’t sound amicable this evening. Surely you aren’t still upset over our last meeting a fortnight ago. Right, darling?”
“I know who you are now.” She should head past him and go back inside where people could see her. Where she wasn’t likely to incite another scandal. “You own an entertainment business. I can’t be seen with you. It would ruin the little reputation I have left.”
The Duke of Foxdrey chuckled. “You can’t be seen with me? I should hardly be seen with you!”
“Me?” Isobel scoffed. “Out of the two of us, I’m the one with the better reputation.”
His mouth curved. “And what about you, darling? A proper young lady does not abandon the dance floor to hide in corners. When I find one alone, I assume she is either avoiding suitors—or inviting trouble.”
“I see you still haven’t learned manners, though what else would I expect from a man who endeavors to exploit people and their weaknesses.” Isobel knew she shouldn’t let him get under her skin, but he was good at it.
She stood tall, holding her head high, prepared to march right past him and back into the ball. She was going to show the Duke of Foxdrey that his words—and the words of those in theton—couldn’t bother her. That she was better than them and their whispers.
It would be her last act before running to the monastery and not looking back on the life she left behind.
The Duke leaned back against the wall, his shoulders filling out his black tailcoat in a way that she was sure put other men to shame. “I thought you were ruined, so should it not be I who is giving the lecture on manners?”
“You? Give a lecture to me?” She scoffed, taking a step back, wanting a bit more distance between the two of them. “My reputation may have taken a hit, but it’s far from ruined.”
Not until after tonight when we lose everything.
She knew she should go back inside, needed to stop the verbal sparring with the man in front of her. Though she told her feet to move forward, they wouldn’t go. It was as simple as placing one foot in front of the other, but she couldn’t do it. Not even a single step.
I can do this. March past him. Leave him here.
Except she couldn’t.
The Duke smirked, eyeing her like he could read the thoughts running through her head. “Is your intention here tonight to find a second fiancé? Perhaps one who is willing to overlook your sordid past at the altar?”
“A rake? Speaking aboutmysordid past?” Isobel rolled her eyes. “It couldn’t be.”
“You didn’t answer my question, darling.”
“No, I’m not here for a husband. There is no help for me, but I could find my sister a good match.”
The Duke nodded, pushing off the wall, moving closer to her, the night getting warmer the less distance there was between them. “And what areyourplans?”
“Thetonisn’t for me. I don’t wish to marry a man who will only drag me back here Season after Season and force me to spendtime with the other wives who seem to have nothing better to do with their time than gossip.”
He smothered a smile. “Where will you go then?”
“A monastery.” Isobel turned her chin up, daring him to say something.
It was a dangerous game to play with him, but she found that she liked speaking with him more than she should.
“That wasn’t what I pictured when I told you to go out and claim your freedom, but I suppose that is one way of doing it.”
Isobel snorted, even though she knew it wasn’t ladylike. “I could hardly care what you thought I was going to do.”
“I’ve always thought about tempting a nun.” He smirked, getting closer to her.
