“What?” Isolde’s head snapped left to right, “Who?”
When she finally spotted the copper-haired lord blatantly looking at her, Isolde’s cheeks flamed. “Please, let’s go.”
Chuckling, Ariadne hugged her sister, “Don’t worry, I will protect you from the troublesome lord with the gall to stare at you.”
As the carriage went off, Isolde’s shoulders sagged as they went off and she looked worried. Reaching out to hold her hand, Ariadne asked, “What is bothering you?”
Isolde’s shoulders snapped back, and she forced an unbothered look on his face. “Why do you think I am worried?”
Ariadne gave her sister an eye. “I have raised you since you were born. I know all your tells.”
“I don’t?—”
“Isolde.”
The youngest seemed to fold on herself and nibbled her lips. “I-I didn’t want to tell you this, but mama is… mama might lose the house.”
“What?” Ariadne exclaimed. “When did this happen?”
“I overheard her talking to Mr. Parker yesterday,” Isolde said, mentioning their elderly butler. “I knew she didn’t want to bother you about it, nor does she want to let us know. I think Uncle Thaddeus has done something that is putting us in danger.
“Mama does not want to burden you with this, but there is only so much she can do without a husband by her side. The courts will side with Uncle, and we both know it, which is why I think Mama’s pride may be the doom of us all.”
Ariadne ground her teeth. “He must have been on one of his gambling rampages again.”
Isolde paled. “You think he bet the house?”
“He could have,” Ariadne replied. “When Cedric returns, I’ll let him know. I am sure he will find something to do about it.”
The journey to Berkeley Square was short; when they started to slow, Ariadne looked out the window to see the storefront of the sweets shop. Taking her sister’s hand, Ariadne assured her, “I will get to the bottom of this.”
An hour later, bathed, refreshed, and with a cup of tea in hand, she stepped into her drawing room to tackle the unending pile of letters and cards. Isolde was on her way back home with a basket of sweet treats from Gunther’s to share with the family.
As she sorted through the cards, another whiff of gaudy perfume had her skin crawling. Instantly, she fished out the card and ripped it open, not caring that it was addressed to Cedric.
My dear love,
It is hard to pad through the house alone, thinking of you and not having you by my side. Fondly do I remember and hold unto the moments you held me close and whispered your love in my ear. I ache to touch you again, to feed you those tender white cakes you love when I make.
I cannot wait to see you on my doorstep again, my love.
Ps, I have heard you’re married now, but you and I know, I am your true love.
The happiness Ariadne had carried with her all that day evaporated, and all started at the note with a sinking heart.
I have to believe this is a joke; Cedric will never betray me like this. If this happens again, I’ll tell him about it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Arriving home after two long days on the road for a meeting that could have been a pamphlet, Cedric stepped in, expecting to find a calm house.
He found chaos.
Jumping out of the way of two footmen carrying a length of rope out the back door, he heard shouting. Concerned, he followed the footmen, and at the lands beyond the country estate, he began to trot to where his men were gathering.
When he saw what was happening, his blood went cold. Ariadne was wading into the wide natural pond for what looked like a kitten trying to save itself while balancing on a pond lily leaf.
It was failing.
