Milton beamed, his hands curling into fists and showing off the thick glossy pink lines that were a sharp contrast to his sun-kissed skin. “I did. I would never lie about something as serious as a bear fight.”
Felix rolled his eyes. “Hewonthem when he did not listen to me about how to properly pull in the boat lines. Decided to wrap a wet rope around his hands before it was time to pull. The boat shifted back out into the water. He got those and a dip in a lake for his troubles.”
“Ah, so youarea liar to your core,” Isabelle quipped, her tone teasing as she drew back. “I suppose we will have to do something about that.”
“And what shall you recommend for rehabilitation?” Milton leaned closer to her like he was truly invested in what she had to say.
Felix didn’t like it. He could see the way his friend looked at Miss Alden. If he wasn’t careful, there would be a wedding before the month was out. He would have to arrange one while still trying to find Victoria a husband of her own. It would be better to wait until the end of the season to have them both engaged. He could take meetings with potential suitors at the same time instead of spending endless weeks going back and forth with men he didn’t particularly like.
He cleared his throat. “I should think that we will only impose on you for another day or so, Milton, and then we will take our leave for London.”
“Your visit is the furthest thing from an imposition I could imagine. Especially since you have brought me a woman as spirited as Miss Alden. I dare say we shall have some good fun.”
Miss Alden smirked and resumed her supper once more. “I would think that you would much rather spend time with Duke Windham. Once the season begins, you will be swarmed with young ladies.”
“And I shall beat them all off with a stick and fight my way back to you,” Milton said, his tone dramatic as he stood and mimed fighting off women vying for his attention.
“Wild bears could not keep you away, could they?”
Milton paused in his fight, looking down at her like he was half in love with her already. “Are you denying my ability to fight a bear?”
Felix sighed and looked up at the ceiling, wishing that he had retired to his room the moment supper had begun so he wouldn’t have had to suffer Milton’s foolishness. “You will not fight bears. Miss Alden, do not entertain his wild fantasies.”
For the first time that evening, Isabelle looked at him for more than a second and the world around him tipped just slightly. He cleared his throat and sat taller, his attention returning to his dinner. The heat of her stare lingered.
“I should think that you would be glad I have no intention of behaving like an angry goose with your friend.” Her tone was sharp, each word a barb that was designed to sink beneath his skin.
Felix ground his teeth together and looked up at her. “I should be impressed if you were to maintain this decorum when we go to London to find you a suitor. You have the manners of a wild animal and lack the beauty to warrant such behavior.”
The color drained from her face and her mouth set in a hard line. She looked at Milton and gave him a small smile. “Excuse me, my Lord, I feel I am rather unwell.”
Miss Alden fled from the room without another word, her steps slow and measured until she reached the door. Once she was through them, Felix was certain that he heard her running.
“I should ensure she is well enough to return to her room,” Victoria said, standing and pushing her chair back. “Thank you for the lovely evening.”
As she left the room, Felix knew that even attempting to see Miss Alden and Victoria married by the end of the season would be a triumph.
They were far more likely to push away every man in London and run away as spinsters together.
Eleven
Isabelle traveled through the halls as fast as she could, her skirts hiked up and her corsets far too tight for her liking. It felt impossible to breathe and the walls were closing in around her.
She ran faster as the sound of her own name echoed through the grand house behind her. Maids stepped out of her way as she ran to the glass doors that led to the sprawling garden.
Though the rain was still pouring down, she pushed the doors open and ran outside. Mud sloshed up her ankles, staining the hem of her dress. She was certain that the Dowager Duchess would admonish her for it, but that was a matter for another time.
“Isabelle, wait!” the soft voice called above the roar of the rain.
She didn’t slow. If anything, she only ran faster across the cobblestones that lined paths through the garden. She followed the winding spirals until she came out on the other side.
A lake sat in front of her, a little dock on the east side with a boat rocking beside it. She paused to take deep breaths, her hands on her hips as she tried to open her lungs as wide as possible. Her breath came in ragged inhales as she stared up at the gray clouds.
Thunder boomed in the distance, but she cared very little about it. Instead, she stood there allowing the rain to soak her to the bone before she walked down to the dock and sat on the edge. Her feet dangled just above the water as the falling rain created countless ripples on the surface.
“Did you not hear me calling for you?” Victoria asked as she sat beside Isabelle. “I know my brother is a brute, but surely you are not allowing what he has said to bother you.”
“Only a touch.” Isabelle gave her a small smile as she reached up and removed the pins from her hair. “I should think that there is extraordinarily little to be done about your brother, but that is the first conversation I have truly enjoyed with a man since I arrived in England, and he was quick to ruin it. I cannot guess at what he means by doing this.”
