Her inhale was shaky. “Is my father’s shipping company the only one through which you are able to ship your products to America?”
“There is no other that charges me such reasonable fees, and he is willing to lower those fees if I can get you married.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “Not only is he giving you a sum for marrying me off and giving you monthly payments for the first year, but he is going to lower the cost of using his company?”
“Yes.” Felix stood, paced over to the fire and threw another log onto it. As he sat down at the table he looked as composed as before their conversation had begun.
“I didn’t think my father would find me that difficult.”
“He does not, at least to my knowledge. What I have heard is that, after the scandal with your fiancé, he was willing to put forth whatever money was required to see you married and happy.”
Isabelle suspected there was something Windham wasn’t telling her. She could see it in the way he looked away from her and wouldn’t quite meet her eyes when he spoke.
She thought she knew everything there was about coming to England, but perhaps there was still more that her father kept contained. She wouldn’t be surprised to learn that there was. He hadn’t made his name in business without being able to keep secrets.
She sorely wished that men would stop playing games with her life and her future.
Isabelle’s throat tightened. “I wish that he did not feel the need to see me settled. I am happy on my own.”
Isabelle realized that any further questions she asked of him would not provide her with better information. She could sense the walls around him grow and rise as he shut down and closed her out. He was once again the duke.
“I doubt very much that you are.”
“Windham, do you think you know me better than I know myself?”
“I think I know that you come to life when you spend time with my sisters, and while I may not agree with the wild influence you have on them, they have not been this happy since before our father died.”
Isabelle yawned and pressed her hand to her mouth. She no longer had any desire to sit up all night and converse with him. Not if he was going to continue to hide what she needed to know about his deal with her father.
It had been bad enough snooping through her father’s things, listening to conversations, and finding out the truth about her move to England in that way.
Now a gentleman sat directly across from her who could tell her everything but was determined to conceal the truth instead.
“I think it is time we call it a night,” she said, her voice devoid of any emotion as she got up and went to sprawl on the other couch in the living room.
As she closed her eyes, she tried not to let the sting of her father’s dealings cut her too deeply.
One day I will be free.
Fourteen
Felix stared at London out of the carriage window as they rode through town to their brick townhouse. It would be the first of his family’s possessions that he would have to sell if he was unable to marry Miss Alden off to the highest bidder.
His plan for Milton to win her over was rapidly failing and there wasn’t a chance that Stanford would be willing to marry her either. While they both enjoyed her lively spirit, it was clear that neither of the men wanted to tolerate it for the rest of their God-given lives.
Evangeline groaned and stretched her legs out in front of her. “Why do I have to travel with you and Mama and Hyacinth? I should be with Victoria and Miss Isabelle.”
“You are right where you belong.” Edith folded her hands in her lap and looked at her daughter. “The other young ladies are older. It would be good for them to have some moments aloneto discuss the suitors they are going to meet now that we have arrived in London.”
Hyacinth scoffed. “I do not think I should ever marry after seeing the men who have come calling on Victoria and Miss Isabelle. They are all pompous fools with nothing of substance to them.”
Felix fought the urge to throw himself from the carriage and disown himself from his family. “You will not make a fool of this family by declaring such things in the streets, will you?”
“I might.” Hyacinth shrugged, avoiding the glare Edith sent her way. “If Miss Isabelle believes that it is better not to marry, then I think I should be studying her approach and thinking more about what kind of man I wish my future husband to be.”
He pressed his fingers to his temples as the familiar pounding restarted. “You should be glad if any man wishes marry you in the future, for you have become quite troublesome in your advancing age.”
Hyacinth gasped and ripped the pillow from behind her back, throwing it at Felix. He dodged the impact, holding back a snicker as the cushion hit Evangeline. She scowled and picked up the projectile, intending to throw it back but Edith snatched it.
