Madame Renault giggled and wrapped the measuring ribbon around Isabelle’s hips, pulling it tight against the hoops beneath her skirt. “I will need a better measurement without these skirts on. You may go into the private room and I will be with you in a moment.”
Isabelle nodded and stepped down from the pedestal, her stomach turning.
While she hadn’t expected her arrival in England to be smooth, she also didn’t think that she would make enemies within a day.
Three
“Well, Stanton, if I am to find two men to marry the women under my care, there is no better way to start the day than with a glass of brandy.” Felix swirled the amber liquid in the crystal glass.
Though the glass had barely more than a drop in it, Felix suspected he would need a drink before he and his childhood friend, Darcy Surwicke, Duke of Stanton, stepped into the drawing room.
Stanton laughed and leaned against the bookshelf in the study, one ankle crossed over the other. “You are a braver man than I. You know Lady Victoria has been declared one of the most desirable debutantes of the season.”
“Unfortunately, my charge, Miss Alden, is one of the least.” Felix drank the brandy and set the glass beside the decanter on his desk.
“She cannot be horrific. My servants have heard from yours that she is a spirited young lady.”
“When we arrived at the estate yesterday morning, she declared London the dreariest city she had ever seen. I asked her what formed that opinion and she told me that the paintings of London I kept in my hall, when combined with William Blake’s poetry, were more than enough to lead her to the assumption. Felix pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the growing ache in his head at the thought of having to convince a gentleman of thetonto marry Miss Alden.
“Well, I would say that she is right. I have traveled from one country to another, and I would say that we have little to look at. There are too many buildings and shrubs. Not nearly enough variety in the people.”
Felix lifted his head and gave the duke a dry look. “Then you will be the one to seek a husband for her. If you know her heart, you should have an easier time of it than I will.”
“I was blessed with brothers. I do not have to partake in this show.”
“Your mother wishes to see you married at the end of this season.” Felix smirked and tilted his head toward the towering white doors that led to the hallway. “You could march out there, drop to one knee, and declare your love for Miss Alden and solve our problems.”
“I will do no such thing. You know I have no intention to marry.”
“Neither does she.” Felix strode toward the door, Stanton trailing behind him. “The pair of you would be a perfect match, although I must warn you that she appears to have never heard of propriety. She seems to be incapable of holding her tongue.”
“Then it seems you have a challenging task at hand. I will not be the one to stand in the way of your matchmaking prowess by proposing to Miss Alden before the season has truly begun.”
Stanton was quite amused by the prospect of Felix’s torture. Felix considered telling his friend to return to his own home in town and leave him be, but if he was to survive an afternoon of inconsequential men begging for his sister’s hand, he needed a partner to step in when he grew irritated.
And irritated he knew he would grow.
If only Victoria had been of marrying age when Father was alive.
“I suppose it is time to face the dragons that linger and wait for us in the drawing room.” Felix glanced at his pocket watch one last time. “The first suitor is due to arrive in ten minutes, and since you refuse to be so kind as to save me from this burden, it is time we proceed.”
Stanton finished his brandy and led the way to the door. “I suspect it will be far easier to marry this woman off than you have imagined. Some of the men in port have said she is quite the compelling creature.”
“She did not speak around them. They would have changed their minds rapidly if she had.”
“You give this young woman too much credit, Windham. She cannot be as fearsome as you make her seem.”
Felix shook his head as the servants pulled open the doors to the drawing room. If Stanton thought that this morning’s meeting would be a matter of simply finding Miss Alden a husband, he was in for a rude awakening.
Felix was certain that he would have to search the entiretonbefore he found one man who was willing to marry Miss Alden. Her beauty would lure men in like a siren, and then she would sing her song and they would perish with the lashing of her sharp tongue.
Miss Alden looked up as they entered the room, putting her needlework to the side and smoothing down her skirts as she stood. She dipped into a low curtsy as Edith’s upper lip curled.
The etiquette lessons this morning must not have gone well.
“Your Graces.” Miss Alden’s gaze turned to Stanton, her smile growing wider. “Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you. Lady Victoria has spoken at length about the romps you and the Duke of Windham had as children.”
Victoria looked at Felix with a laugh as Edith scowled. “I apologize, brother. I could not help myself. Miss Alden could notbelieve that you had once been a young man who smiled. I had to assure her on several occasions that it was true.”
