“Would one of you please enlighten me,” Lady Margaret insisted.
Since Mr. Chilcott looked unlikely to do so, it fell on Anthony’s shoulders to inform Isabella’s mother that Mr. Roberts’s definition of comfort was likely different from their own and that Isabella would in fact become his maid.
“I can’t believe you knew this and failed to tell me,” Lady Margaret said, addressing her husband.
“I know how fond you are of Mr. Roberts and didn’t want to place him in a negative light unless I knew that what His Grace had told me was true. But when Mr. Roberts denied the accusation I ... well, I believed him.”
Lady Margaret closed her eyes momentarily. When she opened them again she looked at Anthony. “Are you telling us the truth, Your Grace, or is this a trick to have your way?”
“On my father’s grave, I swear to you that I am telling you exactly what Mr. Roberts told me.” He paused, regarding them both in turn. “As I’ve said, I love Isabella with all my heart and know that she feels the same about me. Please don’t get between us the way Lord Deerford got between the two of you, but give us your blessing and let us be happy—I beg you.”
“We cannot let her marry Mr. Roberts,” Mr. Chilcott murmured. He turned to his wife with distress. “I know that we have an agreement with him and that he won’t be the least bit pleased if we go back on our word, but I cannot in good conscience allow Isabella to marry him when there’s a chance he will demean her in such a way. If he’s really looking to treat her like a servant, then it’s no wonder that he was so adamant about her being the judicious and trustworthy sort when I initially suggested he court her. I’m sorry, my love, but I will not sacrifice her happiness like this—not even for you.”
Lady Margaret held silent for a moment as she gazed back at her husband with misty eyes. Composing herself, she eventually said, “I haven’t made your life easy, Walter. In fact, I’ve many a time wondered if you wouldn’t have been better off with someone else ... someone less spoiled.” He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a staying hand. “You’ve gone to great lengths to make my life as comfortable as possible, providing me with a maid when there were times when we could barely afford to put food on the table. And now, with Isabella, when you suggested we seek out my parents and ask them to aid us in finding her a good match and I refused ... you gave in to my selfish demands—demands that should have no bearing on the lives of our children.
“What happened, happened to me, not to her. She deserves to know of her heritage, as does Jamie—they both deserve to marry whoever they want, the same way I did.” She met Anthony’s gaze then and, reaching out her hand, clasped Anthony’s with her own. “We will tell her everything, and once that is done, you may make your offer.”
The sigh of relief that Anthony expelled in response to those words was immense. “Thank you, both of you. I know how difficult it was for you to make this decision, and I am also aware that there are a few things that concern you. Rest assured that you will never want for anything, and neither will your daughters. We will be family, and as such, we will take care of each other.” A thought struck him and he anxiously said, “Speaking of which, my mother asked me to extend an invitation for tea to Isabella on her behalf. Perhaps I can persuade you to join us?”
There was a wariness about Lady Margaret’s eyes, telling Anthony that she wasn’t quite ready to venture back into the upper crests of society. The lady within her, however, must have found it difficult to refuse without appearing rude, for she answered in the affirmative. “We would love to—thank you.”
“And tomorrow afternoon I shall have a word with Mr. Roberts and explain the lay of the land,” Mr. Chilcott said.
“I’ll be happy to join you for that discussion if you like.” Anthony rose to his feet, eager to get home and tell his mother the good news. Offering Lady Margaret a perfectly executed bow followed by a handshake for Mr. Chilcott, Anthony headed for the door.
Pausing, he turned and said, “If you don’t mind, I’d rather you don’t speak of this to Isabella just yet—I’d like to ensure that everything regarding Mr. Roberts is aboveboard before we start celebrating her engagement to someone else. A courtesy, if you will.” The Chilcotts both agreed and were complimenting his thoughtfulness when the parlor door opened and Isabella popped her head inside. Her eyes widened when she registered Anthony’s presence. “Your Grace,” she said as she entered the parlor and dropped a curtsy. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
Is that annoyance in her voice?
Yes,Anthony decided.Yes, it is. He offered her his most dazzling smile in return. “There was actually something which I wished to talk to you about,” he said. “But since you weren’t at home when I called, your parents were kind enough to offer me tea while I waited for your return. But now that you’re here, perhaps you’d like to join me outside for a moment? The weather is beautiful, and I would love an opportunity to admire your garden a little closer.”
Isabella’s eyes flittered first to her father and then to her mother. Finding no help from either, her mouth opened in a gape.
Amused by her astonishment, Anthony stepped toward her and offered his arm. “Shall we?”
It took a second or two for her to react. Without a word, she gave a slight nod, placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and allowed him to escort her from the room while he thanked the Chilcotts for their hospitality.
Outside, the late afternoon sun was casting everything in a dreamy glow, including Isabella, whose hair shone with streaks of gold, while her face radiated a vitality reminiscent of the outdoors. Anthony’s heart thudded in his chest as he stopped their progress toward a low stone bench and turned to face her instead, deciding that it was too chilly to sit. “You were very distressed at the modiste’s earlier today,” he said. “Would you like to tell me why?”
“Not particularly,” she muttered, avoiding his gaze. Taking a deep breath, she expelled it with a loud sigh. “Why can’t you just do as I ask and leave me in peace?”
“Because I believe you’re worth fighting for,” he murmured.
Her head shot up at that pronouncement and she stared back at him for a long moment, searching for an answer to some determining question.
“You resent me for leaving without a word of warning, I think. And I believe Lady Harriett also plays a part.” She looked away again, cheeks flushed and jaw clenched. “First of all, the reason for my sudden departure was a family emergency. My aunt suffered a stroke, so my mother and I hastily went to see how she was faring. Since my cousins had not yet arrived, I took it upon myself to see to all the necessities until they were in a position to take over. I meant to write and offer an explanation, but I’m afraid I forgot, with everything else that was happening around me.”
She was looking up at him now with quivering lips and watery eyes, and Anthony knew that she did not fault him for his actions. She was just as kind, selfless and loving as he knew she was. “I’m so sorry,” she said, reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze of sympathy. “You’re a good man, and I ... I’m afraid I thought the worst of you.”
A wisp of hair had come loose and was fluttering gently against her cheek. Anthony brushed it aside with his fingers and tucked it behind her ear. “You thought I’d abandoned you, is that it?”
She nodded wistfully.
“And I’m guessing Lady Harriett was there to reinforce this doubt?”
“She told me that the two of you are to be married and that you’d left for London in order to make the necessary preparations.”
Bloody hell!
