Page 11 of The Duke’s Scandal (Bluestocking Book Club #5)
“Good afternoon, Your Grace.” Lady Rosalyn bobbed a curtsy, as did Lady Isobella. “Yes, it is a very pleasant day. The sun is not too hot and whilst there are clouds, I do not think it will rain.” She exchanged a smile with her friend. “That downpour last week was quite extraordinary!”
“I was caught in it, unfortunately,” he told them, though neither of them looked at all horrified but did their best to hide their smiles.
“I was quite drenched!” He laughed and shook his head at the memory.
“Lord Galbraith – my brother-in-law – found it quite mirthful. I am sure I looked quite ridiculous!”
This made both the ladies giggle, and Amos smiled back at them, looking into Lady Isobella’s eyes and thinking to himself just how much they lightened whenever she smiled. With her copper curls and hazel eyes, she had a beauty all of her own, and Amos could not help but be drawn to her.
“I must also make certain to apologize to you for the first time we met in this park, Lady Rosalyn,” he continued, before anything more could be said.
“I know that I have apologized to Lady Isobella and did ask her to pass it on to you also, but I think it right that I tell you in person just how sorry I am for not only jumping to conclusions but also speaking to you in the manner I did. ”
Lady Rosalyn smiled at him. “There is no need for further apology, Your Grace,” she assured him. “I thank you for it, however.”
He nodded, then glanced at Lady Isobella. After the conversation with Lord Galbraith last evening, he found himself all the more certain that this was the lady he wanted to begin to pursue. “Might I walk with you for a time?”
“I must excuse myself.” Lady Rosalyn gave no reason for this and clearly did not notice Lady Isobella’s instantly flared eyes, giving him a nod of her head.
“Lady Isobella’s sister in law, Lady Granville, is just over there.
” She directed him to where two ladies sat on a bench near them, deep in conversation.
“So long as you are not too far from her, I am sure all will be well. I will tell Lady Granville that you are walking with Lady Isobella, so they know where she is gone.”
“I thank you.” Sensing that the lady had a purpose in her absence, Amos gave her a broad smile, silently thanking her for her absence. “Lady Isobella, should you like to follow this path? I can see that it leads around the park in a small circle, and we will not go out of sight of Lady Granville.”
Lady Isobella nodded but did not smile, casting a look over her shoulder towards Lady Rosalyn before taking his offered arm.
“If you do not wish to, then I would be glad to return you to Lady Granville’s company.” Not wanting her to feel in any way obliged, Amos waited for her to look up at him, relieved when a smile crossed her face.
“I should be glad to walk with you,” she said quietly. “I am only surprised that Lady Rosalyn had to step away, but mayhap she has seen another acquaintance.”
Or mayhap she wishes for us to walk together, Amos thought silently, his lips curving. “Tell me, Lady Isobella, what is it like to be a bluestocking?”
She stopped short, pulling him back as he looked down at her, wondering at her surprise. When she said nothing, a flush touched his cheeks.
“Did I say something to upset you?”
“No, not at all.” Blinking quickly, she shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. “No one has ever asked me such a direct question before.”
He swallowed. “I hope I am not too forward in my questions.”
Her smile returned. “Not in the least. If you are genuinely interested, then I would be glad to share with you.”
With relief pouring into him and a gentle pleasure in his heart when she took his arm again, Amos nodded. “Please. I should very much like to know.”
“It is difficult.” Her eyes lifted to his, but then returned to the path as they walked slowly along it.
“I have such a love of reading and of learning, my desire to further what I know near insatiable at times… but to know that society, on the whole, despises ladies such as myself makes it very trying indeed.”
“I can imagine there must be a trial in that,” he murmured, looking at her. “Society has many difficult opinions, does it not?”
Her lips lifted, but there was a sadness there. “Indeed.” She took a breath and then smiled. “I have been blessed with good friends, however. Friends who are very much like me.”
“Oh?”
She looked up at him, her eyes shining. “We have managed to use our intelligence to solve a few mysteries this Season. That has been a blessing.”
A little surprised, Amos returned her smile, thinking all the more highly of her. Using her intelligence and wit to help others was remarkable indeed. “And have you always been interested in reading and the like?”
Interest sparked in her eyes. “No, not always. I only began to read a few years ago, when… well, when I returned from the London Season. My mother resides in the house still, along with my brother and his wife. During the winter, I began to read and that, I suppose, built a love for learning within my heart. I read so very much, my mother would often berate me for having a book at the dining table!” Red infused her cheeks.
“I should not want you to think me improper but – ”
Amos laughed quietly, making her smile. “It is very improper, Lady Isobella, but I can well understand it. My own sister would sometimes take the novel she was reading to the dining room when she was breaking her fast. My father would be quite irritated whenever she did such a thing, but it did not stop her!”
The sound of her laughter mingling with his made Amos’ heart twist. It was such a beautiful sound, and his interest in her grew in an instant.
No longer could he hold himself back, nor did he wish to hold himself back from her.
If there was an interest there – and there most certainly was – then why did he need to worry what society might think of him calling upon her to take tea?
“Lady Isobella,” he began, stopping in his walk and turning to look at her. “I was wondering if you would permit me to call upon you one afternoon.”
The smile on her face instantly disappeared, the light in her eyes fading to shadow. There was no immediate smile, no blush darkening her cheeks. Instead – and much to his confusion and doubt – she appeared upset at his remark, given the way she turned her gaze from his, her eyebrows lowering.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace! Lady Isobella, good afternoon to you also!”
Before she could answer him, before anything more could be said, a gentleman strode towards them across the grass, his eyes fixed on Lady Isobella.
“I see that you are both enjoying a walk,” Lord Preston said although his gaze was fixed to the lady instead of turning to them both. “A fine day for it, I quite agree!”
Amos cleared his throat, wondering how he might tell Lord Preston that he was interrupting the conversation between himself and the lady, only for Lady Isobella to speak and interrupt him.
“It is, yes,” she said, removing her hand from his arm entirely. “I was, however, about to return to my sister in law, for we will soon have to make our way back to the house in preparation for this evening.”
“And what occasion is it that you are attending?” Lord Preston wanted to know, shifting his stance slightly so that he looked away from Amos and towards Lady Isobella instead. “Might I be fortunate enough to be attending the very same one, I wonder?”
When she smiled, Amos noticed there was no brightness in her expression, no warmth there any longer. His question about calling upon her appeared to have brought about more shadow than sunshine.
“It is the Marquess of Devon’s ball,” she said, as Lord Preston let out a loud exclamation. “I have heard it is always an exceptional evening.”
“You have heard correctly!” Lord Preston said, enthusiasm in every word. “Then I shall make certain to find you there and sign my name to one of your dances, of course.”
Her smile did not linger. “You are very kind, Lord Preston.”
“I shall return you now to Lady Granville,” Amos interjected, aware that he was bringing a sharp end to the conversation between them but, at the very same time, disliking just how forward Lord Preston had been to not only interrupt them but speak only to Lady Isobella thereafter! “Do excuse us, Lord Preston.”
The lady smiled briefly and then, much to Amos’ relief, took his arm again. They walked in silence, a tension there that had not been there before. Amos could not understand it, wondering what it was he had done that had shattered the growing connection between them both.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” As they drew near to Lady Granville, Lady Isobella stopped and then took her hand from his arm. “I enjoyed walking with you today.”
The question on his mind, the one he wanted to ask her, stayed firmly behind his lips.
“Am I to see you this evening?” she ventured, looking up at him and then away just as quickly. “Are you to attend the ball?”
“I am, yes.” Taking a breath, he pressed his lips together and then smiled. “If I might be as bold as Lord Preston, would I also be able to sign your dance card?”
“But of course.” The answer came quickly enough, but there was no expression of happiness on her face, no enthusiasm in her response. “Thank you, Your Grace. Good afternoon.”
Amos watched her as she walked away, seeing Lady Granville smile at her and then look towards him.
With a nod, he turned on his heel and made his way directly back towards his carriage, having no interest in lingering here any longer.
For whatever reason, asking to call upon her had broken their connection apart, seeming to upset her instead of pleasing her.
Scowling, Amos rubbed one hand over his face as he walked, ignoring every other gentleman and lady in the park.
What had he done that would make the thought of him coming to call so very dreadful?
And why, he considered, did he feel her rejection so very painfully?