Page 19 of The Duke’s Scandal (Bluestocking Book Club #5)

“You did say it was very dark, however,” Isobella said, quickly, as Lady Clara turned her attention towards her. “How could you have seen his face?”

“Because he was so near to me,” she said, quickly.

Lady Amelia glanced at Isobella and then looked back at Lady Clara. “You told us all only a few moments ago that his head was lowered towards you, that you closed your eyes and screamed,” she said, frowning. “How could you have seen his face if your eyes were closed, if you were pulling from him?”

There came a moment’s pause, and Isobella’s heart leapt up with a sense of triumph. Lady Clara was either mistaken in her assessment that it had been the Duke of Exeter, or she was lying.

“I recognized his voice.” Lady Clara sniffed and then tossed her head. “I do not appreciate such questions, however. I know exactly what happened and – ”

“Yet you must be absolutely sure it was the Duke of Exeter,” Isobella said, breaking in. “To malign him without certainty puts you at great risk, Lady Clara.”

Lady Clara’s eyes rounded, color beginning to fade from her face. “Risk?”

“Of gossip,” Lady Amelia said firmly. “There may be those who wonder why you spoke of the Duke without being entirely sure that it was he who did such a thing. If you are wrong, if you are mistaken, then there might well be consequences for such a thing. The ton would begin to speak of you instead of him. ”

Someone snorted, and near everyone in the group turned their heads to look.

“I am sure that Lady Clara knows precisely what it was that took place,” said a young lady, her eyes flashing with the indignity of what both Amelia and Isobella had asked.

“It is astonishing to me that two ladies of the ton would ask such questions when it is clear that Lady Clara is not only distressed but greatly upset by all that has occurred. Why would you do such a thing? Why would you not merely trust her words?”

The murmurings that went around the group told Isobella that she and Lady Amelia were not receiving the support of anyone.

Undeterred, however, she returned the lady’s sharp gaze with one of her own.

“I am well aware of the difficulties that can arise from being spoken of in gossiping whispers as I am sure you are also,” she said, firmly, drawing the attention of every young lady and gentleman present.

“I will not engage in spreading any sort of gossip, but nor will I simply accept what is being said of someone without being certain that it is true. In this case, I am afraid that I cannot believe that the Duke of Exeter is as guilty as he is being purported to be, especially when he denies it.”

The lady in question tutted and looked away from Isobella in seeming distain, given the way her lip curled. “How very disappointing. One would think that solidarity would be required from young ladies of the ton. ”

“There can and should be compassion, understanding, and shared sympathy with Lady Clara, I quite agree,” Lady Amelia put in, before Isobella could respond. “That can still be offered even without believing that the Duke was responsible.”

The lady in question – someone that Isobella did not know by name – turned her sharp eyes towards Lady Amelia. “ I was present that very evening. Lady Deborah and I spoke to the Duke before he stepped out into the darkness.”

Bringing to mind all that the Duke had told them, Isobella recalled he had mentioned a Lady Victoria, assuming now that this was she.

“He went further into the ground because he heard an exclamation,” she said, again drawing the attention of everyone there, all of whom – save for Lady Victoria – had now lapsed into silence.

“That has been verified by others, Lady Victoria.” A hint of a smile brushed her lips as Lady Victoria started, perhaps surprised that Isobella knew of her title without having had a formal introduction.

Or, mayhap, she did not much like that Isobella could speak so certainly of what had taken place that evening.

“So he stepped into the darkness, hearing someone else in distress,” Lady Amelia added, tilting her head and lifting one eyebrow in Lady Victoria’s direction.

“And yet, somehow, he was the one who came upon Lady Clara in such a way? I do wonder if, somehow, there might have been some confusion there. It might well have been that there was someone else in the dark of the gardens that night.”

Isobella took her gaze from Lady Victoria and returned it to Lady Clara.

The lady was blinking rapidly, the color quite gone from her face now.

Isobella held her breath but kept her expression outwardly calm, waiting for her to respond.

The rest of the group waited too, each lady in turn, and each gentleman also directing their gaze towards her.

Isobella’s breathing grew shallower, waiting with desperate hope forming in her heart.

Might there be something said at this very moment that would give the Duke even a light reprieve?

Something that would permit him to hold his head high again?

“I – I suppose I cannot be entirely sure.” Lady Clara looked down at her hands, then shrugged before, much to Isobella’s interest, glancing at Lady Victoria. “All the same, however, I am certain I recognized his voice.”

“It is always important in these matters to be quite certain,” Lady Amelia said, only for Lady Victoria to take a step closer to Lady Clara, her finger pointing out towards her.

“Recall that you had Lady Sara with you,” she said, in an almost commanding tone. “If we were to ask your friend about what took place, I am sure she would verify all that you have said about the Duke.”

“Mayhap she would,” Isobella replied, loudly enough to cover over everything that Lady Clara might say in response, “but the situation would be the same, Lady Victoria. It was terribly dark, there was a lot of commotion, and thus, the identification of the Duke might have been a mistake.” Praying that the others around her would listen, she spread out her hands.

“That, I have to say, is not good enough for me. Therefore, I will not believe that the Duke of Exeter was responsible for this until it is certain.”

“Nor I,” Lady Amelia said, confidently. “Thank you, Lady Clara, for expressing your doubts so honestly. You should have pride in that.” She smiled warmly, and Lady Clara, after a moment, offered a tiny smile back in response. “Do excuse me.”

Isobella watched as Lady Amelia stepped away and, waiting for only a few moments, then followed.

Lady Victoria was red-faced, glaring at Lady Amelia as if she had said something deeply upsetting to her personally.

Quite why she should be so affronted, Isobella did not understand, but nor did she care.

“That went marvelously!” Lady Amelia beamed at Isobella once she had caught up with her, her eyes shining.

“It most certainly did,” Isobella agreed, taking her friend’s arm as they walked across the park. “It may be that the Duke will feel able to stand up in society once more, even if there are many who will still doubt him.”

Lady Amelia nodded. “That is something, at least. I must say, however, I was surprised at Lady Victoria’s vehemence.”

Considering this, Isobella nodded slowly. “Indeed, it was quite fervent, was it not?”

“Might it mean something?”

“We shall have to ask the Duke just what he knows of the lady,” Isobella replied, frowning. “There might be a connection there, in some way.”

“Or a connection between Lady Clara and Lady Victoria. If she is her cousin or some such thing, then it makes sense that she would wish to come to her defense.”

“Agreed.” With a sense of relief and hope beginning to build up in her heart, Isobella’s steps grew lighter. “I am already looking forward to telling the Duke all that we have managed to achieve. I hope it will bring him some relief, at the very least.”

Lady Amelia chuckled. “I am certain it will bring him a good deal more than that, Isobella.”

Isobella flushed but did not reply, aware that the urgency to speak with the Duke was not solely because of what she might be able to share with him.

All the same, she did not acknowledge it, letting it sit upon her heart but doing nothing with it.

To trust him with her heart would be a great step indeed, and Isobella was not certain she was willing even to consider it.

It would mean trusting again, believing his words, and holding them tightly to her.

It would mean risking great pain, potential heartbreak, and a sorrow that would permeate to her very bones – and Isobella was not certain she had the strength to even think about doing so.

Perhaps remaining a spinster would be the best course of action after all.