Page 2 of The Duke’s Scandal (Bluestocking Book Club #5)

Chapter One

Two years later

“ I am delighted for you!” Isobella beamed with happiness and then hugged her friend tightly. “How truly wonderful for you both!”

Miss Sherwood smiled back at her. “I thank you,” she replied. “Lord Suffolk has acted rather quickly, I must say, for we have not been officially courting for a very long time, as you well know!”

Isobella chuckled as the other ladies from the bluestocking book club all came to congratulate Miss Sherwood. “That is true enough, but when you are as in love with one another as you both seem to be, I do not think that a particularly long courtship is required!”

“Indeed not, though the ton might wonder at it a little,” Miss Trentworth grinned, a twinkle in her eye. “But you have nothing to prove to them, so why does it matter what society thinks! ”

Lady Rosalyn smiled broadly. “Given that we are bluestockings, we are all well used to ignoring society’s expectations, are we not? So I am sure you can do the very same in this circumstance also, Eugenia.”

Miss Sherwood tossed her head. “Yes, you are quite correct. I care nothing for what the ton thinks of our hasty engagement. Though I shall be sorry to leave London, for the banns are to be called very soon.” She looked around the room.

“There are to be so many weddings, are there not?” A sadness swept over them all, Isobella included.

“We shall not be together again for some time.”

“Unless,” Lady Rosalyn said, quickly, “we all agree that we shall return to London every year, at this very time. We shall spend at least a month together – six weeks, mayhap? – and in that time, talk about whatever we wish, read whatever we wish – ”

“And continue with our endeavors to solve whatever mysteries might be presented to us,” Isobella interrupted, as her friends all smiled back at her. “I think that an excellent notion!”

Her friends all agreed at once, the atmosphere in the room light once again.

“Our husbands – or soon to be husbands – will enjoy having time together also, I am sure,” Lady Amelia beamed, as a twinge of embarrassment began to overtake Isobella. “I think it is a wonderful idea, for I shall miss you all very much… even if we are all to be happily married!”

The moment she said this, Isobella’s face flushed hot and her heart quickened. Lady Amelia’s smile grew fixed, and she began to stammer, but Isobella smiled as quickly as she could, putting out one hand to her friend.

“Please, do not concern yourself,” she said, warmly.

“It was a mere mistake, that is all. You are not to be upset by this, Amelia. You know very well that I have no interest in matrimony but I shall be very glad to see you all married.” This was said with as much conviction as she could put into her voice, hoping that they all believed her.

Ever since Lord Hogarth had broken her heart, Isobella had silently determined not to let herself feel anything for a gentleman again.

That meant she was not to think about matrimony, about love, or companionship.

She was settled upon being a spinster – a bluestocking spinster, at that – which meant she had no upset at her own situation at present.

“I do apologize, Isobella.” Lady Amelia came towards her as the other bluestockings fell into conversation again, blotting out the awkwardness that had followed Lady Amelia’s remark. “I hope I did not hurt you.”

“You did not, I assure you.” Isobella smiled and pressed Lady Amelia’s hand.

“Please, do not worry. You are quite right, everyone else here is to wed… or shall announce their engagement very shortly!” As yet, not all of the bluestockings were engaged, but Isobella expected it very soon.

Each one spoke of love and affection, of devotion and promise, and that, Isobella was sure, would lead them to happiness.

“I do not mind being the only one unwed. I have already determined that I would not marry, so please, do not think poorly of yourself for speaking as you did.”

This made Lady Amelia’s eyes dim rather than look back at Isobella with any sort of relief.

After another moment, she frowned, tilting her head one way and then the other, studying Isobella as if there was something in her expression that she could not make out.

Isobella frowned, looking back at her friend and waiting for her to speak.

After some minutes, she did.

“I recall you telling me that I should pursue the chance of love between myself and Lord Broughton,” she said, speaking in a low voice so that the other ladies would not overhear them.

“You told me that even if there was not to be such a thing in the end, I would still be glad, one day, that I felt such an affection.”

Isobella swallowed hard. “Yes,” she admitted, quietly. “I did.”

“And you spoke of a love you had once experienced,” Lady Amelia continued, pushing Isobella gently with her unspoken questions. “The others do not know of this, I think.”

Isobella let out a small sigh, her thoughts returning to Lord Hogarth.

“No, the other bluestockings do not know. But yes, at one point, I felt such a deep affection, I believed that it was love. It was only the very beginnings of it, I think, but it still had a profound effect upon me. When it was taken away, when my heart was deliberately and painfully broken, there was nothing left within me but shadows and ashes. That is all that remains there now, I think.” Her smile was sad, her heart beginning to ache.

“I am glad for you all, however. I should not like you to think that I feel any sort of upset, jealousy, or even anger at your happiness.”

Lady Amelia nodded slowly but still held Isobella’s gaze. “I will repeat what I told you then, Isobella. If you ever wish to unburden yourself, then I should be glad to hear whatever you have to say.”

With a small smile, Isobella embraced her friend, aware of the tears that began to burn behind her eyes, though she pushed them away quickly enough.

“Thank you, Amelia. I have not spoken of it to anyone, not for over a year now.” Stepping back, she lifted her shoulders and then let them fall.

“I do not know if I need to do so, truth be told. My heart has settled, and I do not feel any further sadness.”

Lady Amelia’s eyebrows lifted. “Never? ”

“No,” Isobella stated, aware that she was lying not only to herself but also to her friend. “As I have said, I am more than happy for you all, but I do not need to search for such a thing for myself.”

This made her friend’s eyebrows draw low, but Isobella only smiled, hoping that Lady Amelia would not be able to see the truth in her eyes.

There was still a lingering sorrow in her heart, a pain that did not ever seem to resolve.

It stayed there, pushing deeply into the very core of who she was, reminding her, every time she saw happiness between a gentleman and a lady, that her own heart had been so utterly broken.

The only reason she had returned to London was at the behest of her mother and the convincing of her brother, though she had made them both promise that she would be able to do as little or as much as she pleased when it came to society.

That promise had been given, and thus, Isobella had pushed herself into the little group of bluestockings and had fully intended to stay there for the entirety of the Season.

She had never once expected to find all of her friends now so happily engaged while she drifted on in solitude.

“You know that I am here to listen to you, to weep with you, to smile with you, or to simply sit with you, whenever you might wish it.” Lady Amelia put out her hand and took Isobella’s, squeezing it lightly as Isobella fought unexpected tears.

“Do not hide your heart from us, Isobella. We are your friends, are we not?”

“You are,” Isobella confirmed, hearing the hoarseness of her voice from the plethora of emotions that suddenly swamped her. “I am glad for that, truly.”

Lady Amelia smiled, nodded, and then turned to ring the bell, ordering another tray of tea and cakes to be sent up.

Isobella, on the other hand, retreated quickly, making her way from the others and going to one of the bookshelves near her, pretending to look through the books present.

The library in Lady Amelia’s townhouse was extensive indeed, but it was not the books that drew Isobella near.

Instead, it gave her a place to hide herself, to regain her composure as the other bluestockings chatted and laughed together.

None would think it strange that she had gone in search of a book, though soon they would all sit together again to drink tea and talk about matters of all kinds.

Isobella settled one hand against her stomach, trying to breathe more steadily.

Her heart was still beating a little more quickly than before, her mind pulling up images of Lord Hogarth in front of her eyes.

She could still remember the shock that had crashed over her when he had told her that their engagement was now broken, the pain that had sliced through her when he had confessed he did not care for her any longer.

What had been worse, she considered, was the realization that she had begun to fall in love with a gentleman who had never truly cared for her, who had lied until she had let herself believe him.

The trust she had placed in both him and his words had been shattered; her own willingness and desire to fall in love and to make her future joyous so great, it had dimmed any hint of doubt.

How much of a fool she had been!

They do not need to know of my shame, she told herself, recalling the words she had said to Lady Amelia some time ago. I told Lady Amelia to pursue any chance of love and she did, and I am glad for her. I am only sorry that my own future did not permit me to have such joy.

“We have to sit and discuss what we are going to do now that we have no mysteries left to solve!” she heard Miss Trentworth exclaim. “With everything just as it should be, does it mean that all we are left now to discuss is trousseaus and the like?”

The other bluestockings laughed, but Isobella’s heart twisted painfully.

She closed her eyes and drew in long breaths in an attempt to keep her composure.

This was most unexpected, for she had never once imagined her heart responding in such a way!

She ought to be quite contented at her friend's happiness, just as she had told Lady Amelia! So why now was she feeling such agony?

“Here is the tea tray,” she heard Lady Amelia say, opening her eyes and forcing herself to smile as she turned around. “Come now, let us all enjoy some tea, shall we?”

Isobella went with the others to sit down, taking a cup of tea from Lady Amelia and smiling along with all that was said and shared between them.

Trying to push away the lingering stabs of pain, she forced herself to listen to the conversation, to hear what was being said without responding to any of it.

And yet, no matter how hard she tried, her heart cried out with all that she had endured already…

and for all the loneliness that was surely still to come.