Page 22 of The Duke’s Scandal (Bluestocking Book Club #5)

Chapter Sixteen

“ I have found no connection between Lady Clara and Lady Victoria.” Amos looked straight down into Lady Isobella’s eyes, seeing how her lips pursed with displeasure as they stood outside on the busy London street.

“Lord Galbraith has been very discreet with his questions, but he did not find anything of use. It seems that although they are acquainted, they are not related.”

“Thank you for your endeavors.” With a sigh, she turned around and then made her way towards the door of the library.

They had arranged to meet for a brief conversation in public, but now Amos could think of nothing other than being in her company.

“I am also sorry to hear of the other rumors spread about you.”

This made Amos’ eyebrows lift high. “New rumors?”

Twisting her head around to look at him, Lady Isobella’s cheeks grew rosy as she turned to face him. “You have not heard? My brother was the one who informed me of it.”

Amos frowned. “He did come to apologize to me.”

“Oh, not that he believes it, of course!” Lady Isobella put her hand on his arm, her eyes searching his, and the urge to lower his head became so strong, Amos had to squeeze his hand into a fist so that his fingernails bit hard into his palms. “It was evidently some whisper that your estate is in a state of disrepair.”

He flushed hot. “It most certainly is not!”

“I believe you,” she said, holding her hand to his arm still. “My brother does also, albeit after some discussion.” Her lips curved into a gentle smile, and then she took her hand away. “But there is someone who has begun to speak of you, that is quite certain.”

“Lady Clara?”

Lady Isobella shook her head. “I do not think it would have been her. Her fear did seem real, and I am sure that she experienced this dreadful thing that happened to her, but I do not think it was you. Someone convinced her that it was you, however. I am quite certain of that.”

“Most likely, Lady Sara?”

She hesitated. “Mayhap. Or Lady Victoria, given her determination to have us all believe the lady. The vehemence Lady Victoria displayed was quite extraordinary, and my heart tells me that there is something more to it than just mere friendship… if there was even that between them!” Her head tilted towards the door of the library.

“Do you wish to join us, or is there somewhere else you need to be?”

Amos could not have been held back. “But of course.” Following her into the library, he looked all around him, glad to still be lingering in conversation with Lady Isobella.

It was not in the least bit quiet, much to his surprise.

There were conversations going on in many parts of the establishment, with some visitors seeming to be there solely for conversation!

“You have not been in here before? ”

“I have but not in many years,” Amos replied, looking all around him as, to his delight, Lady Isobella took his arm so they might walk together. “It has become a little more of a social gathering than I remembered.”

Lady Isobella screwed up her face. “Indeed, it has been. I wish it were not so, but all the same, I am glad to be surrounded by so many books.” Her smile returned.

“There is so much here, so much just waiting to be read and learned and explored. I feel the happiest when I am within a place like this.”

Amos slowed his steps, taking her in as she spoke.

There was a beauty about her unlike anything he had ever seen before, something so incredible, it stole his breath away.

It was as if, upon stepping into the library, she had come alive in a new, fresh way.

There was almost a glow about her hazel eyes, the tiny, delicate smile lifting the corners of her lips a testament to just how happy this place made her.

The way she clasped her hands at her heart and sighed contentedly made his own heart sing, delighting in the happiness that this place brought to her.

“Forgive me.” Catching his eye and, no doubt, the way that he was looking at her, Lady Isobella blushed red. “I was distracted.”

“It is quite all right. It is a delight for me to see just how much this place means to you.”

She dropped her gaze to the floor for a moment.

“It does bring me joy, certainly. But,” she took a deep breath and set her shoulders, “there is work to be done.” Glancing about her, she looked at the other bluestockings.

“We are all going to be searching for information about the ladies – and their families – involved in this situation. It may very well come to naught since you have told me that Lady Clara and Lady Victoria have no connection between them – but all the same, the bluestockings and I agree it would be worth making certain of it. Besides which,” she finished, with a quiet sigh, “there is not very much else we can do at present.”

“I am grateful for all the help you and the other bluestockings have offered me thus far,” Amos said, wanting her to know just how thankful he was. “It might seem like very little to you, but it means a great deal to me. Already, what you have done and said has made a difference.”

“Ah, but we are always determined to get to the truth, no matter how long it may take us,” Lady Isobella answered, still walking beside him, her hand on his arm still. “We will find out who is whispering about you, Your Grace. I am sure of it.”

Amos said nothing, taking great pleasure in having the lady on his arm. There was something quite delightful about having her beside him, walking together as though they were simply out to enjoy one another’s company.

“Now, it is here I must begin my search.” Lady Isobella gestured to a row of books. “If you will excuse me?”

Disappointed that he was unable to linger beside her, Amos stepped back and watched as she walked away from him, towards this row of books.

He continued to study her as she took out one book and then, setting it on a small table, began to look through it.

Quite what it was she was looking for, Amos did not know, but he was quite content to wait for her to finish her study.

“Your Grace. I must say, I am astonished to see you here.”

He turned quickly, not wanting anyone to see him studying Lady Isobella with such intensity. “Good afternoon.” Bowing quickly, he lifted his head and looked straight back into the eyes of Lady Deborah. Surprise lurched through his heart as the lady’s eyebrow arched.

“As I have said, I am astonished to see you making your way through London as if there is nothing is being said of you.”

Uncertain as to what he ought to say or why she was making such a remark, Amos hesitated. “I – I will not permit the ton to whisper about me and force me to hide away because of it.”

“I see.” She did not say whether or not she believed this about him, and that unsettled Amos somewhat. “But you will, it seems, bring Lady Isobella’s reputation into question by walking in and speaking with her?”

It was a strange question, and Amos, uncertain of what to make of it, did not immediately answer.

The silence lingered between them both but still, he waited, wondering what Lady Deborah meant by such a statement.

Was she concerned for Lady Isobella? Or surprised at Lady Isobella’s willingness to come alongside him?

“She is a bluestocking, I suppose.” Lady Deborah sighed and rolled her eyes. “I suppose that it would not be of any real concern to her what the ton has to say? She will be dealing with more than enough whispers about her bluestocking ways already.”

“I would not be speaking to Lady Isobella if she did not wish me to,” he said, disliking Lady Deborah’s tone. “But I thank you for your concern.”

“Whatever are you doing speaking with him ?”

Amos took a step back, his irritation now growing to anger as a gentleman came to stand directly beside Lady Deborah, his jaw tight. “Lord Welton, good afternoon.”

The gentleman’s lip curled. “I do not think I was speaking to you, Your Grace. ”

Affronted, Amos made to respond only to snap his mouth closed. He did not want to make things worse. It would be best for him to step away.

“I can speak to whomever I wish, Lord Welton.” Lady Deborah’s voice grew higher in pitch, her eyes sharpening. “You have no reason to come to interrupt me.”

Amos held up both hands. “If you will excuse me.” Aware that there were others in the room turning to look at him, he made to step away, but Lady Deborah interrupted him.

“There is no need, Your Grace. I can assure you that I am well able to make my own decisions in such things.”

“But you are showing no wisdom!” Lord Welton exclaimed, surprising Amos with just how forward he was to speak to the lady in such a way. “Do you not know of all that has been said of the Duke of Exeter?”

He is speaking as if I am not present. Drawing himself up, Amos lifted his chin high. “There is much that has been said, Lord Welton, but none of it is true.”

Lord Welton scoffed loudly. “Of course you would say such a thing, Your Grace, but we all know what you did at the ball.”

Wanting to deny it, Amos drew himself up. “There has been a mistake. It was not I who did such a thing. I am sorry it happened to Lady Clara, but I can assure you – ”

“I do not know why we are even listening to you.” Dismissing him, Lord Welton turned around so that his back was to Amos. “Lady Deborah, might I remind you that – ”

“There is nothing between us, Lord Welton. No matter what your family expects, I have made my decision clear!”

Those words made Amos’ astonishment overtake his anger.

He had never thought that Lady Deborah might be in any way connected to Lord Welton!

Evidently, however, it seemed that Lord Welton very much wished for there to be, that there was an expectation that she was choosing to step back from. How many others were aware of this?

“Lady Deborah, might I ask you for your opinion on this?” Lady Isobella, who had been only a short distance away, came towards Lady Deborah, a book in her hand. She was smiling warmly, and her tone was light, shattering the tension between them all.

Lady Deborah blinked, then looked down at the book Lady Isobella was holding. “What is it you should like to ask me?”

Amos could not help but smile, despite the difficult situation.

Lady Isobella had acted quickly and calmly, diffusing the upset and had come instead to distract Lady Deborah whilst pulling her away from Lord Welton.

He returned his gaze to Lord Welton, turning his head as he did so, only for a sharp pain to crack across his cheek and nose.

He heard cries of astonishment, of fright, mayhap, as he staggered back, slamming into a stacked bookshelf. Pain tore through his head as he fought to regain his standing, trying to understand what it was that had just happened to him.

“You struck the Duke of Exeter?” he heard someone cry, as he rubbed one hand over his eyes, his vision blurred. “Why ever should you do such a thing?”

“Because he deserved it,” Amos heard Lord Welton shout as he stood up tall, his fingers now running over his jaw. “Mayhap now you will realize the danger you are in when you stay in his company!”

Shame burnt into Amos’s soul as he glanced around the room and saw every eye on him.

This was not his fault, not his doing, but at the same time, having everyone looking at him with a mixture of disdain and shock upon their faces made him feel as though he deserved every dark look.

Without another word, without another look towards Lady Isobella, Amos made his way directly out of the library, heat swirling into his chest and core.

Keeping his head down, his jaw still aching, he made his way directly back towards his carriage, his heart beating furiously.

Despite all Lady Isobella had done, despite her attempts to help him thus far and even in taking Lady Deborah away from the conversation, it had not been enough.

He had been mortified and shamed all over again and feared now that society would whisper about him all the more.

Just what was he to do?