Page 24 of The Duke’s Scandal (Bluestocking Book Club #5)
A familiar voice, a welcome voice, caught her attention, and closing her eyes, she let out a slow breath and then turned towards the Duke. “Your Grace.”
“Are you quite all right?”
The noise of the ballroom faded away as she looked up into his eyes, steadying herself there as her frustration and upset faded to nothing.
“Yes, I am. I thank you.” Letting out her breath slowly, she looked up at him.
“Are you quite well?” Her gaze ran over his cheek and jaw, seeing the bruises there.
“We have not spoken since Lord Welton injured you. I have been greatly concerned for you.”
The Duke, much to her surprise, dropped his head and rubbed the back of his neck.
Was he ashamed? Embarrassed? Compassion grew swiftly, and she moved a little closer, doing her best to be surreptitious for fear of someone near them looking over, but at the same time, doing her best to express how she felt.
Her hand reached out, then pulled back, only for her to force herself to do what she felt she needed to.
She took his hand.
Fire ripped up her arm towards her heart as his head lifted, his eyes rounding.
“What happened was not your fault,” she said, very quietly indeed. “In fact, I was hoping that you and I might speak on the matter? The bluestockings and I have had an idea about this entire situation. ”
The Duke said nothing, his gaze travelling down to their joined hands, and Isobella, flushing hot, pulled her hand away.
“Lord Welton,” she continued, her voice catching a little, such was the plethora of emotions rushing through her. “What do you know of him?”
It took the Duke a few moments to respond, blinking quickly as if pulling himself out of a trace. “Lord Welton?” he repeated, before shrugging. “I know nothing about him. I was only just introduced to him some weeks ago.”
This made Isobella frown. “Then there is no connection between yourself and his family?”
“None.”
Flattening her lips, Isobella fought back at the frustration building in her again. She was the one who had come up with that thought, and now it felt like she was pushing herself back into the shadows.
“Although he is a cousin to Lady Victoria,” the Duke continued, as Isobella’s eyes flew open. “I told you that before, I am sure.”
She blinked. “Yes, you did, but I had forgotten.” Her fingers touched the Duke’s hand again, clasping them tightly as thought after thought began to pour into her mind.
“Then there must be a connection there , then! Lady Victoria was quite determined that we believe Lady Clara. Lord Welton is a cousin of hers, and he has always had a dislike of you.”
The Duke began to nod slowly, not pulling his hand away but running his other hand across his chin. All the while, the noises of the ball went around them, but no one seemed in the least bit interested in their conversation.
“He said something, before he punched me.” With a snatch of breath, he returned his gaze to Isobella, her heart lurching at the light in his eyes.
“He was speaking to Lady Deborah, but she responded to him very harshly, stating that there was nothing between them, no matter what his family said. No connection or the like.”
It was as if she were walking up a steep path, a hint of the sunrise before her.
All she had to do was reach the top, and the light would be shining in its full glory, spreading out in front of her.
“Lady Deborah is unwilling to pull towards Lord Welton but Lord Welton wishes it,” she said, half to herself and half to him.
“There might be something there, then. Something that we have not yet seen.”
“A connection that he wants but she does not.” The Duke pressed her fingers, leaning down towards her so he could speak quietly but with great fervency. “A connection that the family clearly expects but that she will not give.”
“That does not give us a reason for Lady Clara’s statement about you, however.” Biting her lip, Isobella looked away from him. “But it is something, however. To discover why Lord Welton treated you so, why he has such a dislike of you, that will be pertinent, mayhap.”
The Duke smiled gently. “You are taking great pains on my behalf, Lady Isobella. You and the other bluestockings. I cannot tell you how much I value it though, more than that, I value your trust in me.”
Isobella gazed up into his eyes and found herself lost. She did not respond to what he had said, her thoughts coming to an instant stop. The green and gold in his eyes melded together, the swirl they created enchanting her.
“Lady Isobella.” There was a huskiness about his voice that sent a tingling up her spine. “If I might be honest, I – ”
“I cannot.” She turned away from him sharply, beginning to stride blindly forward, aware of just how much she had longed to do, just how much she had wanted him to do.
Right there, in the ballroom, she had felt her heart begin to yearn for him, to long for him to bend his head and kiss her.
Why was she so foolish? Why could she not keep control of her emotions?
Why was she so willing to throw aside all that she had determined and lose herself in the eyes of the Duke?
“I did not mean to startle you.” His hand reached out, caught her arm, and then dropped again as she turned to look at him, breathing hard.
“Forgive me, Lady Isobella. Now is not the moment for any sort of discussion on matters of the heart… although I pray that you can tell just how much I have begun to care for you.”
Isobella swallowed at the knot in her throat, trying to find the words to rebuff him, to push him away from her, but she could not. To say such a thing aloud would sever their connection, and for some reason, she could not bring herself to do so.
“But we must concentrate on the matter at hand, of course.” When she did not respond, the Duke offered her a small smile, looking a little uncertain. “And such conversations should certainly not take place at a ball.”
“Indeed not,” she managed to say, glancing over the Duke’s shoulder and seeing Lady Amelia looking at her with careful eyes, watching everything that was going on – no doubt to keep Isobella safe. “The rumors and the story with Lady Clara are the thing we ought to focus on at present.”
He nodded, a redness growing in his face. “Of course. So, what must be done?”
Isobella took in a calming breath and then released it, allowing her heart to quieten as practicality took over.
“I will return to the library and look for anything in there about Lord Welton’s family line and their connection to Lady Deborah.
I shall have the other bluestockings ask quietly amongst their acquaintances also, and I might very well speak to Lady Deborah also. ”
He nodded. “And what can I do?”
“Keep your head held high,” she answered, with what she hoped was an encouraging smile. “Believe that soon, we will have all the answers you need.”