Page 25 of The Duke of Aces
Isadora. He searched the far side of the room to gauge her progress. Charlotte’s brow creased as she spotted the Marquess of Torrance, and oddly Lady Minerva mirrored his sister’s concern at the sight of the older couple. Isadora, on the other hand, appeared calm and unaffected. The sight of her lips brought back the memory of their kiss.
The passionate kiss had Tom questioning what type of marriage he truly wished for. He replayed their interlude multiple times in his head as he awaited Isadora’s return. The ache that had settled in the middle of his chest as soon as she had left his side was what alarmed Tom the most. Was he falling in love? Tom shuffled his feet and adjusted his stance, unable to remain still. The woman stirred his blood like no other.
From the corner of his eye, Tom noted that the marquess and his wife were making quick work of cutting a path to him. It appeared that they would reach him before he could whisk Isadora onto the dance floor. The trio of women, Charlotte, Isadora, and Lady Minerva, were currently waylaid by their host Lady Lowrington.
“A good eve to you, Your Grace.” Lady Ethel Torrance bobbed a quick curtsey and promptly straightened to her full height, which couldn’t have been more than five feet.
“Torrance. Lady Ethel. I was not informed you would be present this eve.”
Torrance nodded. “Neither was I until a day ago.”
The man whose skill at decoding was only matched by his counterpart at the Home Office, scanned their immediate surroundings once more. “There has been chatter across the channel that our leader believes warrants further investigation.” Torrance abhorred social events and idle chatter. The man never minced words, believing it best to always get straight to the point.
Damn the head of the Foreign Office. Tom may outrank his superior in title but not in the chain of command. “Send over the details in the morn, and I’ll arrange to leave within a fortnight.”
Lady Ethel bristled and glared at him. “Do you think I would have agreed to leave the safety of the country and hauled my boys and baby girl all the way to London if this wasn’t a matter of urgency?”
“Luv. I’m sure His Grace will make the appropriate arrangements, now that you have informed him of the importance that he leave immediately.” Torrance’s arm settled about his wife’s waist, and he gave her a quick squeeze.
Public displays of affection by married couples were considered faux pas. How many times had his own parents garnered admonishing whispers for exhibiting their love for one another? Too many, in Tom’s opinion. Without care of censorship, Lady Ethel wrapped an arm about Torrance. Together, they faced him. A couple united and…in love. His heart and stomach simultaneously flipped. He wanted a union, a marriage, a partnership like that of Lord and Lady Torrance.
Tom sighed as his conundrum hit him. He couldn’t directly disobey orders, but he needed more time. He needed to devise a plausible excuse, and quickly.
Aha. Love was the key.
He would convince Torrance that he had fallen in love, and he wished to secure Isadora’s hand prior to departing. Sizing up the couple before him, Tom suspected it would be the only reason the pair would agree to a delay.
“I have a personal matter I must attend to before I can take on the assignment.” Tom’s gaze flickered in Isadora’s direction.
Lady Ethel followed his gaze and then said, “Pray do not tell me you intend to extend an offer to Lady Minerva.”
“Of course not, I’m no fool. I simply need a few more days to convince Lady Isadora that she has captured both my attention and my heart.”
Torrance’s eyebrows rose. “Are you claiming you are in love?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
It was Lady Ethel who answered. “You wish for us to believe Charlotte’s attempt at matchmaking succeeded? It was Charlotte who extend the invitation to the Malbury sisters.”
“Aye, it was.” Tom smiled at his sister’s clever ruse to conceal the real reason she had extended the invite.
It was Torrance’s turn to question him again. “Are you telling us that Lady Isadora has altered your beliefs on love matches? Has the Duke of Aces really found a woman he couldn’t resist?”
Tom forced himself to remain still as the couple searched his features. He hoped he had managed to mimic his papa’s continuous adoration for his mama.
“Is it really that improbable?”
Torrance answered, “Aye, it is. And I for one, don’t believe your claims.”
“Let us observe, husband.” Lady Ethel turned and peered up at her husband. “If by the end of the eve we remain unconvinced, we shall set him aboard theQuarter Moonat first light.”
“And if I prove I’m utterly besotted?” Tom asked.
Lady Ethel’s eyes brightened with delight. “We shall assist and have you and your new bride aboard the ship within the week.”
Regretting his request, Tom’s chest constricted. It wasn’t the idea of marriage that had him in a panic. It was the thought of placing Isadora in danger. “Isadora will not be accompanying me.”
“If it is a love match, how could you possibly consider being apart?” the marquess asked.
