Page 26 of The Duke of Aces
His mentor had a valid point. Apparently, acting upon pure instinct was not the best strategy, but Tom needed the Torrances’ support in this. He needed to speak in terms an agent would understand. “Isadora has commitments here in London that she will wish to attend to. I wouldn’t ask her to abandon her duties in Town to accompany me on a dangerous mission for the Crown.”
“Hmm, placing her wishes before your own…” Torrance looked down at his wife. “It is an indication of love.” The marquess grinned. “You have until midnight to convince us.”
Damnation. He was no actor of the stage. How was he to convince the insightful pair he was indeed in love with Isadora? He hadn’t planned to share with Isadora the exact nature of his duties to the Crown. Dukes were often sent to represent the Crown as dignitaries, and he had intended on leveraging the common knowledge to explain his often-lengthy trips abroad.
Charlotte and the Malbury sisters were close. He snapped his fingers three times. Isadora’s gaze darted about. Blast, he had forgotten he’d shared his secret code with Isadora earlier. He turned to introduce Torrance and Lady Ethel, but neither were within sight. Lord Torrance was a barrel-chested individual who stood at over six feet. How he managed to disappear and blend into the crowd in a blink of an eye was a skill Tom wished he could master.
“Ah, there the three of you are,” Tom said happily as the trio came to stand in front of him.
“It’s nearly time for you to claim your boon, brother,” Charlotte whispered as she settled herself to his left, looking out into the crowd.
Minerva engaged Isadora in conversation, and Charlotte seized the opportunity to ask, “What did Lord Torrance share with you?”
“I’ve been requested to cross the channel.”
“When?”
“Post haste.”
“But what about Isadora?”
“If by the stroke of midnight, I’ve convinced both Lady Ethel and Torrance I’m in love with the lady, she may remain here safe on home soil while I complete the mission.”
Charlotte looked up at him with a frown. Her mouth opened to speak, but then she shook her head and snapped her mouth closed. His sister never kept her thoughts from him—why now?
The opening bars of the waltz filtered through his thoughts. He turned to Isadora. “I believe I’ve been remiss in claiming my boon.”
Isadora smiled and placed her hand in his. “I was beginning to think you had forgotten.”
The frisson of pleasure at her touch had him questioning—where would she be the safest?
Guiding her onto the dance floor, Isadora turned to face him, and the answer hit him square in the chest. The safest place would be always by his side. He drew in a breath as he came to understand his parents’ decision to always venture together. With understanding came acceptance. But was he really in love with Isadora? Surely not.
He extended his arm, and she stepped in to take her position close to him. His hand on her waist, he felt whole.
“Are you going to inform me of what danger lurks close by so I may be prepared, or are you going to remain silent on the topic?”
“Are you acquainted with Lord and Lady Torrance?”
“I’ve not formally been introduced. However, at my mama’s insistence, I have memorized all the pertinent details shared inDebrett’sof all living titled gentlemen.” Isadora’s brows scrunched for a brief moment before she said, “Torrance. Holds both the title of marquess and an honorary title of viscount. His family seat is close to yours, near the English-Scottish border. He married Lady Ethel six years ago and has subsequently borne two heirs, twins, which occur frequently in her family, and most recently he and his wife have added another member to the family, a daughter.” Isadora’s lips tilted up to one side. “What is not disclosed inDebrett’sis that Lord Torrance and Lady Ethel’s union is a love match. They are rarely seen apart, and it is claimed he is a master of riddles while she has the patience of a saint.”
“Where did you obtain that information?”
“Where do you suspect?”
“The Wicked Ladies are well informed.”
“It is one of the reasons for Charlotte’s application, is it not?”
“Did my sister share that detail with you?”
“No, but I’ve gathered enough intel together and spent sufficient time with you both to know that neither of you acts without purpose. I’m still formulating my hypothesis as to what exactly it is you are both involved in, but I’m quite certain neither of you leads the typical idle life of the titled gentry.” Isadora smiled at a passing couple and then returned her attention back to him. “You still haven’t shared what caused you to snap your fingers thrice. And I wouldn’t believe you if you claimed it was Lord and Lady Torrance who posed the threat. They appear to be a lovely couple.”
He caught a glimpse of Lord and Lady Torrance gliding across the dance floor. They moved as if they were one unit. He returned his attention to Isadora. She was masking her concern rather well. He tightened his hold on her. “I’m not at liberty to share details.”
She didn’t respond. Instead, her brow furrowed and her lips thinned. Despite the serious nature of their conversation, he didn’t have to preemptively move his feet in order to avoid his toes being trodden upon, and he wasn’t counting down the bars of music until he could return his partner to an awaiting gaggle of women or matrons. He was having a grand time on the dance floor for once in his life. His full attention was on the woman in his arms. If he didn’t know better, he could even fool himself into believing he was falling in love with Isadora.
Isadora lightly drummed her fingers on his shoulder. “Hypothetically speaking, if we were engaged to be married, would you be at liberty then to share what has Charlotte hovering close by and pinning Minerva to her side?”
