Page 13 of The Duke of Aces
Isadora returned her gaze to the stables a few yards in front of them. The familiar scent of hay and horses had her regaining her focus. If the Duke of Avondale was keeping secrets, she wanted to be the one to discover them.
His muscles flexed beneath her fingers. “Care to share what has you frowning?”
She couldn’t tell him the truth, that her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of kisses and secrets, but perhaps it was an opportunity for her to gain some answers to a conundrum that had plagued her since the Avondale house party. “I was thinking upon Lord Drake.”
“Do you share the same tendre for the man as your sister?”
The hard edge to Avondale’s voice prevented Isadora from bursting out in laughter. “Good God, no. I was simply curious as to what you know of Lord Drake that made you refuse his plea to attend your house party this summer.”
“I declined to honor Drake’s request because your sister deserved a reprieve from all of her tormentors. She is extremely resilient, but after three Seasons, even the Ice Queen needs time to heal.”
She shortened the length of her stride, and Avondale seamlessly adjusted without a misstep. It was as if he was in tune or had expected her reaction. Isadora didn’t care for Minerva’s moniker, but there was no changing it after three Seasons. Avondale’s use of the horrid reference held a tinge of reverence when he spoke it, which meant he possessed a great deal of information about her family.
Curious to find out exactly what the man knew about them, Isadora turned slightly to face Avondale, giving in to the desire to observe his features. She was unprepared for the wave of warmth and well-being that enveloped her. Even in the presence of her overprotective brothers, she had never let her guard down. She was supposed to be attempting to lure him into sharing his secrets, not sharing her own.
Isadora halted, and Avondale did the same. “I understand denying Mansville and his lot, but Drake is a close family friend, not the enemy.”
“Family friend or not, Drake is a stubborn ignoramus. I prefer the company of those who are intelligent and capable of sound logic.” Avondale winked down at her.
Was he giving her a compliment?
Men didn’t admire a woman for their brains. Avondale proved her theorem correct as he raked over her, inch by inch with his eyes. As if the man could strip her bear.
“We should find our sisters.”
He released her and wrapped his arms behind him.
As if he read her mind, Avondale reached out to trace a gloved finger over the bridge of her nose. “Before we go, let us settle the terms for today’s race.”
Emboldened by Avondale’s caress, Isadora teased, “You may be getting on in years, Your Grace, but you are not that old to have already forgotten that we agreed that whoever picks the horse to cross the finish line first wins.”
Tom’s serious demeanor remained. “I have not forgotten. But after further consideration, I wonder if you would consider a secondary wager.”
“Beg pardon?” Isadora blinked twice.
“If I win, you shall agree to save me a dance tonight at Lowrington’s ball. If you win, you may choose the next event to determine who shall gain Wembly Hall.” He spoke with an urgency she didn’t understand, but instinctively knew was important to answer him quickly.
“Agreed.”
Avondale’s grin beamed with admiration. “Impressive, no hesitation.”
Avondale’s smile had Isadora a quivering mess on the inside, yet she retained her exterior composure. “I’ve no concerns, for I shall win today. And when I do, I will have gained an advantage that will ultimately lead to me obtaining the one thing I truly want this Season. Wembly Hall.”
The duke’s smile briefly disappeared as if her response had wounded him. “I admire your determination to gain what it is you wish for.” He winged his arm. “Shall we venture to the stables to make our choices?”
Isadora nodded and placed her hand on his forearm. “Yes, Your Grace, let’s go select a winner.”
Chapter Seven
Tom marveled atthe woman who walked next to him. Lady Isadora traversed with both purpose and elegance. She was also strikingly beautiful if one took the time to study her features—forest-green eyes lay beneath artfully shaped chestnut brown brows, ruby cheeks that were not artificially colored with face paint, and a gentle jawline that bespoke of power and confidence. At their every exchange, Lady Isadora reinforced his initial assessment that she was extremely capable and would always conduct herself with poise and grace, regardless of how challenging a situation she might find herself in.
Lady Isadora had an air about her that bespoke a single-mindedness as if nothing could sway her from a mission, not that he intended to train her to become an agent for the Crown. The Foreign Office had sufficient agents at its disposal in his opinion, which was not shared by the Head of the Foreign Office, who was recruiting more and more ladies to join their ranks. Charlotte’s success and being the youngest female agent to ever be sent on missions without the aid of her handler only solidified their leader’s views.
Tom suspected his sister’s membership in the Wicked Ladies Salon was most likely part of the Head of the Foreign Office’s new recruitment scheme, seeing as past efforts to recruit ladies to join the department had not yielded a high success rate. Should he heed Charlotte’s advice and inform Lady Isadora of his involvement with the Crown prior to marriage? Many of his peers led double lives, choosing to never involve their wives.
He guided Lady Isadora through the wide entrance of the stables. The scent of horses and manure had Tom frowning as he recalled the details of his man of affairs report on the Malburys. His informants failed to discover any hidden scandals, at least none that she and her family had not already weathered.
In his experience, every family of thetonpossessed at least two or three sordid secrets that could be bought for coin. The Malburys’ had proved to be extremely skilled at hiding their secrets, but he wasn’t one to be deterred. He’d gain Lady Isadora’s trust and conduct an investigation into their affairs himself. It was crucial he knew of the lady’s secrets if he was to marry the woman. The excursion today was devised to unravel her cool demeanor and reveal her secrets, however, his plan was failing remarkably.
