Page 37 of The Duke of Aces
“Don’t be daft. Whatever Minerva has planned, she wants no interference from us. However, I see no reason why you must remain at Wembly Hall for the duration of the ball.”
She stared at her eldest brother’s best friend. “For the past two and a half Seasons, I believed Minerva’s challenge to only wed the man who could best her in a game of chess was simply a device to allow my sister to have a say in who she would marry. However, earlier she told me I should seek out a husband that matches me in wit and intelligence with such conviction that I’ve reconsidered. Her declaration might be simply a way for her to discover if there is an eligible gentleman who could match her intellect. Which means sadly, even if you did love her, she probably wouldn’t marry you.”
“Are you calling me a dunderhead?”
“I’d never do such a thing.” Isadora stepped up into the carriage waiting in the alley. “It would take a genius to defeat Minerva in a game of chess, and you, my dear old friend, are no genius.”
Ignoring her statement, Drake smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. “If Avondale wishes to resume his pursuit of you, will you agree to a courtship?”
Her attempt at igniting Drake’s fury fell upon deaf ears. The man, who was like a brother to her, was his stubborn laissez-faire self. Drake was equally stubborn as her sister and never heeded the wisdom others tried to impart to him.
Isadora mirrored Drake’s pose and crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. “What does it matter to you?”
“I care about you as if you were my own sister.” Drake unraveled and leaned his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. Looking at his hands and not at her, he continued, “I want you to be happy and safe. I shall support you as best as I can.”
“You sound like Minerva.”
Drake glanced up at her. “I’ll take that as a compliment since I know you hold your sister in high esteem.”
Isadora had wanted to discuss her dilemma with Minerva, but her sister was in no position to give her an unbiased opinion. She stared at Drake’s bent head. Her married siblings, Benedict and Diana, would not arrive for another week, and Drake was offering to listen and help her muddle through the evening. Sending up a quick prayer for patience, she said, “I fear what Minerva will do if I agree to allow Tom to court me.”
“So, you really don’t know what she is up to this eve?”
“Of course, I don’t.” This was futile. The manwasa dunderhead. She pressed her back into the coach seat, closed her eyes, and let her mind race through all the advantages and disadvantages of spending time with Tom.
“Actions out of fear are never as fruitful as those that are driven by purpose.” Drake’s slow and thoughtful response filtered through Isadora’s thoughts.
“I would agree, however, the uncertainty of how my actions shall impact Minerva outweighs any of the logical reasoning for or against Tom.” Isadora rubbed her temples which were beginning to ache.
“If you place your concern for your sister’s welfare aside, what would you do?”
“I’m still undecided.”
Drake sat up and tilted his head until he captured her gaze. “I’m not asking what you think you should do, I’m asking what your instincts are telling you to do.”
Isadora frowned at his statement. “I’m not one to act on impulse and you know that.”
“Mayhap it is time you did.” Drake arched a quizzical brow at her.
“That is ridiculous! I hardly know Tom. He barely spoke more than five words to me the entire time we attended his house party late in the summer. And…I’ve been in his company less than a handful of times since, and each occasion has evoked nothing but conflicting thoughts within me.”
“Thoughts or reactions?” Drake asked.
Blast the man for knowing her so well.
He continued to ask, “Do you find Avondale pleasing to the eye?”
“What woman doesn’t?”
“Valid point.” Drake sat back and crossed his legs, resting his ankle on his knee. “Let’s approach this from a different perspective.” His foot bounced, a sign he was deep in thought. Drake was taking this discussion seriously. He was honestly trying to help her. Despite his lack of care for Minerva’s heart, Drake was a good man. Her brother’s best friend was a constant guest at Malbury Manor despite him owning the estate next door. In fact, growing up, he was the one that encouraged her to evaluate risks and take chances.
Should she trust her intuition about the duke?
Drake’s foot stilled. “Rather than agreeing to a courtship, which has a certain element of uncertainty, would you agree to marry Avondale?”
“Are you suggesting the reason why I’m hesitant to agree to courting is due to ambiguity?”
“I am.”
