Page 55 of A Night of Forever
She drew in a sharp breath. She wouldn’t leave an animal in pain. How, now that she understood Arend better, could she turn her back on him?
He thought he was dark and worthless. Every fiber of her being told her that Arend, though troubled, was at heart honorable, good, and worthy of love.
She wanted to help ease his sorrow before he did something stupid—like sacrifice himself for his friends. To help him she would have to get very close. Something fluttered in her stomach at the idea. She would help him capture Victoria. She would also have to risk him capturing her heart—exactly what Marisa had warned her not to do.
Other women had tried to help Arend and failed, Marisa had told her. Isobel narrowed her eyes, and her nostrils flared. She wasn’t just any woman. She was a woman who understood guilt. If she had gone to the magistrate herself with Taggert’s evidence about the fire, perhaps Victoria would have been stopped months ago. When Taggert’s body had been discovered, she’d been too scared. She’d been a coward, and her cowardice had cost Marisa her ability to bear a child. It had almost cost her life.
Oh, yes. Isobel understood what guilt could do to a person. She lived with it every day.
This time she would not be the coward. She’d make sure Victoria was stopped. If that meant she had to put her heart, reputation, and body on the line to help Arend, then that was what she would do. Wasn’t it ironic that the only man who consumed her was a man who was more scared of love than she was? Perhaps together they could absolve each other’s guilt.
She rose with a heavy sigh. The one thing she knew for certain was that seducing Arend was not the way to his heart. Too many women had tried that route and failed. The only way to touch the heart of a man who did not trust was to prove her trustworthiness.
As she walked upstairs to rest before the ball she realized it wasn’t only Arend to whom she had to prove herself. None of the Libertine Scholars and their wives were sure of her allegiance.
How could she resent their lack of trust when she could empathize with their feelings? They had each been through so much at Victoria’s hands.
Of all of them, Marisa’s lack of faith in her hurt the most. She’d discuss it with her friend.
But not tonight.
Tonight she would concentrate on Arend.
—
Two hours later she sat in the carriage with Lieutenant Colbert, Maitland, and a distraught Marisa, listening to Marisa beg her forgiveness for not revealing the truth about Arend’s capture.
Sean had apologized to her upon his arrival at the house. He’d explained how torn he’d been at not revealing that Arend had been rescued from elsewhere, and presented her with the biggest arrangement of the most beautiful flowers. She was not hurt by his subterfuge because they hardly knew each other.
But Marisa…
Isobel drew in a deep breath.Be the bigger person here.“It’s forgotten, Marisa. Really. I understand the position you were in.” She gave Maitland a very pointed look.
Maitland merely turned cool eyes on her.
Marisa looked from Isobel to her husband and back. “I have also been adamant you were not party to Victoria’s plan.” She turned back to her husband, brows raised.
Maitland nodded. “I concur. She has always defended you.”
That knowledge eased Isobel’s heart a little. She reached across and patted Marisa’s hand. “And I’m grateful. But the men are not going to believe me until I can prove otherwise. Given what they have been through, I do not blame them.” She smiled and sat back. “Really. I have nothing to fear. I’m innocent, and I mean to work with His Grace and Arend to prove it.”
Marisa eyed her warily. “Arend will take a lot of convincing.”
Isobel lifted one shoulder in a little shrug. “I’m just as determined as they are to capture Victoria. I know she killed my father, and by God, I will be there when she admits it.”
Maitland said, “Well said. As we have to wait until Monday to visit the bank, I suggest we relax tonight and enjoy ourselves.”
Envy snaked down Isobel’s spine as Marisa smiled lovingly at her husband. She turned away quickly and caught Sean watching her closely. In the darkness of the carriage her cheeks burned. She raised her hand to touch the healing scar. If not for Arend she would have stayed home. The injury would start more gossip. Most knew she’d been kidnapped, and the scar would add a degree of realism to her story.
When they arrived Maitland descended from the carriage and then turned to assist his wife. Next Sean alighted and turned to help Isobel descend.
Was it her imagination, or did he hold her hand a little longer than necessary? Guilt dampened her spirits like a fine mist. She had probably been too friendly with him, which was unfair of her. In her defense, she had been angry with Arend for using her. She hoped her actions had not encouraged the young lieutenant. If he intended to pursue her, he would only be hurt.
One man, and one only, consumed her.
—
Arend stood at the top of the steps watching as Lieutenant Sean Colbert, in his pristine uniform, turned to help Isobel from the carriage.
