Page 9 of A Night of Forever
Isobel shook her head. “I really feel I should pay Cassandra a visit first. Just in case. I also need to know if she wishes me to correct the situation.”
Victoria laughed, a tinkle of incredulity. “How on earth would you do that?”
Isobel bit her lip. In all honesty, she had no idea, but calling on her friend was the right thing to do.
“There may be no need to do anything. Lord Labourd’s attentions, as you say, may benefit her. If they don’t, then I will have to think of something.”
Victoria studied her seriously, no humor in her eyes. “I’ve told you what to do. Try to ensnare the man yourself. You could do so much worse.”
Isobel felt her mouth firm, her chin lift.
But before she could say anything, Victoria lifted her hands in a gesture of surrender. “Don’t listen to me then. However, please remember we have Lady Mary Thorne’s musical soirée tonight.”
Relieved at Victoria’s easy change of subject, Isobel nodded with more enthusiasm than she felt. “I remember. It’s just that it’s my last chance to see the boy for a few days. I believe Evangeline is off to visit a friend and Sealey will be staying with Lord Coldhurst.”
“A friend?” Victoria’s eyes sharpened. “What friend? I thought Lady Evangeline has been living in Scotland for the last five years.”
Isobel shrugged. “Which is probably why she wants to visit old acquaintances. Her mother, perhaps?”
A look of disbelief passed over Victoria’s face. “I somehow doubt that.”
She waited for her stepmother to say more, but when Victoria remained silent, Isobel bade her good morning and left to get ready for her outing.
But a shaft of unease followed her as she ascended the stairs. It was as if she could still feel her stepmother’s gaze upon her back, cold, as if someone had dropped a handful of snow down her gown.
Chapter 3
Upon reaching Cassandra’s house, Isobel didn’t even have to leave her carriage to reassure her conscience. The number of flower arrangements being delivered, and presence of a dozen or so men seeking entrance to deliver their calling cards, indicated that Victoria had predicted correctly. The attentions of Lord Labourd had, overnight, turned Cassandra into the most sought-after debutante of the season.
So Isobel gave herself a little hug and directed her driver to move on. She was particularly happy to see Lord London walking up the steps. Cassandra was half in love with the young Viscount. To think she might have a hand in securing her friend’s happiness warmed her.
Isobel was still congratulating herself when the carriage stopped outside Evangeline’s house. The carriage door opened. Isobel extended her hand to take that of the footman sent to help her alight, only to find the hand she clasped belonged to none other than Lord Labourd.
“How lovely to see you again, Lady Isobel,” he said, and before she could steel herself for another lethal assault on her senses, he drew her from the carriage into the light of day.
Once on the ground, Isobel found herself face-to-face with a solid, masculine chest in an elegant midnight blue waistcoat. In her mind, however, that chest was brazenly, gloriously naked.
Scrabbling for composure, she seized control of both her mind and her wits and glanced up to deliver a civil thank-you. But that upward glance proved to be a mistake.
Lord Labourd’s mouth was curved in a lazy smile that instantly doubled her pulse rate. Dark curls framed his face; the few hanging across his forehead tempted her to reach out and push them aside so she could see into his long-lashed, hazel eyes. As if reading her thoughts, he released her hand and brushed the errant curls away.
She wished she could take a step back, but the carriage blocked her. His eyes glimmered with frank interest and held her riveted in place.
Fool.She realized she was staring again, and made as if to step round him. He merely angled his body, purposely blocking her way.
“Excuse me, my lord. I’m late for an appointment, and little boys tend not to be very forgiving.”
He was studying her as if trying to read her mind. “You’re here for Sealey?”
Not that it was any of his business, but she nodded her confirmation. “I promised him a walk in the park.”
A frown formed on his handsome features. “You do realize Lady Evangeline was shot a few days ago.”
She wasn’t a fool. “I’m not sure what bearing that has. I was told it was an attempted robbery. Are you saying it is not so?”
She edged round him as she spoke, and a moment later was walking swiftly up the stairs and into the house.
Labourd’s long legs kept pace with her at a casual stroll. “We assume it was a robbery, but one can never be too careful.”
