Page 75 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
The woman frowned as Isabella stilled for just a moment before pouring each of them a cup.
“Found her?” Catherine repeated.
“I’m certain Catherine does not need to hear the story, Ellie,” said Nash, putting just enough warning in his voice.
Ellie looked at him defiantly. “It’s a wonderful story, Nash. You are a hero, and I wish everyone to know it.”
“A hero?” said Catherine. “My goodness! What did you do?”
“I’ll tell you precisely what happened,” Ellie told her. “My brother was on his way back from visiting Aunt Roslyn when he found an unconscious Isabella on the side of the road.”
“Heavens!” Catherine exclaimed, turning to Isabella, who looked a tad pale. “What were you doing on the side of the road?”
“She doesn’t recall a thing,” Ellie answered. “Isn’t that the oddest thing?”
Catherine’s jaw dropped. “She lost her memory?”
“Ellie ...” Nash said, calling his sister.
Ellie waved her hand at him, dismissing his second warning. “Oh, Nash. Do not be so modest! Let me continue with the story.”
“Oh, please do,” their guest encouraged.
“Well, Nash lifted Isabella in his arms despite how filthy she was and brought her home where he had our servants take care of her. My dear brother even gave her a job and a place to stay after she recovered, or she would have been on the street! Is that not wonderful of him? Who would humble themselves so much to help a mere commoner?”
It took Nash more than a moment to understand that telling this story had nothing to do with painting him a hero but humiliating Isabella.
“That is enough with the story,” he said firmly. “Isabella has become a part of this family, and I would help her all over again if the opportunity presented itself.”
Nash looked to Isabella, hoping his words had softened the hurt his sister had caused her, but the damage had been done. The hurt in her eyes cut to his soul, painfully twisting his insides.
Nash had not wanted to give Catherine something to gossip about by arguing with his sister, but perhaps he should have risked the gossip and protected Isabella instead. Needless to say, he was a cad.
“Will that be all, My Lady?” Isabella asked, her voice surprisingly firm.
“Yes,” said Ellie, triumph shining in her eyes. “You truly are a good servant, Isabella. My brother was right to employ you.”
“Thank you, My Lady,” said Isabella, curtsying before she left.
“She will be in your debt for the rest of her life,” Catherine told Nash, not picking up on the tension in the room.
Nash wished to scold the women and go after Isabella, but that would only heap more troubles upon their heads. Instead, he silently prayed that she would forgive him for not keeping his word of protecting her.
Chapter 16
Avoiding the duke and his sister was no easy task when one worked for them. Juliana could not refuse a summons, but she certainly kept out of their way as much as possible.
Despite days having passed since the humiliation she had experienced at the hands of Lady Stratford, Juliana was finding it challenging to overcome her hurt emotions. Perhaps she might have set the moment aside as something childish and silly if not for the betrayal that sat upon her heart and mind like a milestone about her neck.
The duke’s silence had caused the bulk of her pain, and while he had finally come to her defence and put an end to his sister’s intentions to shame her before their guest, it had come too late.
A duck squawked behind her, bringing her back to her surroundings with a firm jolt. Juliana moved out of the way, allowing the servants carrying the noisy creatures to pass. The animals would likely end up roasted on the master’s table or made into a thick stew with root vegetables.
Cook had a marvellous recipe for duck smothered in a delicious brown sauce and served on blackened carrots. She refused to share the recipe with anyone, but Juliana was sure she could taste brandy in the thick sauce and perhaps a little juniper berry.
The woman kept a book filled with handwritten recipes she had acquired over the years, some traditional and others that were so outlandish that Juliana doubted the meal was edible.
Cook had once allowed her to use the book to help her prepare an intricate dish of goose livers, chicken hearts, and calf foot, but under the condition that Juliana did not rifle through her “secret” pages.
