Page 60 of Duchess By Accident
Natalie blushed. “I did not.”
Adrian watched the exchange with quiet amusement.It seems her brother is in a better mood, no doubt it is to do with his lady love.
“It is good to see you, Lord Peter. Did you bring your delightful companion to meet your sister and I?” Adrian glanced around.
“I did.” His face fell slightly. “Though I am not sure what it will achieve. Her father is rather dead set against the match.”
“By the end of this week, he will not be.” Adrian said.
“I hope you are right. Oh, there she is!” Peter waved at someone through the crowd, and as Adrian followed his gaze, his heart plummeted.
A pretty blonde woman with blue eyes wearing a yellow dress moved towards them. Every part of Adrian prayed that she was not the woman Peter had beckoned to, but a moment later, she stood in front of them.
“Duke Blackwood, Natalie – ow – I mean Duchess Blackwood, this is Lady Isabelle Bellmond, daughter of the Earl of Lincoln.” Peter beamed at them, standing aside so Lady Isabelle could see them better.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Isabelle. My brother has not stopped singing your praises.” Natalie said, curtseying to Lady Isabelle. “Though, he did neglect to tell me your name until now.”
“That is rather typical of my dearest Briggs.” Lady Isabelle beamed at Peter, her eyes big and bright.
Adrian forced himself to relax, knowing that the tension in his shoulders would too easily transmit his discomfort to people around him. That would lead to questions, and he could not afford that.Curse me for a fool – how could I not have looked into this more?
He glanced at Natalie who was looking between her brother and his companion as though she had never seen something so wonderful.She is happy for them. She wants them to be together.
Natalie gave her brother an affectionate squeeze. “I often say he would forget his head if it was not attached.”
“I say the same.” Lady Isabelle laughed and then turned to Adrian, her eyes flashing in recognition as she dropped into a curtsey. “It is good to see you, Duke Blackwood.”
“And you, Lady Isabelle. It has been… quite some time.” He bowed to her, using the movement to give him time to school his face into cool neutrality.
“Yes, it has.” Lady Isabelle answered, her mouth quirking downwards.
Natalie’s eyes widened and she looked between the two of them. “You know each other?”
Adrian made a noncommittal noise. “Lady Isabelle is the cousin of the late Duchess, Claire Stone.”
“We were like sisters. I spent many happy nights at Blackwood Castle.” Lady Isabelle let out a sigh. “It is a shame we fell out of touch when my cousin passed.”
“Correspondence was not high on my list of priorities at the time, Lady Isabelle. I trust you will forgive my rudeness.” His voice was colder than he had meant it, but with any luck they would put it down to remembered grief.
How much does she know?He had cut everyone from that time from his life, pruned them away. They were too much a risk to him, to his daughter. There was every chance this woman could ruin everything.I cannot let that happen.
“Of course, Your Grace. Very understandable, especially after the loss you suffered.” Lady Isabelle smiled at him, an echo of her cousin’s.
Their eyes met and Adrian felt like there was some hidden meaning beneath her words.She knows. She must know the truth.He forced himself to smile back at her, relaxing his shoulders with what seemed like a gargantuan effort.
“You never told me that you knew Duke Blackwood!” Lord Peter gave his companion an affronted look. “That could have saved me an introduction.”
“It was a long time ago, my dearest Briggsy. And as I say, we fell out of touch. There is every chance the Duke may have forgotten me.” Lady Isabelle squeezed Lord Peter’s arm gently.
Adrian’s veins had turned to ice. He needed to move back into control, needed to think clearly but panic gripped him too tightly.Calm yourself. There is no reason to panic. She is just being friendly.
Lord Peter smiled at Lady Isabelle. “I cannot imagine anyone forgetting you.”
“Flatterer.” She blushed and looked away.
“It is the truth. You are utterly unforgettable.” Lord Peter put a hand on his heart.
“And you are incorrigible.” She gently pushed him away.
