Page 13 of One Night of Surrender
“I was.My husband passed away six years ago, and I was fortunate to find this position with Lord Barkley’s family.”
“We’re the ones who are fortunate,” Beatrice said softly.Isabelle’s heart warmed.
“Do you girls have umbrellas?”the dowager asked, abruptly changing the topic.“It’s going to rain by the time we stop again.”
“We do not,” Isabelle said.
Lady Viola waved her hand.“No matter.Shall we take them to Dalwiddy’s, Grandmama?”
“Of course.”
A few minutes later, they stopped in front of a shop with an array of parasols and umbrellas.There, the dowager once again purchased umbrellas for the girls, as well as one for Isabelle, who felt odd about accepting such a gift.She’d done so anyway because Lady Viola had silently pleaded with her not to refuse.
Afterward, the rain began in earnest, and they decided to make their way directly to Gunter’s.Inside the sweet shop, Lady Viola situated her grandmother at a table, then joined Isabelle and the girls at the counter.Beatrice and Caroline gaped at the array of confections.
“I can’t decide what to have,” Beatrice said, sounding worried.
Caroline’s eyes were wide.“I want one of everything.”
“Take your time choosing,” Lady Viola said.
The man behind the counter handed Lady Viola a plate of sugar icing drops.She smiled gratefully.“Thank you.”Turning to Isabelle, she said, “This is Grandmama’s peppermint diavolini.He knows to dish it up as soon as we arrive.I’ll be right back.”
Isabelle helped Beatrice choose a dish of elderflower ice cream, while Caroline selected an elaborate swan made of spun sugar.Holding her plate with the swan, she looked up at Isabelle.“It’s almost too pretty to eat.”
“Almost?”Isabelle asked with a smile.
“Oh, I shall eat it.”Caroline pressed her lips together with youthful determination and followed her sister to the dowager’s table.
Lady Viola returned to Isabelle.“Have you decided what you’re going to get?”
“I don’t need anything,” Isabelle said.
“Oh, come now.You must have something.Even if it’s just a bit of diavolini.Grandmama prefers the peppermint, but the chocolate is the best.Don’t tell her I said that.You must try some.”Lady Viola ordered several pieces, and Isabelle decided there was no point in arguing.
“Papa!”Caroline’s excited squeal filled the shop, and Isabelle turned her head to see Lord Barkley enter.He was not alone.
On his heels was the man she’d so desperately needed to avoid.
CHAPTER 5
Val took in the image of his sister standing with his former lover, the two looking quite friendly.For a moment, he simply stared at them, wondering what they might be discussing.Isabelle knew all about Viola, but his sister didn’t know a thing about Isabelle.And things would likely stay that way.
Barkley went to join his daughters, who sat with Val’s grandmother.She appeared to be managing the girls quite well.They sat straight and still and, after Miss Caroline’s outburst upon their arrival, spoke quietly.
Walking to the counter just as the man behind it handed a plate of diavolini to his sister, Val plucked up one of the sugary confections and popped it into his mouth.“Delicious.”He looked at Isabelle.“Have you ever tried it?”
“Not yet.”
“You must.”He just barely stopped himself from picking up another and feeding it to her himself.What the hell was he thinking?The answer was simple: that he was ten years younger, back at Oxford the day he’d brought Isabelle a box of confections.Then he’d kissed her, and she’d tasted even sweeter than the spun sugar flower he’d given her.
That was an exceedingly treacherous line of thought, so he abandoned it at once.“How was shopping?”he asked.
“You know Grandmama,” Viola answered, “she bought everyone umbrellas and ribbons for the girls.”
A small group of people came into the shop, prompting Val to suggest they sit.He guided them to the table next to his grandmother’s, which was already full.He held Isabelle’s chair as she sat down, and immediately received a curious glance from Viola.Because propriety said he should have held her chair first.Just as ten years ago, Isabelle quite made him forget common sense.
Before he could help Viola, she’d deposited herself into a chair.“I didn’t realize you were meeting us here.”
