Page 14 of One Night of Surrender
“I decided to accompany Barkley.”
The baron, seated at the adjoining table, angled himself toward them.“I told the girls there would be a surprise, but I’m afraid it isn’t quite ready, so I brought His Grace instead.”He flashed a broad smile at his daughters, as if bringing Val would somehow impress them.
Val could see it did not.Did it, however, impress Isabelle?He sent a surreptitious glance in her direction.She was finally trying one of the diavolini.Lifting a piece, she parted her lips and set it in her mouth, giving him just the briefest glimpse of her tongue.
Grandmama straightened in her chair, as if her ramrod-stiff spine could get any more vertical, while she addressed Barkley.“I was just speaking with the girls in Greek before you arrived, Lord Barkley.They have been well schooled.”She sent a staunch look of approval toward Isabelle before returning her hawklike gaze to the girls.“Now tell me, what are your favorite dances and what instruments do you play?”
Miss Caroline pulled a face that made Val’s grandmother suck in her breath.“We haven’t learned any of that yet.”
Isabelle reached over and gently touched the girl’s hand, then leaned to her ear and whispered something.Miss Caroline nodded, then relaxed her features and murmured, “Pardon me.”
Grandmama snapped her gaze to Isabelle.“Don’t you instruct them on such things?It’s past time Miss Spelman began to master a musical instrument.”
“I don’t teach music or dancing,” Isabelle said, folding her hands in her lap.
“I see.”Grandmama’s disapproval was evident, and Val studied Isabelle for any sign of reaction, but there was none.She was good.Very good.Or perhaps she didn’t care what his grandmother thought.Why should she?
Val didn’t want Isabelle to feel slighted.“Grandmama, Mrs.Cortland is one of the most highly educated women in England.Her father was well regarded at Oxford.”
“Did you know him?”
“He wasn’t warden of my college, but I attended a few of his lectures.He was a renowned scholar of Greek literature.”It was at one of those lectures that he’d met Isabelle, who’d been seated in the rear dressed as a lad.She’d escaped everyone’s notice but Val’s.He’d been the last to leave and had seen Isabelle stand.She’d dropped her book and when she’d bent to retrieve it, her hat had fallen off, and he’d seen what she’d attempted to disguise: that she wasn’t a young scholar, but a beautiful girl.
“We didn’t hire Mrs.Cortland to teach the girls music and embroidery and all of that lady…stuff,” Barkley said.“That will be handled by someone else.”He picked up a piece of Grandmama’s diavolini.Val heard Viola’s intake of breath and exchanged a look with her.Grandmama didn’t share her peppermints withanyone.
Barkley brushed his hands together, oblivious to the icy stare Grandmama had directed at him.“Time to leave, girls.I do have that surprise for you at home.Rather, at His Grace’s residence.Soon, wewillbe home.Our town house may be ready more quickly than anticipated.”
Val rushed to speak before his grandmother called Barkley out about the peppermint.“Because you harass the workers there multiple times a day.One might think my hospitality is lacking.”
“Of course not!”Barkley laughed jovially, still unaware of Grandmama’s agitation.He looked around at everyone, not just his daughters.“Are we ready, then?”
“I am not,” Grandmama said coolly.“But don’t let me stop you from leaving.”She looked over at Val.“Don’t you go, however.My coach will deliver you home.”
Barkley stood and ushered his girls to follow suit.“Thank you for your generosity today, Your Grace.”He bowed to Val’s grandmother, then turned expectantly to Mrs.Cortland, who was rising from her chair.Lord Barkley moved to help her, grazing his hand against her back as she stood.
Val was disappointed to see Isabelle go—this was the only time they’d spent together since that first night.Not that it was the kind of time he wanted to spend with her.He wanted to be alone with her, to discover all the things about her that were different and all the things that were the same.He realized he wanted to go back in time, as if that were possible.
They couldn’t, and he’d do best to remember that.She was a temptation he couldn’t indulge, a memory he had to leave behind.
Isabelle stood and dipped a curtsey, despite the closeness of the seating arrangement, toward the dowager.“Thank you, Your Grace.”Then she looked toward Viola.“Lady Viola.”
Viola smiled broadly at her.“I hope to see you again, Mrs.Cortland.”
Barkley and Isabelle departed with the girls, and Grandmama immediately narrowed her eyes at Viola.“Why would you see Mrs.Cortland?”
With a shrug, Viola picked up the last remaining chocolate diavolini.“Perhaps we’ll take them shopping again.We should go to Hatchards.I daresay she’d love that.As would the girls.”
Yes, Isabelle should go to Hatchards.Why hadn’t Val thought of that?
“I don’t think we need to take them shopping again,” Grandmama said as she reached for her last peppermint.“I’ve done my favor to Eastleigh, and that is enough.”
“You seemed to like them,” Viola said with a hint of exasperation.
“That doesn’t mean I need to dote upon them.I’m a busy woman, Viola.Besides, their father is a boor.”Grandmama pursed her lips in distaste before placing the peppermint in her mouth.
Val turned toward Viola.“How did you find them?”
“Delightful.The girls are curious and charming, and Mrs.Cortland is terribly clever.I should like to welcome her into my circle of friends.”
