Page 2 of One Night of Surrender
“Is this your first time in London?”Mrs.Watkins asked.
Caroline turned from the window.“Yes.We’re going to visit the British Museum and Gunter’s, and Beatrice is hoping to shop on Bond Street.Papa said we can’t because Mama didn’t come with us.She had to go take care of Great-Auntie again.She’s sick.”
Mrs.Watkins’s brow creased, and she gave Caroline a heartfelt nod.“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’ll convince him to let Mrs.Cortland take us,” Beatrice said firmly.“I already asked him, and he said he’d think about it.”
Shopping on Bond Street?Isabelle wouldn’t know the slightest thing.Traipsing around London with the girls sounded equal parts harrowing and exciting.
“You’ve been to London before, then?”Mrs.Watkins asked Isabelle.
She shook her head.“No.”
“Well then, this shall be an adventure for all of you!”The footman arrived with the girls’ luggage, and Mrs.Watkins directed him to place it over by the armoire.
“Where will Mrs.Cortland sleep?”Caroline asked.“At home, her room is just up the stairs from ours.”
“Her room is upstairs here too.”Mrs.Watkins tipped her head toward Isabelle.“Shall I show you?”
Isabelle smiled in appreciation.“Thank you, but I’ll stay and help the girls unpack.I’m sure I can find my way if you give me the direction.”
“Just up the stairs—the door is at the end of the gallery—then to the right, second door on your left.I could send a maid up to unpack their things,” the housekeeper offered.
“Thank you, but that isn’t necessary.”Isabelle was more than happy to help the girls herself.She loved them as much as if they were her own children, in part because she didn’t have any and never would.
The housekeeper nodded.“I’ll leave you to it, then.”She departed with a smile, closing the door softly behind her.
“When will we meet the duke?”Caroline asked as Isabelle opened and began to unpack their valises.“I’ve never met a duke before.”
Isabelle hid a smile because Caroline had made that statement no less than half a dozen times since they’d learned they would be staying with the Duke of Eastleigh.
The name alone had caused Isabelle a fright.She’d never thought to hear it again, let alone be staying in his house.When she’d taken this governess position in Staffordshire five years ago, she never dreamed she’d come face-to-face with Valentine Fairfax, the Duke of Eastleight again.
And hopefully she wouldn’t.
Could she really stay here for a fortnight without seeing him?She was going to do her best.
“Maybe we’ll meet the duke at dinner,” Beatrice said, answering Caroline’s question about meeting the duke.“If we’re invited.”
Isabelle suffered another moment’s panic.What if Val invited them to dinner, and what if, God forbid, that invitation included her?She’d occasionally dined with Lord and Lady Barkley and the children, but hopefully, a duke’s household was far more formal, and she and the children would be excluded.“I’m not sure you should expect to dine at the duke’s table,” Isabelle said as she handed a stack of undergarments to Beatrice to put away in the dresser.
“I suppose not,” Beatrice said, opening a drawer.“But it would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?”
Caroline snorted.“You would think so.”
Beatrice’s dark curls bounced against her narrow shoulders as she pursed her lips and threw her sister an irritated stare.“Who’s to say I’ll ever have cause to dine with a duke again?”
Indeed.Isabelle never had and hoped she never would.Not this duke and not any duke.She was not and had never been like Beatrice, who looked forward to her come out and being the belle of the Season.Isabelle just wanted to educate girls like Beatrice and help them understand there was more to life than dukes and balls.While Beatrice had soaked up knowledge like a dry biscuit dipped in tea, she remained steadfastly enchanted with becoming a debutante and shopping the Marriage Mart—for now.The girl was, after all, only thirteen.
Caroline held her arms out for a stack of clothing to put away.“Do you suppose he has a library?”
“Probably.”Isabelle had no idea if London homes had the same sorts of libraries as country houses, but the Val she remembered had been an avid reader, so she suspected he would.Unless he wasn’t the Val she remembered.Ten years was an awfully long time, and they had been incredibly young…
And naïve.
“I hope so,” Caroline said.“Perhaps we should go look after we unpack?”
Isabelle gave her a warm but firm look.“I think it’s best if you both rest for a bit while I go upstairs and see to my things.”
