Page 44 of One Night of Surrender
The dowager nodded.“I understand.”She started to rise, then sat back down again.“This blessed cold has made my legs so stiff.”
Isabelle rushed to help her up.“Are you going upstairs?”
“Yes, I need to choose my gown for this evening.I’m taking His Grace to Almack’s.Finally.”She said the last with a note of triumph.
Isabelle tried not to deflate in utter defeat.
“When will you know if this position at the girls’ school will be forthcoming?”the dowager asked.“If you’d like to travel to Oxford, I’d be happy to arrange it.You could even leave tomorrow.”
It was possible she was simply being kind, but Isabelle heard the note of anticipation in the dowager’s voice.Isabelle had known staying here would be temporary, and she decided it was probably time to go.
“I would like that, thank you.”
“I’ll arrange it now.”The dowager left, her gait more stilted than normal due to her aching joints.
Isabelle returned to the table to pick up the letter.When she turned to exit the library, she nearly ran into Viola, who breezed inside wielding her notebook, a pencil jutting from her hair.
“Grandmama said you’re going to Oxford tomorrow about a teaching position.Is that true?”Viola seemed less enthusiastic than the dowager, her expression even slightly distressed.
“Yes.”Isabelle held up the letter.“I received an invitation from one of the schools I wrote to.”
“That’s…wonderf—” Viola pressed her lips together.“No, it’s terrible.”
Isabelle blinked at her.“It is?”
“Well, yes!I, er, I need you.”Viola put her hand on her hip.“I’ve never had a chaperone I liked before.”
Isabelle was skeptical.“Have you ever even had a chaperone?”
“No.But that doesn’t disprove my statement.”
Isabelle couldn’t resist the smile that rose to her lips.“While I appreciate that very much, I am not a chaperone.I don’t accompany you to any events, nor would I want to.I wouldn’t know how to behave at a rout or, heaven forbid, a ball.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”Viola seemed genuinely interested.
“I don’t dance, for one.”
“As my chaperone, you wouldn’t need to dance.Anyway, I rarely dance either.”She lifted her hand from her hip and slashed it through the air.“Only when Val or one of his friends asks me because they’re trying to avoid dancing with anyone else.If you came with me, you’d be my ally on the perimeter, my confidante.Well, along with my friends.”
Isabelle could imagine those friends were likely sisters or daughters of dukes themselves.She would be utterly outclassed.“If you’re trying to persuade me, you’re failing, I’m afraid.And please don’t think I don’t appreciate your kindness, but I am far more fond of books and learning than parties and socializing.”
“Oh, I’m not being kind,” Viola said.“I’m being selfish.You would love my friends.They are also fond of books and learning.You and Felicity would get along exceedingly well, I think.And now that Diana’s joined us, I am confident you and she would be thick as thieves.”
“Are you playing matchmaker?”
Viola’s head snapped up, her sky-blue eyes wide.“Absolutely not.”Her reaction was both rapid and intense.
“With friends, I mean,” Isabelle clarified, though now another thought was taking root…
“Oh, well then, yes.I haven’t even begun to tell you about Priscilla.You may like her best of all.”
Isabelle considered Viola’s behavior—today as well as Monday when they’d left the Wicked Duke.In the hack, she’d asked if Isabelle was truly ill.Preferring to avoid conversation entirely, particularly anything to do with Val, she’d said yes.Even so, Viola had asked if Val had taken care of her since they’d been gone together for so long.Isabelle had responded with a vague “Somewhat.”Then she’d laid her head against the side of the hack and closed her eyes, effectively putting an end to further interrogation.
In hindsight, Isabelle had to wonder if Viola had organized the entire thing—well, obviously not theentirething.She was aware that Isabelle and Val had some sort of closer association than they’d acknowledged.Both she and Val had been foolish enough in their actions and words.
“Viola, are you playingactualmatchmaker?”
Feigned surprise was quickly followed by resignation and then total accountability.“Yes.Someone has to.You and Val are apparently never going to find your way to each other on your own.”
