Page 8 of One Night of Surrender
“Once you come to the Wicked Duke, you don’t want to go anywhere else.”Doyle looked toward the nearest table.“Am I right, lads?”
They all lifted their mugs, and Doyle chuckled, the flesh around his light blue eyes crinkling with humor.
“How is it having Barkley and his family stay with you?”Doyle asked.“He’s got children, hasn’t he?”
Val nodded.“I only saw them for dinner last night.”Which meant he hadn’t seen their governess today either.He’d been tempted to duck into the library under the pretense of finding a book, but had decided not to bother them.Isabelle had seemed genuinely concerned that she could lose her position if their past connection was known.
And what connection was that?They hadn’t seen each other in a decade.They were nothing more than acquaintances anymore.The realization stung, and yet what else should he have expected?
“Saw who?”The Duke of Colehaven arrived at the bar, and Doyle handed him his own mug emblazoned with “Colehaven.”
“My houseguests,” Val said.
“Has Barkley’s family turned your household upside down?”Cole asked.
“No.”But their governess was turning him inside out.“As I was just telling Doyle, I rarely see them.Anyway, it’s only for a fortnight.Maybe less.”
“You’re a good friend.”Cole drank the ale and looked appreciatively at the tankard.“This is fantastic beer, if I do say so myself.”
“You’re Barkley’s friend too,” Val pointed out.“Weren’t you the one who introduced us?Barkley might have asked to stay with you if you weren’t preparing to wed.”
“He wouldn’t want to come to my house.Diana has already launched her reorganization plan, and nothing is sacred.”Cole shuddered for comedic effect, but Val saw the underlying tenderness in his friend’s eyes.He was well and truly smitten.Had Val looked like that before he’d wed Louisa?Had he looked like that ten years ago when he’d known Isabelle?
He could ask Cole, who’d been present during both periods.But what did it matter?Louisa had been a licentious liar, and whatever he and Isabelle had shared had been fleeting—they’d known it then, and he knew it now.Even so, he couldn’t resist telling Cole she was back.
Val picked up his tankard and looked to Cole.“Sit with me in the private salon for a bit.”
Cole grabbed his ale and followed Val into the private salon, which was a smaller, quieter space with tables surrounded by plush, high-backed chairs perfectly situated for discreet conversations.They went to their favorite table set into the corner near the fireplace.No one sat there unless invited by one of them.
The private salon was fairly unpopulated this evening, with just a few tables sporting occupants.Which was good since Val was feeling particularly secretive.
Once they were seated with their backs to the walls, Cole sipped his ale before setting his mug on the polished table.“Is there anything amiss?”
“Amiss?No.Why would you think that?”
Cole shrugged.“You sounded serious when you asked to come in here.”
“It isn’t serious.It’s—” Val ran his hand through his hair and felt a lock tumble over his forehead as it was wont to do.Someday, he’d learn to stop raking his fingers through the style his valet prided himself on perfecting, but today was not that day.“Hell, I don’t know what it is.”He locked eyes with Cole, who’d been his closest friend for nigh on fifteen years when they’d been green lads in their first year at Oxford.“Barkley brought his governess.It’s Isabelle.”
Cole stared at him, mirroring the disbelief Val had felt when he’d first seen her yesterday.Then he leaned forward and whispered, as if they weren’t in a secluded location in a nearly empty room, “Isabelle Highmore?”
Val nodded as he settled back against the chair.He could’ve almost believed he’d dreamed her presence, but telling Cole somehow made it real.“Isabelle Cortland now.She’s widowed, and her father died.”
“I remember hearing he’d passed.She’s Barkley’s governess now?”
“For the past five years.It’s bloody bizarre, Cole.”
Cole blew out a breath.“I can imagine.Well, maybe I can’t.It’s been ten years since you’ve seen her.Did she remember you?”
Val stared at Cole as if he’d just spouted utter nonsense, which he had.“Of course she remembered me.She also wants nothing to do with me.”
“How do you know—” Cole narrowed his hazel eyes.“Did you proposition her?”
“No!Christ, she thought I did too.”
“If she thought so, you probably did.”
“I only said I would help her if she needed it.”Val exhaled with frustration.“I couldn’t believe she’d become a governess.I never envisioned her in that role.”
