Page 19 of Duchess in Disguise
Isobel nodded as the woman walked past her, and then she suddenly blurted out.
“What about you?”
Deborah stopped in her tracks a few feet away from Isobel, moments passing before she slowly turned to face her.
“What about me?” the older woman echoed innocently.
Her actions were suspicious, and it further fueled Isobel’s urge to enquire.
“What are you doing up and about so late?”
Deborah blinked, then she said,
“I lost a brooch earlier today. It belonged to my aunt, and I treasured it greatly. I was rather upset to find out, as I was preparing for bed, that it wasn’t on my dresser, where it usually was at the end of the day. So I went out to look for it.”
Her excuse sounded plausible, but there was something odd about her tone.
“You should have waited until tomorrow, Aunt Deborah,” Isobel told her in a sweet voice, trying to be as charming as possible. “It will be easier to find it in the daylight. If by tomorrow, you have still not found it or no one has returned it to you, let me know. The maids and I comb the entire estate if we have to.”
Deborah quickly shook her head,
“Oh, no, dear. That is not necessary at all?—”
“I know how upsetting it is to lose something you valued greatly. I promise you, we will absolutely find it.”
Slowly, Deborah smiled, but unlike the ones she had given before, this one did not reach her eyes.
“You are the kindest angel. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, my dear. I will retire to my room now, as I have been up for longer than I should be.”
Isobel nodded, gesturing lightly in the direction Deborah was to go.
“Good night, Aunt Deborah.”
She watched her aunt until the older woman was out of sight before she exhaled and entered the library, telling herself not to forget to look into this missing brooch tomorrow.
As she expected, Richard was already there, looking as though he would much rather be anywhere else in the evening.
“You are late. Again.”
“I am sorry. I needed to speak with my father, and then I saw Aunt Deborah on my way here — which I thought was quite suspicious —”
“I’m not here to listen to your excuses. I am here to make sure you do not get yourself and your sister killed. Come. We will be working on your manners once more, because I believe you heard me last night, but did not quite understand what I said.”
“Why do you think so?” Isobel asked, refusing to move. “Did I do something wrong?”
“You hardly did anything right,” he sighed, exasperated. “When I told you to be charming enough to compel people, I did not mean you should cast them aside if your conversation is not fruitful.”
“But they were wasting my time! And I didn’t simply cast them aside — I politely excused myself. As far as I could tell, no one had anything of consequence to say. Most of them simply complained about the standards of enjoyment offered by the house as though this were an inn and I was the manager. It was irritating.” She protested.
“You cannot fall prey to such annoyances all the time. You must remember that they are your guests and you need to be courteous to them at all times.” He pointed out.
“All times? Why can’t they be courteous whilst in someone else’s home? I do not know how many things are done here, but in Scotland, being a guest in someone’s home is an honor. There, guests are respectful and well-behaved. You accept insults and mockery and call it being ‘well-mannered’ which I find utterly ridiculous!”
It was such a silly thing to argue about, and she did not actually care about any of the guests at the party. But she could not stand how much like her father Richard had not even attempted to commend her for her efforts before complaining about her faults.
“What is utterly ridiculous is you and your father being so intent on continuing this charade. You are not Valerie. You need a lifetime’s worth of tutoring before you can hope to embody half of the traits she manifests with ease. Perhaps you should simply call this whole thing off and head back to Scotland, with your nice guests and tactful society. If you still wish to try and do the right thing for your sister, then come here, and let me fix your posture again.”
Isobel blinked back tears and turned, walked to the door, hesitating with her hand on the knob for brief seconds before she turned back around and marched right to him.
