Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Isabelle’s shoulders slumped as she stared at the fat drops of rain beating against her window. True to his word, Richard had kept her locked in her room all night, never relenting as he’d had her food sent up on trays. The eerie sound of the wind shifting the gutters sent a shiver down her spine.

What if he never lets me out of this room ever again?

She couldn’t help wondering if her current fate was better than marrying a man like Lord James.

“Isabelle?” Caroline’s muffled voice carried through the door, startling Isabelle from her thoughts.

Holding her breath, Isabelle scrunched up her nose and pursed her lips, hoping in vain that her future sister-in-law would leave her alone. The very last thing that she needed was to see Caroline gloating in her triumph.

“Isabelle, I know you aren’t asleep. I want to talk to you,” her voice trailed off behind the sound of furniture legs scraping across the floor.

Why did Richard even feel the need to take extra precautions? Did he perhaps think that her unwillingness to marry Lord James had granted her superhuman abilities to pick locks? Or perhaps he viewed her as sinister in light of the recent events?

The thoughts had Isabelle shaking her head as the key turned in the lock.

“May I come in?” Caroline asked in an uncharacteristically meek voice as the door creaked open.

“Would you leave if I said no?” Isabelle pursed her lips and raised her eyebrow in a challenge.

Heaving a sigh, Caroline turned to the footman and dismissed him before shutting the door behind her.

“Aren’t you afraid I might overpower you and run away?” Isabelle turned her head back to the window as Caroline perched beside her on the bed.

“No, and I don’t agree with your brother locking you in a room either. I have told him that he needs to come and let you out once you and I have had a discussion.” She folded her hands in her lap and glanced at her slender fingers before facing Isabelle.

“I’m surprised that you would want me to leave this room. Is this not what you wanted all along? To have me out from under your feet no matter the cost?” Isabelle spoke her mind, no longer fearing the consequences of her words. She had already been treated like a prisoner. What else could they possibly do to her now?

Caroline’s face paled slightly as she turned her gaze back to her lap. “Is that truly what you think of me? Am I nothing but a monster in your eyes?” Her voice seemed softer and lower, lacking the usual bite.

“I do think that you want me out of this house. I won’t sit here and pretend to be ignorant on that score.” Isabelle turned her head to the side, examining her future sister-in-law’s face.

“I can see why you would think that. I haven’t exactly been gentle in my approach to matters. Believe it or not, I do want you to be taken care of. I know how uncountable it can be for a lady when she passes a marriageable age. Being a lowly spinster may seem like a romantic idea, but it can prove to be far more uncomfortable than it appears in Romance novels.” She fidgeted with the fabric of her dress, picking at an invisible loose thread.

“And am I to sacrifice my freedom and tie myself to a hateful man in the name of comfort? Forgive me for questioning your views on the matter, but I do not see how such a sacrifice can benefit me in the long run.”

“Lord James will be able to provide you with money, comfort, and close proximity to nobility. Even as a second son of a marquess, Lord James will still be seen as more noble than an earl without an heir.” Caroline raised her head again, almost pleading with Isabelle to see her point of view on the matter.

Feeling exasperation flood her chest, Isabelle sighed heavily and shook her head. “Why does everyone look down on Lord Ashford because he never sired an heir? For all we know, it could have been his wife who was barren. And besides the point, I have never once expressed my willingness to marry Lord Ashford. We are friends, and that is all.” Her heart skipped a little as she spoke, bringing a strange kind of fluttering to the pit of her stomach.

He is just my friend, isn’t he?

Caroline shot her a pitying look as she chewed the inside of her cheek. “Isabelle, I may only be a few years older than you but believe me when I say that these friendships can become quite inconvenient and uncomfortable down the line. It is better to end your friendship now than have your heart broken later.”

Coming to her feet, Isabelle whipped around and gestured in the air with her hands. “There you go again with comfort and convenience. Why is it that nobody can see just how inconvenient this situation is for me? Just because my brother wished to sacrifice his happiness and freedom for a marriage, doesn’t mean that I should as well!” She let the words fly from her mouth without thinking.

Caroline’s face paled as her body stiffened, making Isabelle realize she’d overstepped.

“I didn’t mean to …” Isabelle began to stammer as she took a step back.

What was I thinking?

She suddenly felt flustered at the horrified look of shock on Caroline’s face.

“If you would excuse me, there are things that I need to attend to.” Caroline stood and excused herself quietly, attempting to hide the glistening tears in her eyes.

Richard appeared in the doorway just as Caroline reached the threshold. “There you are. I was just about to come looking for you,” he said, addressing his future bride with a concerned frown.

Looking past his head, Caroline took a deep breath. “There is no need to concern yourself with my well-being, My Lord, far be it from me to inconvenience you any further.” She lifted her head high and pushed past him, hurrying down the hall.

“Miss Sedgewick, what has happened?” Richard called after her in a flustered voice before rounding on his sister. “What the devil went on in here?” His eyes were bright with anger as he demanded a response.

“Nothing … we were just … we were …” She fumbled over her words as she began to regret her loose tongue.

“I demand to know this instant what you said to her. She was fine when she came up here to have a discussion with you.” His scars bulged as they always did when he was angry.

Swallowing hard, Isabelle placed her hand on her chest. “I simply mentioned that just because the two of you are sacrificing your happiness for a marriage of convenience does not mean that I have to as well.”

Richard’s jaw dropped open as he stared at her in horror. “After everything that we have all done for you, you have seen fit to ruin my marriage before it has even started. Has it never occurred to you that while I was marrying Caroline because of an arrangement, I still intended to make her happy?”

“Richard, I didn’t mean to. I wasn’t thinking …” Tears filled her eyes as Isabelle realized how foolish she had been.

“No! You never think, and that is exactly the problem. I may not have fallen in love with Caroline from the start, but I always intended to make her feel loved in our marriage!” His fingers curled into fists at his sides as he glared at her angrily, fuming with rage.

“I will go and speak to her …” The words had barely passed her lips when Richard blocked her path, barring her from leaving the room.

“No, you will stay in this room as I have instructed. I have allowed this situation to go on for far too long. I admit that I harboured the vain hope that giving you more time would allow you to accept the situation at hand, but I can see now that I have been foolish. You will marry Lord James, even if it is tomorrow. I do not care what the rest of the ton thinks.”

An icy shiver ran down her spine as Isabelle realized how serious her brother was being. “Richard, please …”

“It is far too late for pleading with me. I will go to Lord James and grovel on my knees if I have to, but marry him you shall!”

“But what if I am not happy?” Her eyes filled with tears as a lump of fear formed in the back of her throat.

“I do not care if you are happy or not. Your future husband can send you to the country and lock you up for all I care! It is no concern of mine if you never see us ever again. You shall marry Lord James, and that is the end of it!” Richard hurried from the room and slammed the door behind his back, making Isabelle jump with fright.

Her heart raced uncontrollably as she lifted a hand to her chest.

What should I do?

Panic filled her mind as she realized nobody would save her from the marriage.

Henry might …

The idea flashed through her mind, forcing her into action before she could think it through.

Hurrying to her desk, she pulled the chair out and took a seat before dipping the tip of her quill in the inkpot.

Dearest Lord Ashford,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to inform you of a rather disturbing development in our heroine’s story. She is to marry as soon as possible without any say in the matter. Despite trying her best to convince her captors, the heroine cannot make them see how vile and cruel the man actually is.

There is talk of money and wealth, yet no evidence can be produced to substantiate his claims. I am aware that you do not owe me anything, but if there is anyone in this world who is able to help me, it is you. Please, if you can find it in your heart to help me escape, I shall be eternally grateful to you.

Yours sincerely,

Isabelle Sutton.

PS. I shall be waiting pensively for your reply.

The tip of her quill had barely left the page when she began to blow on the ink. If she were to succeed in her endeavours, she needed to act as quickly as she could. Reaching into the top drawer of her desk, she pulled out the last few coins in her purse.

You truly are my only and final hope.

She took a moment to examine the three coins before closing her fist and carefully placing the letter in an envelope.

“My Lady, lunch is ready.” One of the footmen knocked on the door.

Perfect.

She jumped to her feet and hurried to let him in before shutting the door behind him.

The poor young man had barely placed the tray on her desk when Isabelle descended on him like a lightning bolt.

“I need your help. Will you take this letter to Lord Henry Montague, the Earl of Ashford? I will pay you for your help as well as your silence on the matter.” She thrust the letter along with the coins under the man’s nose.

Taking a step back from fright, the man blinked a few times before looking around the room. His light blue eyes widened with fear and uncertainty.

Taking a deep breath, Isabelle composed herself and lowered the letter as well as the money. “My apologies, Jimmy, that is your name, isn’t it? I have heard the other maids and footmen referring to you as Jimmy.”

“It is, My Lady.” Jimmy swallowed hard, using his sleeve to wipe a few beads of sweat that had formed on his ears.

Isabelle nodded with a reassuring smile despite the pounding of her heart. “I’m sorry if I frightened you, but I need your help. There is nobody in this house that I can trust. If you help me, I promise never to reveal it was you. I am not asking you to help me escape, just to deliver this letter for me.” Her hands trembled slightly as she raised the envelope and money again. “Please, I cannot tie myself down to a man like Lord James.”

Understanding filled the young man’s eyes as he reached up and accepted the offering along with the letter. “I will help you, My Lady.”

Relief flooded her body, making her feel as if she would collapse. “Thank you, Jimmy. You don’t understand what this means to me.”

The young man nodded as he placed the letter along with the coins in his breast pocket. “I understand, My Lady, and if it is not too bold of me to remark, none of the staff has ever taken a liking to Lord James.”

Tears of gratitude filled her eyes as Isabelle watched him leave the room, shutting the door behind him before locking it once again.

There is hope.

She sank back into her chair in front of the desk and sighed in relief. At least there was one person in the house that she knew would help her, even if it was out of pity.

Henry will help me, and not out of pity.

The thought startled her as the strange fluttering sensation returned to her stomach. Why was she so sure Henry would help her, and why did she want him to?

Images of knights fighting dragons to rescue the fair maiden filled her mind. Did she really believe that he would swoop in and carry her away to a better life, or was she hoping that he would just help her escape?

Why do I believe that he would save me?

She tried to reassure herself that she only thought of him as a saviour because of the night of the ball.

Henry always does what is right and chivalrous.

She pushed the unwanted thoughts aside and turned to her tray of food. She had been so distraught with her brother’s behaviour that she’d hardly touched her breakfast.

Her stomach growled angrily as she reached for the knife and fork, cutting off a sliver of roast chicken. If she was going to escape with Henry, she needed her strength to do so.

At least there is hope.

She began to shovel the food into her mouth, hungrily tearing at the poultry as if her life depended on it.

Henry would reply to her soon, she just knew that he wouldn’t leave her like this.