Chapter 15

Chapter 15

A week passed, and Isabella had received no word from Mr. Alton. It was making her feel as if her sanity was quickly slipping away. She skipped some meals and overate on others. Eliza was getting tired of her constantly asking if she'd received any word yet.

Eventually, Isabella wondered if it was worthwhile simply giving up hope entirely. Had Mason led her on a ruse? Was Eliza keeping the information from her to try and keep her safe?

"You've been staring out that window an awfully long time," Eliza said, pulling her from her thoughts.

"I'm bored," Isabella said. "I've had a taste of adventure, and now life seems tedious. There's just nothing exciting in my day."

Eliza sighed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I've still had no word from Mr. Langley. I hate to see you this way. You barely even read anymore."

"The books just make it worse," Isabella confessed. "I can't stop thinking about it. How badly I want to see him again so that we can be off on our next adventure."

"Well, I can't promise this is as exciting, but I have a letter from the duke for you," Eliza said, holding out an envelope.

Isabella took it from her and scanned through the words. A small spark of excitement fluttered in her then.

"We've been invited for tea," she said with a bright smile. "Perhaps it is to discuss any progress in the investigation."

"It could be," Eliza said. "Still, I think his interest in you goes well beyond that. You mark my words."

Isabella responded with haste. There was a chance that Mr. Alton would be attending as well. Just the thought of seeing him again, knowing how they had worked their way through the inns, searching for clues, would be enough to get her through another few days.

Finally, the tedium of her everyday life was being disrupted by something of interest. It was enough to spark a new appetite in her and suddenly, she was eager for dinner.

"This time, it will really be tea, though," Eliza teased. "I doubt the duke will be pulling the same kind of ruse as Mr. Alton. At least, I hope not."

"The tea is only tomorrow," Isabella said. "What will I do to keep myself busy until then? Oh, this is torture, Eliza. I can barely think straight."

It was a long day after that, and Isabella hardly slept. The excitement she felt at the thought of seeing him again made it impossible. And all the next morning, she spent merely waiting for the time to pass until the carriage was there to take them to the duke's manor.

However, Mason never arrived for the tea party. It had not been the kind of event she had hoped it would. There was no discussion of the investigation, there were merely pleasantries. Eventually, they all went for a stroll in the gardens.

Her mother and father walked ahead as the duke showed Isabella all the latest additions to his garden. Eliza followed closely behind.

Was that the kind of life that was expected of most women? To have tea and stroll in the gardens? While Isabella knew there was more to it than that, she also knew there was an alternative option.

There was an entire world out there with different cultures and expectations. The sailors had told her many stories of countries they'd seen and women they'd come to know. It had liberated her in some way.

The problem was not with society, it seemed. The problem was with London. A strict place with many expectations and far too many manners.

She pulled herself back to the conversation where the duke was explaining to her about his plans to install a new fountain. He pointed out the area and explained the entire system to her in great detail.

"I love the sound of running water," she said, making sure to add to the conversation. "I find it to be rather calming."

"As do I," the duke answered. "I'm pleased you like my idea. I intend to start construction next week."

"Excellent," Isabella said with a forced smile. "I look forward to seeing it when it's done."

It was just polite conversation, that was all. While that was enough for everyone else, it could not be enough for Isabella. She longed for more than flowers and fountains, but she was still expected to be polite.

The duke straightened his jacket nervously. He opened his mouth to speak a few times, but nothing came out. He was evidently on edge, which only made Isabella nervous, too. But it seemed eventually, he found the courage to say what was on his mind.

"Miss Owen, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I have become rather interested in you," the duke said.

"Oh," she answered in disbelief. "That's good to know."

"I think you're intelligent and beautiful to look at," he said, his face turning pink. "I can't go on as a widower forever, now can I?"

Isabella didn't know what to say in response to that. Her day was not going at all according to plan. He looked at her with such hope.

"Thank you," she said feebly. "You're a good man. In fact, I've never known anyone to have a bad word against you."

It was all she could think to fill the silence. She couldn't just walk alongside him speechless, now could she? It wasn't the best response, but he seemed happy for it anyway. The duke let out a small, relieved sigh.

Eliza had been right. There had been intent in the way the duke had been looking at her before. He was interested in her, after all. Isabella's mouth went dry. She had gone there hoping to see Mr. Alton, and instead was faced with another decision.

As she looked up, she caught a glimpse of her mother turning back to flash her a knowing smile. Her parents seemed so proud of her. It was what they had wanted, after all.

There were many problems for Isabella, though. He had a son that was almost the same age as her. The duke was significantly older. How long would they be married before he became decrepit?

The age difference wasn't unusual in any way. However, it was more than she had hoped for. If she had to get married, she could only hope it was to someone younger, who might have more in common than her.

While the duke was perfectly eligible, she knew nothing about him. The little they had spoken had not been particularly interesting.

"I will give you some time to think about it," the duke said. "I understand this must come as quite a surprise to you, considering how little time we've spent together."

Isabella nodded.

"You strike me as remarkable," the duke said again. "The way you didn't hesitate to throw that book at that man. There aren't many people like you."

"Thank you," she said again. "I promise you, I will take your words seriously. I ask only for a few days."

"Take all the time you need," the duke said. "Although I'll be eager for a formal response from you, it is not my intent to pressure you."

Her mother and father glanced back a moment and she saw the pride in their eyes. She knew there would not be other options coming along. She was too old and, as she'd pointed out to Mr. Alton, undesirable.

The more attention the duke gave her, the more she thought of Mr. Alton. There was a difference in the kind of attention she got from both men. While the duke was equally as kind, it felt as if there was more reward from the attention she got from Mr. Alton.

Mr. Alton had seen the world and knew so much more than any of them. When he complimented her, it felt as if it was worth more. He was not comparing her to the other women of London. He was comparing her to the rest of the world.

That carried significantly more weight.

Spending time with him made minutes feel like hours. She had lived an entire lifetime in one afternoon at Mr. Alton's side. Spending time with the duke felt more like spending time with an older uncle.

Still, all eyes were on her for the rest of the afternoon. The expectation of it all was bearing down on her, and suddenly, she wished to be back at her window enjoying a perfectly boring afternoon.

It seemed that without adventure, her life lost meaning. She had hoped that experiencing adventure once would quench her thirst for it. Instead, it created an addiction in her that affected every second of her day.

It left a taste in her mouth that made her thirstier than she'd ever been in her life before, and nothing could bring it to an end. It filtered into her every dream, creating mornings of despair. It left a feeling of longing in her, a hole that could not be filled.

"Well, you can be proud of yourself," her mother said in the carriage home. "I knew you'd get his attention."

Isabella smiled.

"Oh, come on, be happier than that," her mother said. "He's not just anybody. He's a duke!"

"And not just any duke," her father added. "The Duke of Trent! London's most beloved duke."

Isabella didn't know what to say. There was so much pressure in that carriage that it was suffocating her. She wished to open the door and jump out into the cold air. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts for a moment.

"I know," she eventually said. "This is what you'd hoped for."

"He's a good man," her mother assured her. "He'll make sure you're well taken care of. You'd never want for anything. I can't say I'm surprised this has happened. I saw the way he was looking at you when we were here last."

The only problem was that the very thing she wanted was impossible for the duke to give her. She wanted freedom and a life outside of the city.

"You cannot take this lightly," her mother said. "You're a wonderful woman, and I'd hate to see you live your life alone. You know how tough it can be out here."

"I know, Mother," she said, glancing downward.

"Give her a moment," her father added. "It is much to take in. I know Isabella will do what's right. She's never let us down before. Besides, we're all tired after a lovely tea, aren't we?"

Isabella smiled at her father then. He always came to her aid when she needed it. However, she knew that there was pressure from him as well. Her father wanted to see her married just as much as her mother did.

"Think on it with haste," her mother said. "I don't think the duke will wait long. He is lonely and in need of company, and there are many eligible women out there."

"Yes, Mother," she answered politely. "I assure you, I am taking this very seriously."

They spoke of her life so easily. Was that the fate of all women? To merely be raised as a wife and take the first husband who was interested? That wasn't enough for her.

But Isabella was one woman against the world. She could not change a society at a whim. And who was to say she was right after all? Perhaps a married life was a better choice than a life of adventure. Safer, almost certainly.

Isabella merely wanted a life that made her feel fulfilled. Perhaps that would come from adventure. Perhaps, like most other women, it would come from marriage and family.

Would the duke want more children? He already had a grown and married son. Perhaps he wasn't even interested in that.

The thoughts all made her dizzy. She needed a distraction. No distraction came as she crawled into bed that night, and thoughts of her decision made for a sleepless night.