At first, Izzy panicked. What if they told someone? Then she realized it didn't matter. She wasn't staying.
Or was she? What if she could convince Charles to take her back? She could stay and they could be married. Suddenly, the notion her father would ever have been proud of her seemed pointless. She'd wasted so many years with the single-minded focus that she needed his approval and acceptance. Well no more.
Izzy had a wonderful man right here who loved her and wanted to marry her. And she loved him just as much. She'd be crazy to give that up, no matter what time period and country they lived in. Suddenly anxious to tell Charles of her change of plans, she scurried down the rest of the steps. Having seen a large desk and bookcase in the den previously, she wondered if he spent a lot of his time there.
Izzy knocked on the den door and then pushed it open when he called out to come in.
"Charles?"
"Isabella! What are you doing down here?" He edged around his desk and hurried toward her.
Her heartbeat raced. He's coming to embrace me. But her heart sank when he reached around her and closed the door. Taking a step back, he crossed his arms. "Why are you walking around the house during the day?"
Izzy wanted to scream but controlled her anger. She'd come down to tell him of her change of heart, which was good news, and all he could do was scold her. Well she'd have her say. "Charles, I know you're angry, but there's something I need to say to you."
His response was to lift an eyebrow. The tapping of his boot on the floor was just a bonus. Apparently, he wasn't going to talk so it was up to her. Well all right.
"Charles, I've changed my mind. I'd like to stay. Here. With you."
"Oh you've changed your mind, have you? How wonderful for you, Lady Isabella."
Izzy placed her hands on her hips. "I thought this would be good news."
"You did, did you? I guess you've forgotten not more than two hours ago you stomped my heart into bits. It is not something a man recovers from so quickly."
"So there's a chance that you might."
He flicked a hand in her direction. "Go away. I don't have time for you right now. With the time spent getting prepared for the ball and…" he flicked a gaze toward the ceiling where the bedrooms were "…other events, I've gotten behind in my work."
"But Charles—"
"Good day, Miss Hodgkin, since we both know you're no lady."
Izzy fumed. She'd been dismissed, as if she were a servant. How dare he? Opening the door, she stepped into the hall. "We'll see who's dismissed." Using her full force, she slammed the door. The loud boom echoed through the whole downstairs.
From the kitchen, Sebastian waddled out into the hall. "Lady Isabella? What are you doing?"
She tapped her boot on the floor. "Showing my displeasure."
He took her arm, guiding her toward the back of the house. "Come with me, dear. Since we're to be family, we may as well get acquainted." He thinks there's still going to be a wedding. Hadn't Charles told him she was leaving? She chewed on her lip. Well, let him think it. Maybe between the two of them, they'd convince Charles to change his mind.
He led her into the kitchen, where wonderful smells of home cooked meals tantalized her nose. Before she'd come here, when was the last time she'd eaten anything home cooked? A large woman standing at a counter chopping vegetables glanced up when they entered. Her eyes widened at the sight of Izzy. Did she look as if she had two heads? Must be the fact that they weren't used to seeing strange women in the house.
Sebastian guided her farther into the kitchen. "Please, Lady Isabella, make yourself comfortable. While some may think it unseemly to sit and eat in the kitchen, I for one think it's a grand idea. You get to taste all the scrumptious morsels while they're hot and fresh." He popped some sort of pasty into his mouth and crunched loudly.
By then, several servants were peering around the edges of various doorways, taking peeks at Izzy and whispering behind their hands.
Sebastian chuckled. "Come in, come in." He waved a hand toward the gawkers. Hesitantly, the small crowd stepped into the warm, fragrant room.
Man, word sure traveled fast around here. Izzy had only been sitting there for a couple of minutes. Where had all these people come from?
Sebastian stepped closer to Izzy and rested his hand lightly on her shoulder. The warmth from his skin calmed her. Why couldn't her father have been warm and kind? Glancing up past the man's large belly to his face, Izzy felt the corners of her mouth turn up. Maybe he could be a sort of father figure to her some day?
Sebastian chuckled. "It's all right, everyone. Don't be alarmed at a new face. This is Lady Isabella. She's to be your new mistress. His grace has proposed marriage to her and she's accepted."
The gasps, which flew around the room, gave Izzy chills. Were they upset? Peeking at some of the faces, she realized they wore pleasant expressions, even if they didn't make eye contact with her. At least some people thought her marrying Charles was a good idea. Now if only she could convince the groom.
Chapter Nine