Once a Duchess(64)

 

Isabelle exhaled a small laugh. “Let her stay.”

 

He opened his mouth to argue. Isabelle cut him off with a hand and leveled her gaze on him. “She’s not a child.” She arched a brow in a manner that drove home the resemblance between her and her brother. “Don’t treat her as one.”

 

Taking Isabelle’s words to heart, he looked at his sister, and really saw her, perhaps for the first time in years. She not only had all the beauty and dewy youth that had kept him hovering protectively over her all Season, but also sharp intelligence behind her blue eyes. A little girl no more — his sister would soon be a formidable woman in her own right.

 

He nodded, granting Naomi permission to remain. Isabelle needed all the allies in this room Marshall could give her, after all. Then he straightened and raised a hand for silence. The feuding parties ignored him.

 

“Enough!” His voice cracked like a bullwhip. The warring parties fell silent, turning the combined force of their angry glares upon him. He met their stares head on; it was his turn.

 

“Why are we here?” Alex demanded again.

 

“What was the meaning of that shameful display? You’ll be lucky if Woolsley doesn’t bring charges against you.” Strands of Caro’s silver hair had fallen loose from her coif. Her lips were tight, and her eyes puffy. He was struck by how age was rapidly catching up with her. “And you’ll be fortunate if Lady Lucy will still have you, after that unbecoming scene.”

 

He answered calmly, “Whether or not Lady Lucy will have me is no longer of any import.”

 

Caro’s mouth fell open and she made a stricken sound.

 

“There were no promises made,” he said. “I regret disappointing Lucy’s hopes, but that is as it must be. I’ve come to the realization that the divorce was a terrible mistake.”

 

Isabelle’s startled eyes captured his. He could drown in those eyes; he wanted to. A lump of emotion formed in his throat and he drew a shuddering breath.

 

When he spoke, his voice was husky. “Isabelle, I stand here in front of you and our families to beg your forgiveness.”

 

She eyed him warily.

 

“What are you doing?” Caro said in a rush. “I saw — ”

 

He frowned, annoyed at the interruption. “I know what you think you saw, but you’re wrong. What you witnessed that day was not infidelity.”

 

His attention returned to Isabelle. “You were injured, just as you said. And I injured you further with the divorce.” That awful word burned his tongue like acid. He threw back the remainder of his drink.

 

Isabelle opened her mouth as though to speak, then pressed her lips together again. He could tell she was not convinced.

 

“Marsh, are you sure you know what you’re about?” Grant pointed an accusing finger at Isabelle. “She was in another man’s arms. Mother saw them! How can you doubt it?” His brow furrowed in confusion.

 

Though it would make convincing the others easier, Marshall wouldn’t compromise Isabelle by revealing the discovery of her unevenly healed rib. He shrugged. “I’m asking you to trust me, Grant.”

 

“She knows the truth.”

 

Marshall turned. Isabelle’s gazed was fixed on Caro, whose face blanched to resemble thin parchment. “She was there at Hamhurst when I was still in the bed with my ribs wrapped. She talked to the doctor, even, but still accused Justin and me of carrying on.”

 

Caro’s eyes narrowed and she fidgeted in her seat.

 

Isabelle’s voice raised in anger. “She didn’t tell you that, did she, because she didn’t want you to believe I’d been hurt!” Her fists were white-knuckled balls in her lap. “She preferred the public spectacle of a divorce to our marriage,” she concluded with a bitter laugh.

 

Marshall started to ask Caro for confirmation, but the truth was written all over her features. At least she had the sense to keep her eyes downcast. Cold anger at his own mother’s evil betrayal wrapped around his spine.

 

His hand tapped against his thigh as his mother squirmed under his intense glare. How could she? This treachery was worse even than he’d feared. It was bad enough thinking she’d misjudged what she saw, but she’d known the truth and twisted it into a vile falsehood. The edges of his vision went red.

 

“I will deal with you later,” he swore through clenched teeth. Caro swallowed, her eyes wide.

 

With a considerable force of will, Marshall pushed his anger aside and set his glass on an end table. Tonight was for Isabelle, he reminded himself. All else must wait. He crouched in front of her and took her hands. Although they were cold and trembling against his palms, her face was remarkably calm. A fresh wave of admiration for her courage washed over him. This Season had been difficult for her, yet she’d thrown herself into the maelstrom of society with grace and dignity.