Once a Duchess(99)
Isabelle’s shoulders jostled with her exhaled laugh.
“I do note,” Justin said, “that he takes responsibility, even though his mother sent threats in his name. Very stand-up of him. And,” he raised a finger, “when Monthwaite learned of his mistake, he made it up to both of us, didn’t he?”
She nodded again.
“You loved him then,” Justin said quietly, “when you were an eighteen-year-old girl. You still love him.” It wasn’t a question, and Isabelle didn’t try to deny it.
“Do you know whether he’s remedied things with this other man?” Justin asked.
Isabelle’s fingers tightened around Justin’s. Her brow furrowed. “He has,” she admitted. Her lower lip trembled. “Oh, Justin. I think I made a mistake.”
• • •
“Good God! Justin Miller!”
Isabelle looked up and Justin awkwardly turned on his knees. Lily stood in the door in a royal blue traveling costume, her fingers paused in the act of untying her bonnet. She looked from Justin to Isabelle, and back to Justin again.
“My word, are you proposing?”
Justin barked a laugh. “I don’t think my wife would thank me if I did.” He hauled himself to his feet.
“I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow. Justin was trying to keep me from fainting,” Isabelle explained, rising to take Lily’s hands in greeting. “It was something of a shock to find him in my parlor,” she said in an over-bright voice. “He brought his lovely wife and daughter, too. They’ve gone for a walk. I’ll have them called in, shall I? Mrs. Miller is American, Lily. Our Justin went and married an American!”
Lily raised a lace-gloved hand. “Isabelle,” she said in a stern tone, “the prospect of meeting Justin’s wife and child fills me to the brim with rapture, I assure you, but there’s something I have to tell you first.”
The commanding edge to her voice brought Isabelle’s frenetic recitation to a halt. The firm set to Lily’s mouth aroused a queasy feeling in Isabelle’s middle. “What is it?”
“I had a note from Naomi yesterday afternoon, and I left as soon as I could to reach you.”
Pure, unadulterated fear sprang up in her very blood, coursing through every inch of her. “Marshall. What’s happened to him?”
“He’s leaving tomorrow,” Lily said. “He’s going to South America.”
Isabelle shook her head, not understanding. “His expedition. I already knew about that.”
“It’s supposed to be only for six months, but Naomi found notes indicating he never intends to return.”
The final bit of color drained from Isabelle’s face. “Tomorrow?” she whispered harshly. The full meaning of Lily’s information pressed down on Isabelle like a load of stone. A life without Marshall. Forever.
“Isabelle!” Lily snapped. “Listen to me.”
Isabelle lifted her head from where it had fallen against Justin’s shoulder.
“It’s time to come clean,” Lily said. “Naomi and I have been keeping an eye on you two, hoping you’d come ‘round on your own. It appears you’re both bull-headed ninnies who would rather be miserable and alone for the rest of your natural lives, rather than simply put the past behind you and move on.” She drew a deep breath and lifted a brow.
Isabelle had seen her take such a tack with others, but she herself had never felt the full brunt of Lily Bachman’s ire. It was not a pleasant experience.
“Buck. Up. You love Marshall. He loves you. And if you don’t do something about it right this instant, I shall be subjected to your insufferable malaise for the rest of my days. Spare me that fate, and do the right thing.” She glanced at the clock on the mantle. “If you aren’t already too late to get there before the ship sails.”
Isabelle grabbed Lily in a fierce embrace. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” Lily said in a softer tone, “go. Go!” she insisted, shooing Isabelle out of the parlor.
As she dashed for the stairs, Isabelle heard Lily behind her: “And just where in the blazes have you been all these years?”
Isabelle’s fingers shook as she changed into a traveling costume. She had to get to Marshall. She had to tell him she’d forgiven him, that she loved him, even if he wouldn’t take her back. But she couldn’t allow that possibility in her mind. Everything would work out. She just had to get there.