Page 46 of A Duke in Her Fate
What am I supposed to think? If only there was someone else I could gather advise from. But it’s so strange. I’m not yet married nor lying to the poor child and already I feel guilty. Could I do this for a lifetime? For the rest of my days?
“Your Grace?” Isla finally gathered the courage to say. She straightened her spine. “I think––”
The carriage came to a halt and she jolted at the hard stop. Ronan caught her hand, helping her straighten up. They glanced toward the window to realize they had arrived.
Oh dear, I missed my chance.
Isla felt dearly out of sorts on their way up to the door and as they were welcomed inside. Led up to the second floor, she immediately appreciated the lovely parlor while being introduced to a little over twenty people.
As the hostess, Lady Verity was there to present her to half the people while Ronan greeted Tristan. Everyone this evening felt rather new to Isla. She’d hoped to meet the finest of the ton during her search for a husband and now it seemed they were all here. Most of them married, she realized.
“It really has been a delight decorating here,” Verity was saying to two other ladies, nodding along happily. “This new townhouse is much bigger for our growing family, which is just what we needed.”
“This is such a lovely home,” Isla made sure to chime in. “Perhaps I may beg of you some decorating tips someday?”
The duchess beamed. “Certainly! I trust you shall write to me? We’ll be traveling off to the country side within the month, and Ishall be bored out of my mind.” She gave a discreet pat over her belly. “For a spell, at least.”
“I would most certainly enjoy that. Is your country house as beautiful as this one?”
“No matter how lovely a house it may be,” came a new voice, “it cannot surely be any lovelier than these two beautiful creatures before me. Your Grace? An absolute delight.”
Laughing, Verity gave a shake of her head as a handsome young lord came to stand before them. “Lord Sherton, you are nothing but a fancy scoundrel. But very good, this is why we dare invite you to join our numbers.”
Sherton. Haven’t I heard that name before?
He brushed his white-blond hair from his forehead with a charming wink before turning his gaze to Isla. The man was awfully striking with his cleft chin and sparkling blue eyes. She blinked several times but he was still there, still smiling at her.
“A delight, to be certain. I am so blessed to be considered. If I can beg a boon of you, might you share your grace this evening? I cannot be a stranger to this beauty for another minute. I don’t think I’ll survive.”
Verity tsked. “You’re making my guest blush, my lord, that is hardly appropriate.” Isla felt her cheeks grow hotter. Why had the duchess made known her blush? Now it would never goaway. “Lord Sherton, this is my dear friend, Lady Isla. She is engaged to marry the duke of Westvale soon.”
Taking her hand with an extravagant bow, Sherton graced a firm kiss against her knuckles. She felt the warmth even through her gloves. “Ah, the wedding bells have not yet rung. I couldn’t be more fortunate than I am in this moment. My pleasure is complete, Lady Isla.”
She inhaled deeply to gather herself. Straightening her shoulders, she gave him a stern look to show she was not a young flighty miss. “You are too bold, my lord.”
“Are you not certain it is the perfect amount?” He asked hopefully, a teasing smile on his lips.
A laugh escaped before she could help it.
Leaning into her, Verity admitted, “He will flirt with a lamp post if he thinks he might garner more warmth from it. Sherton is shameless, as they say, but perfectly pleasant company. Aren’t you, Sherton?”
He put a hand to his chest. “I would never dare do you wrong, Your Grace. May the sun strike me down the moment you are cross with me.”
“I pray it does,” Verity sniffed dramatically before chuckling. “But in all truth, Sheron, thank you for joining us. I couldn’t bear it if we had uneven numbers this evening. I must away to thekitchens now to ensure we are ready. I do hope you have brought your appetites,” she added and then strolled away.
Stepping a little closer, Sherton asked Isla, “Ah, alas, we have lost one of our stars. I do trust you shall keep the room bright enough, won’t you, our dear Isla?”
“You are much too familiar too soon for your all your charm,” she noted.
“That is part of my charm, is it not?”
Chuckling over his teasing smile, she shook her head. “You are a cheat if that is the root of your charm.”
Isla found herself enjoying his ridiculous flirtations as she realized how little he meant it. The man was extremely complimentary about her as well as everyone else in the room. And there were moments where he was quite honest. Apparently, he was a favored party guest of the ton, nearly penniless but always in attendance where he aimed to be in good humor.
It was with that knowledge she wasn’t particularly surprised that they were placed next to each other at supper. Verity had used social rankings, as was the expected way for a proper party, so Isla was seated a few seats apart from Ronan. He glanced at her now and again but was always engaged once more with conversation.
So in turn, Isla enjoyed herself with Sherton. He had never left London in all his life. Asking her about her homeland, they wound up speaking about Scotland for most of the supper.
