I looked in the mirror and fixed my hat. The house was quiet and no doubt my brother was still in bed. He graced us with his presence yesterday just before dinner – he always had impeccable timing – and then went out with his friends. Which was odd, Marcus was ever responsible.
My grandmother had always doted on him. Not that I was ignored, but there was something about my brother, that she had a special place in her heart for him. And the devil knew it and used all his charms on her whenever possible. Occasionally she would smile fondly, as if remembering something, and then shake her head. If I asked her what it was, she would tell me it was something best left in the past.
Speaking of my grandmother, I could hear rustling in the library so I peeked in.
“I can hear you, child; you’re about as quiet as your brother,” she teased.
I smiled ruefully knowing I hadn’t made a sound. I never did. I was constantly sneaking around the house without anyone knowing, only to scare some poor maid. Or the cook. I shuddered at that particular memory. I’d been covered head to toe in tomatoes.
Marcus had laughed for days.
Twit.
Pushing aside my anger, I entered the library. Reading was very big in my family, generation after generation contributing to the ancient books. Even mother’s French novels, though I wasn’t allowed to view them. Grandmama was sitting in a plush chair near the windows, a breeze stirring a strand of her deep brown hair. She looked much younger at that moment than she had for many years. Grandfather’s death had been hard on her, though I wasn’t very sad. I never like the way he treated my cousin, then his heir and now the duke, and while he was never cruel to Grandmama, I never thought he loved her the way Papa loved Mama.
“Off for a ride, are you?” Grandmama smiled knowingly. “Have you a particular destination?”
I tried to conceal my blush. “Through the woods, perhaps.”
“To the west?”
“I may visit Angelina,” I said, a half-truth.
“That’s good; I heard Alexander wasn’t home anyway.”
“Where did he go?” I asked immediately, giving myself away.
Grandmama’s smile grew. “I’m sure I wouldn’t know. Besides, you’re visiting his sister, aren’t you?”
I tried to backtrack. “Of course.”
Grandmama chuckled. “Ah, child.” She stayed silent for a moment and when she looked at me again; her blue eyes were shining with a hint of tears. “Well, are you going to see if I’m wrong or will you stare at me all day?” Her tone was teasing and light, belaying her words.
I smiled. “Goodbye, Grandmama.”
Mama was out in the garden and Papa was in his study standing at the window. I waved to both as Arthur helped me mount my horse and I galloped by. Soon the wind was rushing though my hair as I raced to the Cavanaughs. While Angelina was my dearest friend here in the country, I couldn’t deny that Alex held a special place in my heart. I was not yet 16, but I wanted nothing more than to marry him.
I approached the estate and Henry poked his head out of the stables at the sound of approaching hooves. “Ah, my Lady Isabel! How are ye this fair day?”
I grinned. “Much better for the run, I say.”
He helped me down and smiled. “Master Alex is in the house. I heard Cook scoldin him not long ago for stealin some biscuits. Thought she’d wake the dead, I did, what with all ‘er squalling. Course it were just the young lord.”
I grinned. Alex was the youngest of four boys, older than only a sister, Angelina. He always had an air of mischief around him and was able to persuade anyone to do what he wanted with just a wink and a smile, except Cook. He had yet to be able to charm her out of any pastry. “Thank you, Henry. Where’s Angie?”
“Still abed, I think. I’ve yet to see ‘er this mornin.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I loved Angelina, truly I did, but the girl would rather sleep her life away. We were in the country, but she was preparing herself to keep town hours when we made our debuts.
Next year.
“Thank you, Henry. Give Susie my love, will you?”
The young man blushed and nodded. Henry had recently made his intentions known towards Susie, one of the downstairs maids and I took every opportunity I could to tease him about it. Heaven knows Henry had never had a problem teasing me about Alex. I gave a friendly smile and skipped toward the house, waving to James, the gardener as I passed.
I’d barely made it through the front door of the house when Alex vaulted through the doors coming from the kitchen, Cook hot on his heels as he stuffed some biscuits into his mouth. I giggled and he grinned, some flaky pastry showing as he ducked behind me, holding me close to his body like a shield.
“Now, Cook,” he said after swallowing the biscuit. “Look, it’s Lady Isabel. You wouldn’t hurt her, now would you? I mean, look at that gorgeous face! It’s too stunning to mess up. And her dress is very lovely, though darling, you’ve a bit of leaf on your hem there.” Alex peered over my shoulder to get a better look at the bottom of my dress as I fought to control my heart. “You jumped the hedgerow again, didn’t you?”
I blushed. “Perhaps.”
He opened his mouth as if to scold me and then thought better of it. “Never mind. Cook, doesn’t she look lovely this morning? All fresh from her ride?” He stood straighter and murmured ‘Ah-ha!’ under his breath. “Perhaps she would like a spot of tea after the ride, Cook, what do you think? I never was very good at this hostess thing and therefore must beg for your humble and expert opinion.”
Before our eyes, Cook changed from furious to fumbling. “Of course, Master Alex. She’ll need a tea tray, naturally. Lucky for you I’ve some of those strawberry tarts you love so much, Lady Izzy.”
Alex moved slightly toward the kitchen. “You have strawberry tarts?”
Cook narrowed her eyes and raised the rolling pin she held toward him. “Don’t you be thinkin’ about it,” she warned as Alex smiled innocently.
“Of course not,” he crooned. “Someone must keep this angel company.” He looked at me and winked and I felt my face heat as it always did. “Come on love, let’s go to the parlor and await the tarts.” He gently took my hand in his, so much larger than mine, and pulled me into the room next door.
He led me to a settee where I sat, my hand still in his as he raised it to his lips to lay a gentle kiss on it. “You really do look lovely today, Izzy,” he said softly, his deep brown eyes even darker than normal. The look he gave me was enough to make me practically melt under his gaze and I would have done so happily.
“Thank you, Alex,” I returned shyly.
He shook his head as if some spell had been broken and sat in the chair beside me. “My lazy sister is still abed,” he declared. “What say you to a shooting contest?”
“Guns or bows?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Pistols, naturally, unless you fancy a duel as well.” His eyes glinted.
“Need I remind you I took best in the archery tournament at Lady Westworth’s, never mind that I beat Colin, Marcus, and Aidan in fencing just last week. You remember, don’t you? When you conveniently remembered your mother needed you just before your turn?”
He looked sheepish for a moment. “It is not my fault you’re talented in everything you do. And did you also know that Charles Trent proposed to Lady Elizabeth not two days after Lady W’s party?” The sheepish look was gone to be replaced by speculation and admiration. “I’ll admit I thought you were crazy to introduce the two, but it seems to be a match. Honestly, Izzy, your perception to everyone you meet is so uncanny it's frightening.”
I grinned. “I’m just talented,” I smirked.
One of the maids came with the tea tray just then and Alex was at the door in an instant. “Ah, Sarah, have I told you you’re my favorite?”
The little redhead giggled. “Not since I brought you the cherry scones.”
Alex grinned and set the tray at the low table in front of me before joining me on the settee. “Will you pour, love? Women do all these fancy things with it and I haven’t the faintest.”
I grinned. “Naturally. Besides, I want to head out to the targets soon and Lord knows we’d be here for hours waiting for you to figure out which end the tea comes out.”
He kissed my cheek suddenly and I blushed furiously. “Minx. You won’t beat me today, I feel it.”
“I can’t believe you beat me!” Alex exclaimed almost two hours later. He’d complained about everything – the wind was a bit off, the sun was in his eyes, and, my personal favorite, my skin seemed to glow in the sunlight and how was he to concentrate with that happening?
“Will you stop complaining?” I teased. “Women will never find you attractive it you can’t accept things humbly.”
“Do you find me attractive?” he asked suddenly. I froze and turned to look at him. The sun glinted off his mahogany hair and some strands seemed to glow from within, showing me some deep red I’d never noticed before. He eyes sparkled and held me in their chocolate depths. He moved a step closer, almost brushing against me. “Do you, Isabel?”
I opened my mouth with no words coming out. “I, I’ve heard women giggle about your fine looks, certainly,” I stuttered.
“I don’t care about them, love. Do you think I’m attractive?” His eyes held me even more captive. “Tell me the truth, Izzy.”
“Yes,” I whispered, so softly I feared it was carried away on the wind and he’d force me to repeat myself.
His face broke into a wide grin that rivaled the sun with its brilliance. “Lovely,” he said softly, brushing one hand through my black ringlets.
“Izzy, there you are!” shouted Angelina from the house. “Trounced Alex again, did you?” she laughed.
I blushed furiously and took a step back, smoothing imaginary wrinkles out of my deep green dress. “Yes, but now I’m afraid I should get back to my home.”
I could see Angie’s disappointed face. “But I haven’t the chance to speak to you yet!” she pouted.
“Perhaps if you woke before the sun went down,” Alex teased as Angie fairly growled.
“I’ll try to return if I can, Angie,” I called, walking as fast as I could to the stables. I bid Henry farewell as I climbed upon my horse and waved as cheerfully as I could muster to both Angie and Alex before taking off like a coward through the woods back to my house.
Grandmama was still in the library when I returned. “Isabel,” she called, and I entered. She patted a seat near her. “Come sit with me, my darling, for I’ve something to tell you. It’s very important, my dear.”
“What is it, Grandmama?” I asked, still slightly flustered over Alex.
“It’s about your grandfather.”
