Page 25 of Eloping With The Princess
He meant to keep the truth a secret. Something settled inside her. As if the mere fact that they shared a common secret bound them together in a partnership. She didn’t have to face this alone. No matter what else came her way, perhaps she finally had someone to go through life with.
“We have much planning to do,” his mother said, coming to her feet. “Come along, ladies, let us get started.”
Suzanne rose and beckoned Isabel forward.
“Go on, you’ll be relatively safe with them,” Jason said with a grin.
Isabel stood and followed her new sister and mother out of the room. She wasn’t too far out of earshot to hear Patrick say loudly, “It’s about bloody time, brother.”
…
After his family left for the evening, Jason went in search of Isabel. He found her in the library.
“Searching for more books on botany, I see. Does your appetite for all things planted know no bounds?” he asked from the doorway.
She gifted him a smile. “One can never read too many books on plant life.”
She was beautiful, and it stole his breath. Would that his circumstances were different, so that he could take her in this very room upon that old leather sofa.
“What?” she asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “You are looking at me strangely.”
“Sorry. Merely tired, I suppose.” He leaned against the doorframe.
“You put everyone in an awkward position tonight, surprising them with our marriage,” she said.
“Perhaps,” he said. “I find it often best to beg for forgiveness than seek permission.”
“You do things your own way, on your terms,” she said. “Without much of a care to how anyone will see it.”
“I do. Do you think that foolish?”
She smiled. “Brave, actually. I fear I have never done so before.”
“Not true. You stood on that table in that inn and boldly declared yourself available for marriage.”
Blush stained her cheeks. “That was foolish.”
“Yes, but brave also. You sought a solution to your problem.”
“And in doing so, put you in danger.”
“Not any more danger than I’ve been in before. It comes with my position in the Brotherhood.”
“Yes, your duty.” There was a hint of sadness in her tone.
He almost inquired about it, but thought better of it. “I thought tonight went well.”
“I’m glad. I feel rather out of my element. I feel as if I don’t know how to talk to people. It is as if I learned nothing at St. Bart’s,” she said.
“Nonsense. You were perfectly charming.”
She laughed, but it came out as more of a snort. “See. I’m a disaster. More than likely your mother and Suzanne believe me one as well. They kept asking me questions about food and decorations and people to invite, and I merely sat there staring at them. Perhaps they believe me a simpleton.”
He felt a pull toward her, but kept himself firmly against the doorframe. He would not risk being too close to her. Sitting next to her at dinner had been tempting enough. “Isabel, no one thinks that.”
“You could tell everyone that, then I wouldn’t have to speak.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “How did I ever think I could be a governess? Jason, I don’t know how to be in this world.”
The tears glistening in her eyes beckoned to him, but he locked his frame against the doorjamb. He could not console her. That would require him to be close, to touch her, and he feared once he started, he’d never be able to stop.
