Time for a Duke (6 page)

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Izzy held tightly to her reticule, waiting for a glimpse of the carriage. Icy winds threatened to blow right through her as she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. Where was Charles? Had his uncle waylaid him? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. The more she stood in the cold, darkening evening, the more she yearned for home with her central heating, fuzzy bathrobe, and thick down comforter.

Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop
.

Izzy breathed a sigh of relief and stood to the side of the lane, waiting for the carriage to draw closer. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Charles. The man was surely a Greek god. Although she'd seen him every day for the last two weeks, something about him in his dress coat and hat stirred a longing so deep she was sure it would never leave. And she was no longer cold, feeling warmth piping up from her stomach and lower.

This man had become important to her. As much as she longed to return home, she now knew it wouldn't be easy. When she pictured saying good-bye to him, her chest actually hurt. Why had this happened to her, that she'd been in a closet that had somehow transferred her to the year 1812? And even more startling, why had she finally met a man with whom she could imagine spending her life with only to have him living in another century?

Biting her lip, she watched the driver bring the carriage to a stop. Should she approach the carriage or wait for Charles to come for her? Even after two weeks of his coaching on proper etiquette of this time, Izzy still found it wasn't first nature for her to allow a man to do so much when she could as easily do it herself.

The driver, like Sarah, was someone Charles trusted, and the large sum of money he'd paid the man also helped ensure his secrecy. Charles stepped from the carriage to the ground and smoothed out his gloves. He walked the few steps toward Izzy and held out his hand.

"Isabella, you truly are a vision."

Izzy felt heat rise from her neck to her cheeks. "Thank you, Charles. You're most kind."

He raised one corner of his mouth and wrapped her arm in his. "Come. Let's hurry to meet Uncle Sebastian and then on to the ball where you will surely render the lords and ladies of the
ton
speechless."

Izzy giggled, feeling every bit the princess, which she even kind of liked. Never having been fond of wearing dresses, especially dresses of this magnitude, she found it not altogether unpleasant. But then, she was sure it had everything to do with the way Charles was staring at her, one side of his mouth pulled up in a smile. There was something about the gesture that tugged at her heart.

Charles placed his large hands on Izzy's waist to assist her into the carriage. Even through the thick material of the petticoats and dress, she felt the heat from his gloved hands. If it were any hotter, sparks would shoot from her body. The nearness of him caused her to perspire in the most interesting places. Even her skin felt ultra-sensitive when she was this close to him.

Once seated, Izzy held her breath as the driver took them the short distance around to the front of the house. When she blew out her breath, it emerged as a tiny white cloud. How would Charles' uncle react to her? Would Izzy be able to pull this off? It would be a good trial run before the
ton
. She held on to the edge of the seat as the carriage bounced. Cold air filtered through the open windows causing her to scrunch further down in the seat. Even though she was grateful for the gloves she wore, it didn't stop her from missing her wool mittens from home. If only Charles could sit with her and keep her warm.

The carriage stopped at the outside of the front gate. A short walkway led to the front door. Wasn't it strange she'd been here two weeks and had never even seen the outside of the house? It almost seemed as if it
would
be her first visit here. Now if they could just convince the uncle it was true.

Charles got out first, reaching up to assist her and help her step down. Izzy would let him do that all day if it meant they could be in such close contact. Taking her hand in his, he led her through the gate, along the walk, and up the steps to the front door. He opened it, his other hand now reassuringly on the small of her back.

"Wait in here, Isabella. I will only be a moment." He guided her to the den just off the foyer.

Izzy nodded, too afraid to do much else. She stood, feeling lost and alone. With Charles not standing near her, it felt as if a piece of her had broken off and now floated in the breeze. How had a man whom she'd just met two weeks previously become so important to her life?

"Ah, here we are." Charles winked at Isabella, as he preceded another man into the den. "Uncle Sebastian, this is Lady Isabella Hodgkin."

The older man beamed and then frowned. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Isabella."

Izzy held out her hand as she had been instructed. Sebastian bent down, taking her hand, raising it slightly to kiss the back of her glove.

Uh-oh. What had Izzy done wrong? She hadn't even spoken a word, yet Charles' uncle seemed somehow displeased. When he released her glove, she grasped her hands together, resisting the urge to wring them.

Sebastian pivoted toward Charles. "Nephew, it is indeed a pleasure to meet Lady Isabella. I was under the impression, however, her surname was Russell."

Charles feigned a frown. "No, Uncle, I'm afraid you are mistaken."

Sebastian lowered his eyebrows. "On the contrary, Charles, I distinctly remember our conversation."

Charles leaned toward Izzy. "Lady Isabella, if you would excuse my uncle and I, we must have a word."

"Certainly." After uttering the word, Izzy realized the man would now know she was not English."

Sebastian whipped his head around toward her, eyebrows raised. Charles grasped Sebastian's arm, gently tugging. "Uncle, a word?"

Sebastian unlocked his gaze from Izzy and switched it to his nephew. "Pardon? Oh, yes, of course. Please excuse us, Lady Isabella."

Izzy nodded, afraid to utter anything else. When they moved into the foyer, she hurried toward the wall, just able to make out their conversation.

"Charles, what is the meaning of this? I distinctly remember you telling me her name was Russell."

"Uncle Sebastian, I beg to differ. The day we had that conversation, you'd had a lot to…"

"What?"

"Drink."

There was a pause and then a clearing of someone's throat.

"Oh. I see. Yes, well, I'm sure you're right, then, Charles. Please excuse my blunder."

"It's all right, Uncle. I'm sure Lady Isabella didn't even notice." Four footsteps toward the den propelled Izzy back toward the middle of the room. When the conversation continued, she edged against the wall.

"I'm afraid, Charles, there is another matter, however."

A couple of footsteps sounded on the hallway floor. "Yes, Uncle?"

"I happened to notice a certain quality to Lady Isabella's speech."

"I believe Lady Isabella uttered only a word, Uncle."

"Nevertheless, I'm quite sure I detected a different… accent."

"Ah, you must be referring to her American background."

Izzy heard a gasp.

"American, you say?"

"Why yes, Uncle. We discussed it the same day I told you her surname was Hodgkin."

"You did?"

"That's when I explained she'd come to England to see her relatives."

"Ah, yes. Uh… since I was taken with the wine that day, as it were, would you kindly remind me of those facts?"

Izzy heard a sigh. "Her relatives are prosperous, successful nobility. I'm sure you're familiar with the Viscount Edward Hodgkin of Stonebrooke Manor?"

"Of course, of course. I've certainly heard of them. Fine family. Fine indeed."

Izzy covered her mouth with her hand to hold in a giggle. Charles was extremely convincing when he weaved a story for someone. She sobered when she remembered they needed to convince the entire
ton
of the same thing. Most likely, that wouldn't be nearly as easy.

She scooted back toward the couch when the conversation ceased and she heard more footsteps. Seating herself and arranging the folds of her dress were barely accomplished when Charles appeared from the doorway. His uncle was close behind.

Charles came toward her, bending slightly to take her hand. "Forgive me, Lady Isabella, for my rudeness. I should not have left you alone this long."

Sebastian hurried toward her at such a pace she feared he might end up in her lap. "Please also forgive my rudeness, Lady Isabella. I daresay you have the right to be quite upset with me."

Izzy bit her lip to keep from laughing. Poor Sebastian did look contrite. "It's quite all right. Please don't give it another thought."

Sebastian let out a huge breath. If it had been any stronger, he would have extinguished the candles lighting the room. "Thank you, my lady. It is most generous of you."

Something moved in Izzy's peripheral vision. A flash of orange. Darting a glance at the doorway, she saw Henrietta running toward her at full speed. When the cat reached the couch, she jumped straight up, landing on Izzy's lap. Purring and kneading, she turned in a circle for a nap. Izzy widened her eyes. What if Henrietta snagged her dress? It must have cost Charles a fortune.

Sebastian tilted his head. "I say, Lady Isabella, the cat acts as if she's your best friend."

Izzy shrugged. "I…"

Charles picked up Henrietta and placed her on the floor. Henrietta glared at him, flipped her tail and left the room. "Think nothing of it, Uncle. Lady Isabella is a lover of animals. I'm sure you've heard animals sense that in people. I'm certain Henrietta just knew she'd found a kind soul."

Sebastian frowned . "Who is Henrietta?"

Charles' face colored pink. "It's… well, Kitty. We — I thought she needed a new name."

"After all these years?"

Charles shifted from his left foot to his right.

Isabella leaned forward. "I think Henrietta is a lovely name, your grace."

Sebastian raised his eyebrows and scratched his chin. "Can't say I've heard of renaming a pet before, Charles." He glanced in the direction of the hallway. "But, as with many
other
matters, I shall take you at your word."

Charles let out a breath. "Thank you, Uncle. And now Lady Isabella and I must be on our way to the ball."

"Why, yes, of course."

With the help of Charles' outstretched hand, Izzy managed not to trip over the folds of her skirt as she stood. "Lady Isabella, are you ready to go?"

Izzy nodded. "Yes, your grace. I'm ready."

Sebastian waved as they made their way to the front door. "Have a wonderful evening."