Scandal at Vauxhall (Pleasure Garden Follies) by Layna Pimentel Page B

like to go and make some
acquisitions. Without them, I do not think I will stand a chance in ridding
Downsbury of his ridiculous notion of marrying my sister.”
    “If this is your
way of asking me for aid, you should know subtlety is not your forte. I will be
glad to assist in any manner that I may, but do you not think you are being a rather
hasty? Besides, that bratty sister of yours has just received the shock of her
life. Do you think she might start acting like a lady?”
    Nathaniel
snorted. “Not in the least, but it might stop her from doing foolish things like
winning a public game of whist with Broxton.”

 
    * * * *

 
    Isabel jumped
out of her skin when she heard the pounding at her door. Please don’t let it be Downsbury. I cannot deal with him right now. She descended the stairs to find Edmonds giving entry to a gentleman.
    “Your Grace,
this would be Mr. Smith. He is Lord Thompson’s solicitor.”
    “A pleasure to
meet you, sir. Let us speak in the morning room. Edmonds, see that some tea is
brought in please.”
    The solicitor
followed closely behind, only stopping when shown where to sit. He must have
been sent by Nathaniel. His arrival meant things were ready to move along,
though she would have much rather had Nathaniel present for this discussion.
    “Your Grace, I
am so glad I had the opportunity to work on your behalf. Your late husband
would not have approved, but I am thrilled, nonetheless. Nathaniel wished to be
present, but he is otherwise occupied with a house full of unexpected guests. He
entrusted me to speak with you.”
    “Go on.”
    “The late Duke
of Brimley, as far as I could find and verify with his own solicitor, only owes
the deed to his ancestral country estate. I have also been advised that
considering the Duke of Downsbury is too in an abundance of debt, all of his
holdings have been acquired to pay off the remainder. It is my understanding that
a portion of any monies left over will be forwarded to an orphanage in memory
of the Duchess of Downsbury’s death.”
    “Oh!” Shock of
the news made her shudder. How could she
have died? She was with child! Isabel shuffled to the edge of her seat,
struggling to find words of sympathy. She pressed her hands against her
burgeoning belly.
    “Don’t despair, Your
Grace. From what we know, her carriage careened down a hill during some
horrible weather. The carriage ended up in a swelling river, twisted and
smashed. She would have succumbed fairly quickly to the frigid temperatures, if
she did not break her neck first.”
    His last words
made her cringe. The poor dear had been forced to leave her menacing husband,
and while Isabel did not condone the duchess’ adulterous actions, she could not
bear the thought of what it must have felt like to be exiled in such a manner.
    Contemplations
of her own predicament made her wonder just how safe she was in her newly
independent ways. While she had given much thought to what it would mean to
live alone in the country, how would her actions impact the life her son or
daughter would have?
    Isabel did not
know what hit her when tears rolled furiously down her cheeks. She wanted
Nathaniel. She felt helpless and alone. And why on heaven’s earth was she
crying? Her emotions ran high and low, and she despised not having any control
over them.
    The solicitor
stood and walked over to where she sat on the dais. “There, there, Your Grace.
Lord Thompson has assured me that all will be fine once this matter of
Downsbury is completed. He also asked I deliver this note to you.” He slid the
vellum script into her hand and bowed his head. “I must be going now, but
please feel free to send for me if you are in need of anything else. No matter
the measure, I will do what I can to assist you.”
    Isabel sniffled,
keeping the tears back. “I am most grateful for your kindness, sir.”
    Nodding to
Edmonds, she watched as her butler escorted the man out of the room, leaving
her alone with her thoughts,