Georgiana pulled herself up straighter—displaying herself in all the manner of a highborn aristocratic lady. “I cannot do that, my lord.”
“You have my word that I will not do anything to harm her.”
Isabel gave a little humorless laugh. “And your word holds such weight here.”
“I understand that you are angry, Isabel. I would like you to give me a chance to explain.” He turned to Georgiana again. “I assure you. She is safe with me. We are to be married.”
Georgiana’s jaw dropped at the announcement, which sent a flood of anger and frustration through Isabel.
How dare he.
“We are to be no such thing,” she protested.
He looked back to her again, and for a fleeting moment, she wished that she could see his face. Cloaked in shadow, he was more dangerous and unsettling than he had ever been before. Especially when he said, low and dark, “You said you would marry me, Isabel. I expect you to honor your promise.”
“And you said I could trust you, Nicholas. What of that promise?”
A rigid silence fell, neither one willing to be the one to speak after such a gauntlet had been thrown. Finally, Nick gave in, again pleading his case with the younger woman. “Lady Georgiana—I have assured you that I will defend you to your brother, have I not?”
“You have.”
“And I have given you my word—as devalued as it has become”—he paused, casting a long look at Isabel—“that I will not force you to return home.”
“Yes.”
“Please, allow me this.”
Georgiana thought for a long moment, considering first Nick then Isabel. Her decision made, she said, “I shall give you a quarter of an hour, my lord. No more.”
Isabel snapped her head in the direction of the girl. “Traitor!“
“Fifteen minutes, Isabel. Surely you can spare him that. I shall be just outside.”
Isabel scowled as the girl left the room, pulling the door nearly closed behind her, leaving a sliver of light coming into the bedchamber. Isabel moved to the side of her bed and lit a candle, unwilling to remain in darkness with this man, who had so quickly gone from ally to enemy.
She made quick work of lighting candles around the room until they were bathed in golden candlelight, and Isabel regretted her actions.
He had changed into new, clean clothing. He wore black now, an elegant coat and waistcoat that underscored his handsomeness. She noted the perfect knot in his cravat, and was distracted for a fleeting moment by the memory of him with James.
James. Anger flared.
He’d even won over James.
She crossed her arms, warding off the chill of the thought. “I haven’t anything to say to you.”
“Yes. You’ve made that abundantly clear.”
He was straight and still, entirely composed. She had never seen him this way, so unmoving. It was as though he were a different person from the man whom she had come to know over the past few days.
As though he had been lying to her.
Which, of course, he had.
She looked away, unwilling to show him how much his betrayal had smarted.
He saw, nonetheless. With a sigh, he spoke, his words softer, more cajoling than before. “Isabel. Let me explain. It is not how it appears.”
“It appears that you were searching for us from the very beginning.”
He paused. “That is correct, although not for you. Not for any of you but Georgiana.” “Georgiana is one of us!“
“Georgiana is the sister of the Duke of Leighton, Isabel. Did you really think you could hide her away forever? ”
“No! I—” She stopped, uncertain of her words. “I simply did not expect you to come looking for her.”
“I am rarely what people expect.”
“Yes. I’m beginning to see that.” She looked to the ceiling, frustration coursing through her. “It is my fault. I made it all easier by asking you to value the marbles.”
“If it had not been the marbles, it would have been something else that brought me here.”
“Maybe not.”
“Isabel.” The way he said her name captured her attention. “I am very good at what I do.”
“And what is it that you do, Nick? Because it seems to me that what you are very good at is convincing women to tell you their secrets with your charming smile and your pretty lies and seductions and proposals of marriage—that was a particularly impressive way of gaining my trust, by the way—and then you betray them for your own gain.”
“It was not a lie. It was all true.” His whisper was tempting, so lovely and soft, with that hint of honesty that she had found so warm and welcoming. Well, now she knew better.
She closed her eyes. The conversation was growing exhausting. “Please, Nick. Don’t you think you have done enough to us? Enough to me?”
“You do not understand!“
“What is there to understand?” she cried. “How many times did you ask me to trust you? How many times did you tell me I was wrong to doubt you? How often did you offer me your protection? To James? To the girls?”
“And here I am! The offer still stands!“
“Just go away. You have the information you came for. But tell the Duke of Leighton that he had better bring an army when he comes for Georgiana. For if she does not want to leave, I shall protect her with everything I have.”
“And I shall be beside you.”
“Stop it!” His words broke her. “You think you can convince me to forget what has happened? You betrayed us! You betrayed me. The things I told you—” She stopped, then took a deep breath. “You cannot honestly believe that I would place this house, these lives, in your hands after what you’ve done. Not when I know that your allegiance can be sold like cattle to the highest bidder.”