But it would be folly to follow her heart. If she balked now, Adelaide would pay the price, and she would far rather sacrifice her own happiness than her sister’s. After all, Lord Martin hadjust confirmed her worst fears in relation to Adelaide. How could she risk everything for a man who would tear her away from the person she loved most in this world?
She had to steel herself against his insidious influence and harden her heart. No one could ever know that she had one or that Lord Martin had very nearly won it. She would follow the example of her mother and Lady Eleanor and marry for position rather than for love.
There had been times with Lady Eleanor when Isabella had suspected the woman had a heart underneath all her cold practicality. After all, didn’t Her Grace patronize troubadours who sang of nothing but love all day long? And some of the matches she made between courtiers appeared to be inspired by a desire for their happiness rather than strictly practical considerations. But every time Lady Eleanor seemed to reveal her softer side, she immediately destroyed the illusion by doing something so cold-hearted that no one could doubt her cruel pragmatism and cold calculation.
A pair of doves flew in through an opening in the roof and settled into the cozy nest within a shared pigeonhole. They cooed softly and nestled against each other.
Isabella tried to imagine such simple affection with Lord James and shuddered at the thought. With Martin, on the other hand, she could imagine it easily—curling into his warmth and basking in his devotion. But she couldn’t trust Lord Martin, however much she might want to. The time had come to end her wallowing and find Lord Martin to break the news.
But first, she had to check on Adelaide. Wiping her eyes and squaring her shoulders, she strode back into the castle, heading straight for the room she shared with her sister. Never had triumph tasted so bitter. Tears threatened once again as she climbed the stairs, and she blinked them back. This was for the best. She just needed to collect herself and calm down.Hopefully, Adelaide would be asleep. She wasn’t sure she was fit company even for her sister in the mood she was in.
As she approached the door, she heard the strains of music coming from within. But how was that possible? Adelaide was too ill to play her lute. And then an all-too-familiar tenor began to sing.
No.She wasn’t ready to face Martin yet. She needed a moment to collect herself first. But Lord James wanted her to act swiftly, so perhaps it was for the best that she spoke to him now. It was pointless to delay.
Tentatively, she pushed open the door. The scene before her made her heart ache. Adelaide, wan and feverish as she was, beamed at Martin as he sang to her. The tune was familiar, and when she realized what it was, a lump formed in her throat. Somehow, he’d learned the lullaby their nursemaid used to sing to them in Bordeaux when they were children. His accent was atrocious, but the words were unmistakable. Had Adelaide taught it to him during their journey?
As she closed the door behind her, her husband paused and set aside the citole. His smile dropped as he looked her in the eye. “What happened?” he asked, his voice suddenly gruff.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t force herself to form them. “I—I…”
“Yes?” The hurt in his gaze made her want to run from the room.
Glancing at her sister, Isabella made herself straighten and face him. This was all for Adelaide. With Lord James she would be safe.
“Lord James has offered for my hand. I’d like to request an annulment.”
As she spoke the words, everything within her broke. But it was done. Her future was sealed.
Chapter Twenty
Martin had toforce himself to breathe. Her words ran him through like a lance. This hurt far more than it should have after such a brief acquaintance. And it wasn’t as if she hadn’t warned him. Time and again, she’d told him in so many words that she planned to marry Lord James. But after their kiss, he thought something had changed, that there was a glimmer of hope. Apparently, he was mistaken.
“You want an annulment? Now? Even after—”
“Don’t.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I don’t want to be your wife. You said you would release me if I asked. I’m begging you to keep your side of the bargain.”
This was all happening too fast. It wasn’t possible that she’d already made up her mind. Or was it? “But you haven’t even given me a chance. I thought you would at least wait a few days to get to know the earl and make an informed decision.”
“Are you suggesting I don’t know my own mind?” She met his gaze at last, eyes blazing. “Do you dare pretend to know what is in my heart better than I know myself?”
There had to be some way to convince her that he was the better option. He wasn’t ready to surrender. “I make no such claim. I only thought I had more time, and I thought the man’s flaws would speak for themselves.”
“He’s right, Isabella,” Adelaide chimed in. “You hardly know Lord James. This does seem a rather hasty decision.”
“Adelaide, my sweet, please stay out of this,” Isabella said softly. Her voice was breaking. “I know what I’m doing. This is for the best. I promise.”
“Is it? And why is that?” He really should have bitten his tongue, but he was too desperate to rein in his speech. “How is marrying a man you hardly know but who you do know is guaranteed to make you miserable for the best?”
Isabella whirled around to face him. “I know Lord James well enough to take his measure. May I remind you that I’ve known him longer than you? I understand the consequences of the choice I am making. You and I made a bargain, Martin. Now let me go. I want an annulment.”
He struggled to find words to respond, anything to reverse the horrifying prospect of losing her to that miserable, rotten, philandering, hairy brute. But his silver tongue abandoned him in his moment of need. In the end, the word that came out was, “No.”
“No?” Her voice was barely audible. “But you must. You promised!” There was a panicked edge to her voice as she spoke, but he had no intention of backing down. A bargain was a bargain.
“I promised that if I hadn’t won you over by Winchelsea, I would release you. Are we in Winchelsea, my lady?”
She blanched. “No, but—”
