He had meant the apology, but it had not come out as he had hoped. To his own ears, it had sounded like mockery or a desire to torment Isolde.
“I shall catch up to you!” he called out, needing a moment to clear his head. And with the two empty glasses in his possession once more, both enjoyed by all three women, he had the perfect excuse.
Isolde did not turn or acknowledge him at all.
Julianna, on the other hand, whirled around. “Where are you going? What if Miss Thorne collapses again?”
“She is in capable hands,” Edmund replied, gesturing to the group of ladies who were still enjoying their picnic in the beautiful summer afternoon. “I must return what I borrowed. I shall not be long.”
Julianna smiled. “Very well. Do try not to make themallfall in love with you.”
At that, Edmund thought he saw Isolde’s shoulders stiffen slightly. Shaking it off as nonsense, or the tremor of a concealed snort from her, he headed in the direction of the other ladies, already dreading the interaction.
“You were so heroic, Your Grace!” one lady chirped as Edmund bowed to the women and handed back the glass.
Another woman nodded eagerly. “Such a chivalrous gentleman. I wish that every gentleman in society were as chivalrous as you.”
“We thought, perhaps, you were using the need for a glass of lemonade as an excuse to make our acquaintance,” a bolder lady teased, fanning herself as she made sultry eyes at him.
He straightened up, ignoring the remarks as best he could. It was not their fault that they did not know they were wasting their efforts, for it was not as if he had announced to theTonthat he was not, and would never be, in want of a wife.
“The only heroism was from Lady Isolde,” he said bluntly. “She was the one who noticed that you had glasses you might be willing to lend to a good cause. Nevertheless, I thank you for your part in helping a young lady in distress.”
The brazen woman who had teased him canted her head, eyes narrowing in curiosity. “Are you courting?”
“Pardon?” An odd lump formed in Edmund’s throat.
“You and Lady Isolde—are you courting?”
Edmund laughed uncomfortably. “Not in the slightest. I am merely assisting a dear friend—her brother—by watching over her in his absence. It is an assignment not a pleasure.”
The woman took a ripe, plump strawberry and plucked the green top off it. “Are you certain of that?”
“Quite certain,” he insisted.
She shrugged her narrow shoulders, her smiled tinged with mischief as she softly said, “Well, Your Grace, you could have fooled me.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“You!” The sharp voice echoed down the townhouse hallway, ricocheting across the walls of the entrance hall as Isolde removed her cloak.
She jumped in fright, startled so violently that she almost dropped the garment, but the footman she was handing it to reacted quickly, grabbing it before it could fall.
Rapid footsteps tapped along the pristine white tiles, heralding the arrival of a gentleman who had terrified Isolde for as long as she had known him.
“Good evening to you, Mr. Thorne,” she said politely, dipping into a half curtsy.
“It isnota good evening,” Martin Thorne replied, coming to a halt with his hands on his hips.
Being Amelia’s older brother and heir to a viscountcy, Isolde put on her most courteous demeanor, not because she thought him to be a potential suitor, but to ensure that Amelia had an enjoyable night. The poor girl had enough to worry about with Valery’s cousin, Beatrice, in attendance without Isolde taking umbrage with Martin’s unpleasant attitude.
“Oh? How so? It smells absolutely wonderful in here, and what I can hear sounds like rather amiable chatter,” Isolde pointed out sweetly.
Martin bristled. “I am certain I have told you before, but when the weather is too warm, I donotlike Amelia to be out of doors. You are lucky she did not suffer anything worse than a mild headache.”
“Andsheis lucky to have such a thoughtful, attentive brother.” Isolde’s smile grew more strained, aching her cheeks. “Surely, she does not still have a headache? It has been two days since I last saw her.”
“That is beside the point,” Martin muttered. “I understand that when ladies gather together there is an air of carelessness, but I would urge you not to be careless with my sister again.”
