Leo blinked. “You were planning to use your own personal allowance for that?”
“Clarissa is not like our father,” Isobel Burton said. “She has a heart and a conscience.”
“So I see.” He still didn’t look at her, though the effort was starting to give him a crick in the neck. “Well, there is no need to concern yourself, Miss Studley. You can shop to your heart’s content.”
“Excellent,” Miss Studley said. “Thank you so much. So, have you made any arrangements yet for our come-out? We will need a lady to sponsor us. It’s become quite clear that, kind as Lady Scattergood is, she does not move in society.”
“Or indeed anywhere else,” her half sister added.
“You meanyourcome-out, Miss Studley,” he said.
Her face took on a mulish expression. “No, I meanourcome-out. As I said the other day, Izzy and I will enter society together.”
“And as I said, that will not be possible. Society will not accept someone of Miss Burton’s—”
“MissStudley!” Clarissa said sternly. “My sister was christened Isobel Burton Studley!”
Leo had checked into the legality of that. It seemed that though Miss Burton had no legal right to her natural father’s surname, there was no law against naming someone whatever they wanted. “Nevertheless, society will not accept someone of such irregular birth.”
Miss Studley snorted. “Hypocrites.”
He inclined his head. “It is how the world operates. So, Miss Studley, it isyourcome-out we will discuss. And perhaps we can make other arrangements for your half sister.”
“No.” Miss Studley reached out and took her half sister’s hand. “Either Izzy and I enter society together or not at all.”
Leo eyed Isobel Burton narrowly. She looked back at him, her face expressionless.
“May I speak to you privately, Miss Burton?” he said.
“MissStudley,” she and her half sister said at the same time.
He inclined his head in noncommittal acknowledgment. “In the garden?” he suggested.
“Very well.” She rose gracefully.
“But, Izzy—” her half sister began.
“Don’t worry, ’Riss,” she said. “I’ll be perfectly all right.” He gestured and she walked out into the garden ahead of him. Her hips swayed slightly as she walked. A light breeze caught the fabric of her dress, causing it to cling to her backside in a way that made his mouth dry, then billowed out again to wrap against her limbs in a flirtatious dance.
Leo averted his eyes. And walked into the gatepost.
***
Ouch!” Lord Salcott grunted, and Izzy turned. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” he growled. “A slight misstep, that’s all.” Scowling at Izzy as if she’d caused him to stumble, he waved her on ahead.
Izzy led him up the garden path—and oh, wouldn’t that be fun, she thought, smiling to herself—to a pretty little wooden gazebo, covered with roses just coming into bloom.
She sat down and folded her hands, hoping she looked demure. She felt anything but demure. First, he’d all but ignored her, addressing all his comments to Clarissa—even when answering the questions Izzy asked, acting as if she weren’t even in the room.
And now, he wanted to talk to her alone. It didn’t bode well. “So, Lord Salcott, what did you wish to tell me without my sister hearing?”
He seated himself opposite and crossed one long, bootedleg over the other. “Have you reconsidered the offer I made the other day?”
“You mean your attempt to bribe me to abandon my sister? Of course not. My answer remains the same.”
“It was not a bribe, it was—” He broke off, his mouth compressed in a hard line, his eyes boring into her like chips of ice. “I had the impression you cared about your half sister.”
