Leo returned the young women to his aunt’s house and accompanied them inside.
“I shall be leaving for my country estate shortly. I’m not sure how long I will be absent—several weeks, I expect. In the meantime, you will be in the care of my aunt.” Heglanced at his aunt, who was busy scratching the stomach of a small scruffy beast that lay blissfully across her lap. He raised his voice. “Isn’t that right, Aunt Olive?”
She looked up vaguely. “Eh, what’s that?”
“You will be in charge of the young ladies.”
“Yes, yes, whatever you say. And yes, my darling, I will scratch your dear little tummy next, don’t you worry.”
Leo reminded himself that she was talking to the dog waiting hopefully at her feet, and that his own stomach was in no danger of being scratched. He said to the young ladies, who were trying to suppress giggles at his aunt’s antics, “I trust in the interim, you two young ladies will respect Lady Scattergood’s authority.” Such as it was—her “authority” was a joke. But he had no choice. There was no one else he could leave them with.
“You may use my absence to consider your position,” he continued. “You know my conditions, and should you agree to them, I shall make all the necessary arrangements for you to make your come-out in society, Miss Studley—alone.” He glanced at her sister. “Should you decide what your own arrangements will be, Miss Burton, I am willing to assist with them, too, depending, of course, on what they are.”
They stared stonily back at him, all amusement wiped from their faces. At least they were taking him seriously. Several weeks of the unrelieved company of his aunt and her dogs should bring the girls to their senses. It was hard, he knew, to exclude Miss Burton from her half sister’s activities, but society had its rules.
And better she learn that now than be publicly humiliated later on.
He bowed curtly and turned on his heel to leave. Halfway to the door he paused. Yes, he needed to say it. He turned back and looked straight at Miss Burton. She lifted her chin and stared back at him, defiance glittering from those glorious green eyes.
“Miss Burton, I ap—”
“MissStudley,” she and her half sister said in unison.
He clenched his jaw. “Miss Isobel, I must apologize for what I said to you on the heath earlier. About your home. I overreacted to your... stunt and I spoke hastily and without thought. It was unfair of me.”
He didn’t wait for her response, but turned and marched from the room, the dignity of his exit slightly marred by the flock of scruffy little beasts cavorting around his boots.
***
What did he say to you on the heath?” Clarissa asked after Lord Salcott had left. They’d taken themselves outside to the garden.
Izzy shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
“But—”
“He was his usual annoying self, that’s all. I have no idea why he thought an apology was in order.” But she did know, and it had thrown her completely. He was referring to that gibe he’d made about her having no home. It had hurt, but it was the truth, after all. People didn’t need to apologize for telling the truth.
I overreacted to your stunt.
It seemed Lord Randall was right, that Lord Salcott had been worried about her safety.
“But he apologized,” Clarissa persisted. “Men never apologize.”
Izzy shrugged. “It’s a mystery to me. Anyway, he’s gone for who knows how long.”
Clarissa nodded. “I know. I’ve spoken to Lady Scattergood, and she’s given me the use of a small room off the scullery to make my lotions and creams.”
“That’s nice.”
“You don’t sound very interested,” Clarissa saidreproachfully. “But with several weeks of not going out except for rides and walking the dogs, we’re going to have to find something to occupy ourselves or else we’ll die of boredom.”
“ ‘Several weeks of not going out’?” Izzy echoed. “I have no intention of sitting here rotting with boredom on the say-so of Lord High-and-Mighty.”
“But that’s why I thought of my little room—”
“You can make all the creams and lotions you like, my love, but wearegoing out. What’s more, we’re going to start meeting and mixing with the ton—both of us together.”
“But he said—”
