If You Were Mine (13 page)

“
Careful, my dear!” Peter laughed roughly, his tone husky as
he gently eased to sit beside her.

“
I’m sorry,” Isobel sniffed, wiping tears from her eyes. “It
is just your scent.” Her throat closed again, and she fought to
contain the emotions the memories brought forward.

“
My scent? My dear, I do hope I don’t smell so much as to
bring tears to your eyes!” He teased gently with a slight
frown.

Isobel
laughed softly. “Oh, you!” She swatted at his shoulder with a
watery hiccup. “It is just -” She paused, unsure how to explain.
“It doesn’t matter.”

“
Of course it matters if it upsets you so,” Peter replied,
aware that Dominic had moved to sit upon the chair beside
them.

“
The clothes that I used on the night that I ran from
Rupert’s, were yours,” she began quietly. “They smelled of you. It
gave me the strength to do what I needed to do, to get away from
him.”

Peter
hated to see the haunted look in his sister’s eyes. It was in such
stark contrast to the cheerful person she usually was. “Then I can
only be glad that I do smell,” Peter replied with a gentle smile.
“Although, running away as you did gave us all cause for
significant worry, even if it did save your life.”

Isobel
nodded as tears continued to flow.

“
Can you tell us more?” Dominic asked quietly, watching the
maid deposit a tray of tea pots and pastries on the small table
beside them.

Isobel
shook her head regretfully. “I shall one day, but not today,” her
voice trembled with suppressed emotion.

“
It would help if you could confide in us my dear. We need to
know exactly what Rupert said to you through the time you were with
him,” Peter replied, hating to push her when she was so clearly
upset, but he knew that if they were to seal Rupert’s fate once and
for all, they had to get as much detail as possible. That
unfortunately meant that Isobel had to remember, and tell
them.

“
Please, not right now,” Isobel pleaded in a stronger voice.
Shaking off the melancholy thoughts with a shrug of her shoulders,
she wiped at the remaining moisture on her cheeks. “Now about that
tea, is anybody going to pour?”

“
I shall,” Dominic said, rising to do just that. “We do need
to speak to you. Peter and I have been making plans, and they
involve you.”

“
Oh?” Isobel’s brows rose questioningly at Peter. She didn’t
like the idea of them plotting anything.

“
My dear, you have indeed been thoroughly compromised.” Peter
moved to stand before the fire, his hands clasped behind his back.
He reminded Isobel so much of her father, she almost felt as though
she had been naughty.

Well, you have,
she chastised
herself with a swift glance at Dominic, who sat nonchalantly
sipping his tea and staring at his boots almost too
intently.

Isobel
shifted uncomfortably and waited. “Dominic has offered for your
hand,” Isobel’s heart lurched but she wisely remained silent. “I
strongly urge you to accept his offer.”

“
And if I don’t?” Isobel asked, watching Peter scowl at
her.

“
There really is no question that you must. Although you were
ill at the time, the
Ton
will not react well to any gossip that you have
lived, unchaperoned, in Dominic’s house – alone – for six whole
weeks. Much less that most of the time, you were actually residing
in his master suite!”

“
I don’t care
what
any of the
Ton
thinks,” Isobel snapped defiantly, carefully
placing her teacup back on the table. “I will not be forced into
matrimony because of mealy-mouthed gossips.” She was fully aware
Dominic hadn’t taken his eyes off his boots.

“
I know but it has ramifications for all the family,” Peter
began, knowing his sister well enough to read the stubborn tilt of
her chin for what it was. Abject defiance.

“
What family?
” Isobel replied
quickly. “I – we – hardly have anyone left!” Isobel moved toward
the window before turning on her heel to glare at her brother. “We
have buried our parents,” she checked off her fingers. “We don’t
have any other relations other than an uncle in Scotland whom we
have never met, and Aunt Elspeth, who cannot be trusted not to
gossip, and hasn’t moved in Ton circles for years, and Rupert, an
insane despot who thinks more of his purse than us!” Isobel fought
down the coughs that rasped in her throat as her temper
bubbled.

“
What about Peter?” Dominic asked softly, finally drawing his
eyes away from an intense study of his boots and raising a querying
brow toward Isobel.

“
What about him?” Isobel gasped, her cheeks flushed with fury.
“Whatever I do won’t have any impact on his choices.”

“
Won’t it?” Dominic argued. “Are you sure Isobel?”

Isobel huffed. “It is widely known that any indiscretion
women make is scandalous enough to provide fodder for the gossips
of the
Ton
. She
is shunned from society and cast as a harlot. Any man’s
indiscretion is widely ignored, and rarely casts him into any
disrepute whatsoever.” Isobel glared at both men in turn. “I don’t
have any intention of moving within
Ton
circles, and I don’t care what
they think of me. Where were they when I was out on my own? Who was
there for me to turn to when I needed shelter when the weather
turned cold?” She was aware she was practically shouting, but
couldn’t stop the tide of despair that flowed through her. “Who was
there to protect me from Rupert’s fists day after day?”

She
stopped, suddenly realising what she had just revealed. Stunned
silence settled over the room. She stared at them in horror for
several moments before she turned and fled from the room, unable to
stand the sight the appalled shock on their faces. A wave of
humiliation swept through her, pushing her legs to move.

Dominic
rose to follow her only for Peter to raise a restraining hand upon
his arm. “Leave her. Let her go. She won’t thank you for your
presence right now.”

“
He hit her,” Dominic snarled, and reluctantly resumed his
seat. In reality, he wanted to hit something, namely Rupert. His
stomach roiled with tension as he turned to his friend. “Goddamn
it, the bastard beat her.”

“
You are a soldier Dominic. Don’t allow your anger to get in
the way of the main battle.” Peter cautioned, fighting his own
fury.

“
How in the hell can you be so remote?” Dominic snarled
incredulously, glaring at his friend in disgust.

“
I’m not. I want to kill the bastard as much as you do.
However, we must make sure that we aren’t moving too soon. He knows
she is here, I am sure of it. I can almost feel him watching. We
will let’s let
him
come to
us
.
We’ll be ready.” Peter’s voice was menacing with ruthless
intent.

“
I’ll go and check on her,” Dominic said, shoving to his feet.
“I don’t want her alone.”

Minutes
later he entered the lady’s drawing room, quietly closing the door
behind him with a click, he paused and studied the room. Isobel was
curled up on the chaise before the roaring fire, her head in her
hands on the arm of the seat, apparently asleep. On the table
beside her lay another untouched tray of tea and
pastries.

She must
have fallen asleep as soon as she sat down, Dominic mused. The room
was cosy and warm, the shutters closed against the afternoon wintry
chill. He crept quietly toward the chaise and knelt beside her. She
was so beautiful. How in the hell could anybody hurt her? Unable to
keep his hands off her any longer, he trailed a fingertip down the
side of her cheek.

Isobel
slowly became aware of being watched and tickled. Easing her eyes
open, she was unsurprised to find herself inches away from
Dominic’s. His gentle green eyes scanned her face searchingly.
Isobel was sure he was going to ask her more questions about
Rupert.

“
I want you as my wife,” Dominic whispered softly, his
fingertip moving down to curve around her lips. “Say
yes.”

“
You don’t need to make the sacrifice for me, Dominic,” Isobel
reasoned. “I know I have behaved wantonly; more of a harlot, than a
lady.” She could sense his hesitation, and pushed herself upright
until she was sitting on the side of the chaise. She didn’t add
that she wanted, needed, to hear him declare some affection towards
her. He had been protective, and caring, and tender, while she had
been recovering. His generosity towards her had been boundless.
Yet, a part of her desperately needed to hear the true depth of his
feelings. Preferably, before she entered into a lifetime commitment
to him.

Isobel
looked at him steadily. “I would make you a most unconventional
wife, Dominic.” She chided softly, unable to come up with any more
suitable argument with him so close, yet unable to tell him what
she really wanted. She wasn’t sure she would like the outcome if he
said he didn’t love her.

“
You of all men should know that. After all, most girls would
be horrified at the mere suggestion of leaving the house
unchaperoned, much less in the middle of the night.” She turned
towards him with a sad smile. “Or of residing here, for six weeks,
in your bedroom.”

“
I am glad you did,” Dominic declared with a smile.

“
Are you? Would your family be, if they knew what I have
done?” Isobel asked, knowing that Dominic’s sense of chivalry was
pushing him to ‘do the right thing’ by her, whether he really
wanted her as his wife or not.

“
My family will adore you, of that I am certain,” Dominic said
reassuringly, knowing she was looking for excuses. Isobel noted he
said nothing about adoring her himself.

“
Maybe so, but you cannot ignore what has happened to me. The
circumstances I have experienced that will certainly banish me from
the
Ton
should it
ever become known. It would certainly bring disgrace and
embarrassment to anyone associated with me. Even if you discount
what I have done, there is the looming disgrace of my uncle’s
behaviour that will bring scandal upon the few remaining family
members we have,” Isobel said, rising to stand on trembling
legs.

“
Did you really have to go on a secret mission for the Prince
Regent?” Isobel queried, quickly changing the subject. The thought
of tarnishing Dominic’s good name made her want to cry, and she
didn’t want him feeling sorry for her any more than he already
did.

She knew
instinctively that he was about to push her further about the
suitability of their marrying, and she didn’t think she had the
strength to deny him if he really pushed her. With her entire
future happiness at stake, entering into marriage with Dominic was
something she wanted, needed, to do secure in the knowledge he was
as in love with her as she was with him. Despite recent events, she
couldn’t live with anything less.

“
Yes I did. I didn’t lie to you about it. I would never lie to
you Isobel. Peter was with me and he wouldn’t lie either, you
should know that,” Dominic reproached her.

CHAPTER
SEVEN

Several
hours later, Isobel sat on the chaise in the drawing room. Peter
and Dominic sat in the winged chairs on either side of the
fireplace. The fire crackled heartily in the grate, giving the room
a soft glow. Despite the intimate surroundings, Isobel could feel
the tension fairly crackle in the air around them. She knew without
asking that they were up to something.

“
Is someone going to tell me, or do I have to nag it out of
you?” Isobel’s brow rose haughtily. She hadn’t missed the measured
look that Dominic and Peter shared, before Peter coughed
uncomfortably before turning towards her. Whatever it was, he was
clearly reluctant to broach the subject, and was unsure how she
would react. The small hairs on Isobel’s neck rose in alarm.
Whatever it was they were about to impart, she knew she wouldn’t
like it.

“
We need you to tell us, exactly, what happened while you were
with Rupert.” Peter’s voice was gentle yet held a hint of
underlying tension. Isobel was fully aware Dominic sat in silent
contemplation of his boots, once again.

She sat
and listened carefully when Peter recounted events at Willowbrook
that led to her being removed by Rupert, only interrupting to
correct him on one or two minor points before nodding for him to
continue. Once recounted, an expectant pause settled over them and
she knew what they wanted. Her stomach dropped to her knees.
Suddenly the sumptuous dinner she had just consumed, felt like a
lead weight in her belly.

Silence
stretched between them for several moments.

“
We need to start at the very beginning, darling,” Dominic
declared softly, handing Isobel a tea cup, liberally laced with
brandy. “I know this is going to be difficult, but if you feel you
need to shout and get angry, do so. But please don’t spare us. We
have, after all, both fought on the battlefields and have seen man
at his worst. There is nothing you cannot tell either of us that
would shock us.” He smiled softly at her knowing how much she was
dreading this. Her hand trembled as she took a careful sip of the
warm brew, before settling the cup on her lap with a
rattle.