Eloping with the Princess (Brotherhood of the Sword #3)(24)

“Yes, thank you. She’s such a quiet little thing. Not at all like her brother was when he was born,” Suzanne said. “He did nothing but wail for hours unless I was feeding him.” She smiled warmly.

The room fell again into an awkward silence, and Isabel tried to think of something clever to say. Thankfully the servants came in and served the first course.

“Did you say your name was Isabel Crisp?” Suzanne asked. “Why do I recognize that name? I’ve heard it recently.” Her delicate brow furrowed as she thought. “Darling, do you recall?”

Patrick glanced up from his dinner and eyed his wife. “I don’t believe so.”

Isabel shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m rather new to London, so I doubt that anyone—”

“The lost princess!” Suzanne exclaimed. “Yes, there was a story about you in the Times only yesterday, or perhaps it was the day before.” She waved her hand absently. “You are the lost princess from Saldania, are you not?”

Isabel’s gaze flickered to Jason, and he gave her an almost imperceptible nod. “That is what I have been told. I have no memory of it, though.”

“Fascinating,” Patrick said.

“Indeed,” Isabel agreed.

“It is true, then, that you had no notion of your real identity?” Suzanne asked.

“Yes, quite true,” Isabel said. “I had not even heard of my country.”

“You poor dear,” his mother said. “That must be dreadful to not know who you are.”

“I suppose. I don’t feel much different, to be honest. But I certainly don’t feel like a princess,” Isabel said.

“Jason, you married a princess in secret?” His mother clicked her tongue. “That simply will not do. You cannot hide such a treasure with a crude elopement in Scotland, in one of those dirty blacksmith hovels, no doubt.”

“We were in a hurry,” Jason said.

His mother’s brows rose. “Be that as it may, we must remedy the situation immediately,” she said.

What did that mean? Did his mother expect them to annul their marriage? That wasn’t even necessary, Isabel recognized, considering Jason had yet to consummate their union. She wished she knew more about how Society worked so that she could better read the situation. She hated the notion of beginning a marriage, real or not, with her new mother-in-law disappointed in her.

“You are not suggesting we marry again here in London, Mother?” Jason asked.

“Of course not. We need to host a ball in your honor and announce the nuptials. People will want to celebrate with you, my dear,” his mother said.

“People will want to gawk and gossip,” he countered.

“Of course, that is part of the celebration for some,” she said.

“You don’t need to go to any trouble on my account,” Isabel said. “Jason said something about posting a notice in the papers. Would that not suffice?”

Jason leaned ever so close to her. “A public portrayal of our marriage would certainly be the fastest way to alert people,” he whispered.

The warmth of his breath next to her ear gave her a shiver. She nodded absently. What was it about this man that was so distracting?

She forced her attention away from him and settled on his mother who smiled warmly at her. Isabel supposed she should be grateful that her new family wished to properly welcome her. But all she could think about was the fact that being married to her put Jason in danger. Now that she’d met his family, it made that danger even more real. If something happened to him, these lovely people would have to blame her.

“Then it is settled,” his mother said. “We shall host a ball here and announce your marriage.”

She had no idea how to behave at a ball. She wasn’t even certain she knew what went on at them other than dancing.

She’d certainly had some training that any lady of good breeding would have; she’d learned Latin and philosophy, how to dance, and even how to manage a household, although no one expected anyone to leave St. Bart’s and marry well. She had, though, even if it wasn’t precisely a true marriage in every respect. It seemed that Jason wasn’t too keen on telling anyone the truth, and certainly, if he were going to do so, his family would be his confidants.

He meant to keep the truth a secret. Something settled inside her. As if the mere fact that they shared a common secret bound them together in a partnership. She didn’t have to face this alone. No matter what else came her way, perhaps she finally had someone to go through life with.

“We have much planning to do,” his mother said, coming to her feet. “Come along, ladies, let us get started.”

Suzanne rose and beckoned Isabel forward.

“Go on, you’ll be relatively safe with them,” Jason said with a grin.

Isabel stood and followed her new sister and mother out of the room. She wasn’t too far out of earshot to hear Patrick say loudly, “It’s about bloody time, brother.”

…

After his family left for the evening, Jason went in search of Isabel. He found her in the library.

“Searching for more books on botany, I see. Does your appetite for all things planted know no bounds?” he asked from the doorway.

She gifted him a smile. “One can never read too many books on plant life.”