Eloping with the Princess (Brotherhood of the Sword #3)(5)

Recently their young queen, Victoria, had been attacked, on more than one occasion. Gabe had been convinced that the Earl of Thornton was behind the attacks and had followed Thornton’s wife, Lilith, who had eventually agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

“And Isabel?” Jason asked.

“Lilith was concerned for her well-being. I followed her to the girl’s school, and it was fortunate that I did, considering someone tried to snatch the girl right outside the school gates,” Gabe said.

“Indeed.” He wanted to ask more, know more about the exotic beauty Gabe had brought to his home, but no legitimate questions came to mind.

“Will you protect her? Lilith and I have more investigative work to do, and I know that I will not have Lilith’s full concentration if she is constantly worrying about her charge.”

Protect her? That beautiful creature he’d led to a guest room right down the hall from his own bedchamber? He wasn’t one to wax poetic about anything, but he suspected even the Bard himself could not write a sonnet that sufficiently captured the beauty of Isabel’s eyes. “Yes, of course.” Although he certainly felt there was likely someone more qualified, he was pleased that Gabe trusted him enough to seek him out for such a favor.

“She shouldn’t provide you any trouble,” Gabe said.

Jason highly doubted that was entirely true. In his experience, women that beautiful always caused trouble.

…

Isabel had had a chance to wash up and change clothes and was already feeling lighter. Her uncle had died, and certainly that meant her life could begin.

She could leave St. Bart’s for good and build a new life in London, perhaps working for a nice family. Now she would have the opportunity to make her own way in the world. Her uncle’s demise meant the end of her having to rely on him to make decisions about her future. Finally, the endless purgatory of her undecided future would cease. This would mean she’d no longer be an object of pity.

Lilith found her and suggested a walk in the gardens.

“I thought some nice morning air would be just the thing,” Lilith said.

The sweet scent of hyacinth lingered on the breeze. It was obvious that Viscount Ellis had a rather devoted gardener; Isabel lost count of the number of different types of flowers surrounding them. They settled onto a stone bench beneath an oak tree.

“They’ll keep us safe,” Lilith said.

“‘They’ meaning Lord Lynford and Lord Ellis?”

Lilith nodded. “I’ve known Lord Lynford for many years.”

Isabel supposed she should believe her aunt. Although they’d had limited contact with each other, Lilith had always done everything she could for Isabel.

“As soon as we unravel all of this—” Lilith sighed. “You and I will start over somewhere. Just the two of us.”

That sounded lovely, but Isabel knew she couldn’t continue to be a burden on Lilith forever. Lilith was still a young woman. She would find another man eventually and want to start a new family. No, Isabel had her own plans. She’d find gainful employment and earn her own way in life, but she mentioned none of that now. Lilith had already done so much, and someday, Isabel would repay the kindness.

“’Tis hard to believe he is gone. It seems I should feel something now that Thornton is dead, but I don’t.” Isabel swept a glance at her aunt. “That makes me a horrible person, doesn’t it?”

“Of course not.” Lilith swallowed hard, then frowned deeply. “Thornton was a cruel bastard. All he ever did for you was pay for your schooling and belongings. He certainly offered you no familial love.”

“Was he even my uncle?” It was a question that had plagued her for years, one that she’d never before dared to ask.

Lilith placed her hand over Isabel’s and squeezed lightly. “Honestly, I’m not certain. Do you remember anything from your past, from before Thornton?”

Isabel thought back, trying to recall anything before she’d arrived at St. Bart’s. “Sometimes, I remember a cottage…by the sea, I believe, because I recall the salty air.” She tried to relive the scent. “And a woman. Perhaps she was my mother, but I remember only her voice singing a song about birds, nothing about the way she looked.”

“That’s a start.”

“It’s not very helpful. I’m not even certain if it is a memory or simply something I imagined.”

“It’s all right. We’re together now, and we’ll figure everything out. I’ve saved money so we can have a new start somewhere, on the Continent or even the Americas. You think about where you might like to go,” Lilith said.

Isabel nodded.

Lilith stood.

“I should like to discover the truth about myself before we leave the country,” Isabel said, knowing that she’d never depend on Lilith to be financially responsible for her. She did not want to separate from her aunt, but she would not be a burden on her, either.

“Of course.”

Isabel’s mind was plagued with questions and concerns, but she would not let Lilith know that. The woman already had endured so much at the hand of Thornton. So Isabel brought a smile to her lips and came to her feet. “I believe I am hungry.” She embraced Lilith. “Thank you for coming to get me. I suspect had you not, I would simply have been let out on the streets. As it was, I was the oldest student by nearly a year.”