The Wicked Heir (Spare Heirs #3)(94)

She blinked away the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She should have known, should have seen the person Fallon truly was. She’d been so consumed with her own dream version of the man that she hadn’t seen reality in front of her. Fallon St. James was a bad person who concocted villainous plots and lived with a band of rogues.

“Lady Isabelle,” someone called behind her, but she kept moving. Ducking around a corner to avoid being seen, she watched a man ride past her. Mr. Claughbane. Her eyes widened. Mr. Claughbane? That was Evie’s new husband. Was he wrapped up in this too? They were all evil. Every gentleman she knew. Poor Evie. Did her cousin have any idea? He guided his horse around the next corner and out of sight, still calling her name. She wouldn’t go with him. He would only take her back to Fallon—the one place she couldn’t go.

Bad men were everywhere, married to her friend Roselyn, her cousin Evie. Was no one good at heart? She’d been wrong about Hardaway as well, but above all else, Fallon’s true nature stung the most. Fallon, her heart wailed from deep inside her chest, but not a sound escaped her lips.

She’d rushed in, had trusted him. She’d been so certain about him, who he was, how he felt about her. Her family had been right about her, everyone had been right. She was foolish. “Just a silly girl with silly dreams,” she muttered through a tight throat as she continued down the street.

She only wanted love. Was it so much to ask for in life? She shook as a sob was wrenched from her body. A dark carriage drove by, but she hadn’t a care who saw her like this. There was nothing left of her with which to care. Fallon had taken it all and then hadn’t even tried to stop her when she walked out his door. She meant nothing to him. She was ruined. Tears slipped down her cheeks, chilled by the wind that pulled at her as she moved down the street.

Love wasn’t meant to be, not for her. She’d so hoped this time… He’d touched her with such tenderness. He’d held her as if he were holding his own life in his hands. He’d smiled and laughed with her. How had he still hidden so much of himself away?

The clouds were thick overhead as they swirled and shifted in the wind. Gray—the day was gray, the road was gray, and all the homes she passed were gray. Isabelle didn’t know where she was. The buildings were unfamiliar. The street was foreign, but she kept walking. It was all she could do.

Keep moving. As much as she wanted to move on and find another as she had before, she knew she couldn’t replace what she’d had with Fallon—for her part, anyway. Perhaps just like this street with its worn gray stone that stretched out in front of her with no visible end, she was destined to walk through life cold and alone.

Another carriage passed, or perhaps it was the same one again. Someone else was as lost and tired as she was this afternoon. She’d lost count of the blocks she’d walked. With no money for a hack or even an idea if she was going the right direction, she slowed her pace. There was no hurry when one came from nothing and was walking toward nothing. She spotted a small park across the street and stumbled in that direction.

Sinking onto a bench, she sat and stared. Only a little while ago, she would have thought the deep green of the grass to be beautiful against the tree trunks. Today it only reminded her of the garden on Fallon’s rooftop, lush, green, and filled with false hopes.

She sniffed and wiped the tears from her cheeks. The wind was cool against her face. Perhaps she would simply stay here until she perished on this park bench, eventually turning to stone. Children would look upon her and wonder at the sorrow in her eyes. And she would be a piece of art forever. Unchanging. Unfeeling.

“Lady Isabelle?” someone asked from behind her.

Isabelle jumped. Had Mr. Claughbane seen her enter the park? If so, she would tell him exactly what she thought of his secret club and how she had been deceived by it. She exhaled a breath and turned. Then her eyes narrowed on the man standing only a few paces away. “Mr. Grapling?”

“I haven’t seen you in some time,” he offered with a wide smile. “I’m not… I’m not disturbing you, am I?”

“No.” She blinked up at him in surprise over the coincidence of seeing him here, now. It was a bit startling to be thrown back into life so quickly. She’d imagined she’d have time before having to speak with anyone in town. “Your company is unexpected but quite welcome,” she said through teeth clenched into what she hoped was a convincing smile. It would do no good to be rude to the man. It wasn’t his fault she was in this mess.

“I hope you had safe travels back into town.”

“Into town…yes, of course,” she lied. At least her reputation wasn’t destroyed over her stay with Fallon, only what made her whole.

He moved around to the front of the bench. He wasn’t wearing the bright colors she associated with him. Everyone had changed while she was away, it seemed. She certainly had. “I was disappointed when you left so quickly. We’d only just become acquainted.”

“My departure was unexpected,” she muttered.

“I’m pleased you’ve returned. Are you here alone?” he asked, casting a wary glance around the park.

“Ha,” she released a harsh exhale. “I find I’m quite alone today.”

“Then you must allow me to accompany you. You shouldn’t be out alone like this. Would you care to see the rest of the park?”