Lady Isabella's Splended Folly by Sandra Sookoo

Author:Sandra Sookoo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fortunes of Fate series, country fair, fortune teller, love at first sight, enemies to lovers, Regency romance, humor, summer, ship captain, old maid, scandal
Publisher: New Independence Books
Published: 2019-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

April 5, 1818

Isabella was unaccountably beset with nerves on the morning of the Venetian breakfast. How was she expected to concentrate on choosing a gown? Gentry and titled guests, as well as others in the vicinity were invited. But she cared for none of them. The only man she wished to see was the captain. Would he keep his word? Though she’d invited him, he didn’t seem the type of man to waste time at such affairs, especially this one that would go throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

Will he come merely to see me? Will he give me his answer regarding a possible affair, or should I ask him point blank?

“What is wrong with you, Izzy?” The strain in Louisa’s voice cut through her thoughts and brought her back to the present with a tug.

“Whatever do you mean?” Isabella held up a gown of rose satin shot with golden thread. Would this color set her apart from the rest of the women in attendance? She wanted to make it easy for the captain to find her.

“I’ve asked you a question twice, and you’ve ignored me both times.”

Finally, she glanced at her sister, who sat ensconced on a wing backed chair in the corner of Izzy’s bedroom, her legs tucked beneath her and her skirts draped becomingly as if she posed for a painter. “I’m sorry, Louisa. My mind is on other things, I suppose.” She smiled and handed Molly the gown with a shake of the head. “But you are glowing today, and look quite serene. Does that help?”

Louisa twisted the simple gold band on her left ring finger. She smiled. “Thank you. It’s been a good morning without sickness. And my husband arrives this afternoon.”

“How long does he stay?”

“A week. I intend to make the best of it.”

“And so you should.” Isabella scrutinized the next gown Molly brought forward from the wardrobe. This one was of mint green chiffon. The fabric would cling to her curves and move with any gentle breeze. “It is a contender,” she told her maid. But would the pastel color make her blend in too much at the gathering? At least if Louisa were busy with her husband, she’d stop poking into her life.

“Enough of Louisa’s life,” Mariana interrupted from her spot lounging on her stomach on Isabella’s bed, her legs crossed at the ankle, a copy of La Belle Assemblée open in front of her. “You didn’t answer her question.”

“Which was?” Really, did any of this matter?

“What is wrong with you? Even I’ve noticed it in recent days.”

“When you’re not mooning about the imminent arrival of Lord Albert?” Isabella couldn’t resist teasing.

Mariana rolled her eyes. “At least I’m open to courtship.”

“Not this again.” She turned to Molly, who shrugged and went back to the wardrobe.

“Anyway, you’ve changed in the past handful of days, Izzy,” Louisa continued, for now with Mariana’s backing, she had more fuel for her fire. “In fact, you’ve been acting weird since we went to that gypsy fair.

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