The Undesirable Duke: Reluctantly in Love - Book 1 by Willis Courtney

Author:Willis, Courtney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“A letter from London for Miss Hastings,” the servant announced.

Isabel looked up from her sketches by the fire and blinked. “Oh?”

She caught a knowing glance in his eyes, realizing he hadn’t announced the sender. Not after her last outburst. She nodded and gave him an appreciative smile. “Thank you.”

“Who is it from, dear?” the duchess asked from the card table with the other ladies.

Picking up the letter from the platter, Isabel held her breath. “From my mother.”

She held it a moment, wondering what the letter could hold. It didn’t weigh much, so it couldn’t have held any great news. For some reason, she feared it held some accusation – that mother had discovered Isabel’s truth about Gilbert. There was no reason why she should find that out unless he had done something irrational like approaching her parents and announcing their engagement. It suddenly made her sick, her skin going cold. Did she know him well enough to be sure he would never do such a thing without consulting her? If he did, it would ruin everything they’d worked so hard for.

The doors to the drawing room opened and the gentlemen entered, the duke at the head. He scanned the room and when he found Isabel sitting to the side, he smiled.

But before he could take a single step, Lady Finley called out, “Won’t you join us, Your Grace?”

Isabel watched his shoulders sink only a fraction, his sincere smile fading into a false one.

“You had your rest last evening, my son,” the duchess called, “So I hope you’ll not deprive us this evening as well.”

When he shrugged his shoulders and sighed, Isabel gave him a sympathetic smile in return as he trotted off to the card tables.

Isabel looked down, remembering the letter in her hand. Though she would have welcomed the duke’s company, she needed a moment alone to discover what the letter held, hoping and praying it was not her worst fears come to life.

Swallowing hard, Isabel turned, allowing the light of the fire to shine on her fingers as she broke the familiar wax seal. Once unfolded, she was only slightly relieved to see just a few sentences.

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