Isabel (The Families 0f Dorset Book 2) by Martha Keyes

Author:Martha Keyes [Keyes, Martha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cosgrove Family Siblings, Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian Era, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Christian Stories, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Families 0f Dorset Series, Beautiful & Feisty
Publisher: Martha Keyes
Published: 2019-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

15

Charles Galbraith turned to locate Isabel and Lord Brockway. They stood together, Isabel’s hand on his arm, in front of a cage of foxes.

Julia's head twisted around, following his gaze. "Yes," she said, "those two look quite cozy, don't they?"

He turned his head to look at Julia. What did she mean?

She wagged her brows and then laughed, tucking her arm into his.

He forced a chuckle, shooting another quick glance at Isabel. She was smiling at Lord Brockway.

Had Charles been blind? He hadn't thought a thing of it to see the two of them standing together, but Julia had. It made no sense, though. Hadn't Isabel intended Lord Brockway for Cecilia? Yes, there was no doubt of that. It had been her escape plan—escape from a marriage to Charles.

The fact that she desired to concoct an alternative had been a welcome surprise to Charles at first. But as he came to know Isabel better, anytime she brought up the subject of avoiding their marriage, it rankled. Would it be so awful to be married to him?

Julia's arm tugged him forward toward the next cage. "You've been very neglectful of late, Charles," she said.

"Have I?"

"Yes. I've been missing the conversations we used to have back at home. I feel I hardly know you anymore."

He missed the conversations, too. He missed everything about that time. Sitting with Julia on the dock of the pond, skipping rocks on the water.

"Those were very happy days, weren't they?" he said with a nostalgic crook to his mouth.

"Canoeing in the pond last summer?"

He chuckled. "When you pushed me in? A whig of moss and the stench of frogs that lingered on my clothes for a week."

Julia threw back her head in that way which was so unique to her and laughed. "I warned you not to splash me with the oars."

"An honest mistake," he said, putting his free hand up in a gesture of defense.

"Perhaps the first time," she said. "But surely not five times?"

He grinned and hung his head in mock guilt. Suddenly he frowned. "Things have changed since then."

"Not I," Julia said.

Charles turned his head. Did she really think she hadn't changed?

She looked the same. That small ringlet which always hung behind her right ear. The same shade of pink tinging her cheeks. The dark lashes which framed those cornflower blue eyes he'd looked into a million times.

But no. Nothing else was the same.

"Oh!" Cecilia's cry broke in on their conversation. "Look at these creatures." She stood facing a cage farther down the walkway. She leaned forward toward the cage as if she wished to approach it but didn't dare.

Charles walked toward her, and his arm broke free from Julia's. Remembering their days at home in the country had been bittersweet. It seemed like a different lifetime—before he'd seen a new side of her.

Everyone in the group gathered in front of the cage. Inside were three small, black monkeys with white hair framing their curious faces.

"Colobus monkeys," Miss Holledge said, examining the plaque. "And we are permitted to feed them.

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