Lady Controversial: Regency Ladies Vol 4 by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

Isolda’s mouth fell open. ‘You think it was my aunt’s doing? That she persuaded Lord Brooke to defraud Papa?’

Ellery nodded. ‘The possibility has crossed my mind. Given what you just told me about Lady Bellingham’s vindictive nature, it makes sense.’

‘Because he rescued Mama, I take it you mean.’

‘Precisely.’

‘Do you really believe that my aunt resented her sister quite that much, all these years on?’

‘I have no way of knowing, but you did overhear their argument shortly after your uncle’s death. Perhaps your aunt held your father indirectly responsible for the demise of the man she loved.’

Isolda nodded. ‘There is little that I would not think her capable of, but even so…’ She paced back and forth, looking endearingly shapely and provocative in her boy’s clothing as she folded her arms across her waist and worried away at the problem. Brutus snapped at her heels, but she ignored the puppy and he grew weary of the game and scampered off into the trees in search of distractions. ‘I cannot help wondering why she is so keen to sponsor Jane’s coming-out, given that she holds my family responsible for all of her travails.’

‘Perhaps she resents the fact that she is childless.’

‘Or is favouring Jane in the futile hope of invoking my jealousy.’ Isolda shook her head. ‘As I say, there is no limit to her vindictiveness.’ She looked up at Ellery. ‘Bearing grudges for so long must be exhausting.’

‘Brooke is ideally placed to stoke the flames of her resentment.’

‘Very likely, but unless we can decide what it is that he wants to do with the land in this area—other than to annoy you, of course—we are no further forward. There is little that I would put past my aunt but she is independently wealthy and does not need to involve herself with Lord Brooke’s grubby schemes.’

‘Not with a view to increasing her fortune in mind, perhaps.’

‘She does not like me.’ Isolda glanced up and sent Ellery an impish look. ‘For reasons that escape me, she appears to think that I am insubordinate.’

‘You?’ Ellery widened his eyes in faux shock, enjoying himself enormously. ‘What could possibly have given her that idea?’

‘I know,’ Isolda smiled and shook her head, ‘it’s baffling. Even so,’ she added, her expression sobering, ‘I find it incredibly difficult to believe that she is still thirsting for revenge all these years on.’

‘Were she and your father on good terms?’

‘They tolerated one another.’ Isolda waggled a hand from side to side and gave a considering nod. ‘I could sense tension when they were in the same room, but that was also true of my mother and aunt. I did not know why at the time, of course, but have a much better understanding of their grievances now.’

‘I wonder why your aunt bothered to keep up the connection if there was so much friction.’

‘Perhaps because my uncle insisted upon it. He could be very dogmatic and was the only person I ever observed capable of keeping my aunt in check by tempering her sometimes spiteful outbursts.

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