Perfect Stranger by Duncan Alice

Author:Duncan, Alice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: san francisco, historical romance, dancing, humorous historical romance, titanic, 1914, tango, alice duncan, castle walk
Publisher: Alice Duncan

Chapter Eleven

Isabel’s heart leaped even as her body froze on the luxurious bench seat of the Maxwell. She found herself unable to believe what she thought she’d heard him say. He wanted her to what? He couldn’t be in love with her, could he? Isabel didn’t have that kind of luck.

“I know this is sudden. After all, it’s only been a short time since we met.”

“Yes, it has.” He must be joking, although it was a dreadful joke. Isabel was not amused—and that almost amused her since it would put her on a par with the late queen. Laughter was very far away from her in the moment, however.

“But something Jason—that’s Dr. Abernathy, you know.”

“Yes, I know.”

She heard him swallow again and guessed she wasn’t making this easy on him. That was fine with her, since it wasn’t easy on her, either. He might have saved her life, and she might be secretly in love with him, but that didn’t give him the right to make bad jokes at her expense.

“He reminded me that you’re now in a position to meet any number of eligible men.”

“Eligible men?” As she sat there, she tried to decide the appropriate word to describe her condition. Flabbergasted? Baffled? Bewildered? Confounded?

Perhaps outraged more nearly hit the mark. “Ah . . . what does meeting eligible men have to do with anything?”

She barely saw Somerset’s hand lift into the air, a trifle darker than the pervading night, then fall again. She gathered this was a gesture of confusion. “You’ll meet men. Some of them might try to sweep you off your feet!”

“Good Lord.”

“It’s the truth. You can’t even imagine the kinds of men there are in the world, Isabel. Why, you might meet anyone!”

“Aha. And you fear that some cad in gentlemen’s clothing will sweep me off to his lair and have his way with me?”

She sensed his frown. “I wouldn’t put it that way, but . . . well . . . yes. Something like that.”

“I see.” Both Somerset and Jason were two exceptionally foolish men if they had such a low opinion of her. Did they honestly believe that she could be swayed by pretty words and allow some sweet-talking man to bedazzle her? Little did they know. She’d done that once, and once was too often. Isabel Golightly didn’t need to be taught twice. She huffed loudly.

“Not that I think you have less than good sense or anything like that.” The words almost tripped over themselves leaving Somerset’s mouth, and Isabel was pleased that she’d managed to get her point across with nothing more than a huff. “But, still, you’re in a difficult position—you know, having to earn your living and that of your daughter and all.”

“Yes, I’m fully aware of my position, thank you.”

“And if some millionaire happened to come along and take a fancy to you—which is absolutely possible, you know. You’re a beautiful woman and any man would be a fool not to want to marry you.”

“Thank you.” The two words sounded as if she’d poured alum on them before delivering them to her companion.

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