“Yes. That’s me.”
The young woman gave a small cry of excitement. “Forgive me. I just can’t believe you’re here. Really here, so close to my own home. Oh, please say you’ll call at the vicarage.”
“I . . . I’m sure I’d like that very much, Miss Pelham.”
“What an honor, truly. But I can’t imagine what brings you to Northumberland.”
“It’s this.” Izzy gestured about them. “Gostley Castle. I have inherited the property from the late Earl of Lynforth.”
“Inherited? This?” The young woman’s eyes flew wide. “I can’t believe it.”
Izzy smiled. “It was a shock to us all, I believe. His Grace and I have been negotiating our landlady-tenant relationship.”
Miss Pelham bounced in place, and her heels clicked on the stone floor. “I’m going to be neighbors with Izzy Goodnight.”
“Miss Pelham . . .” the duke interrupted.
“I’ve read all the Tales, you know. So many times. When I was younger, I cut each installment from the magazine and pasted the pages into a book. I brought it with me just in case the rumor was true.” She reached into her basket and pulled out a large, loosely bound volume. “I’d be ever so honored if you’d sign your name to it.”
“Miss Pelham.”
“Oh, I can’t help but ask,” she blurted out. “Can I have a lock of your hair, Miss Goodnight? For the book.”
“Miss Pelham,” he interrupted, jarring them both. “Miss Goodnight is under the mistaken impression that it would be safe for her to reside here at the castle until our property dispute is settled. Kindly help me persuade her that this is not the case.”
“Oh,” Miss Pelham said, drawing out the sound. “Oh, no.”
The young woman laid the folio aside. As she drew near, her scent was overpoweringly sweet. Izzy recognized vanilla and . . . gardenias?
Her white lace glove closed protectively on Izzy’s wrist. She whispered, “Miss Goodnight, you can’t live here alone with him. I’ve been visiting for months with no inroads. The man is the worst sort of rogue.”
Izzy stared at her with amusement. Did she think the duke couldn’t hear her whispers?
Rothbury went on, “Now tell her that most of the castle is barely habitable.”
“He’s right, Miss Goodnight. I’ve lived down the hill all my life, and it’s a shambles in places. Rotted timber, vermin. Most unsafe.”
“Good and good,” he said. “Now kindly explain that this is not London or York. This is the country, and people hold to traditional values. An unmarried woman cannot take up residence with an unmarried man.”
“It’s all true,” Miss Pelham confirmed. “There would be vicious gossip. The villagers wouldn’t have anything to do with you.”
Rothbury crossed his arms. “Well, then. It’s settled, Miss Goodnight. You cannot remain here, living alone with me. It simply can’t happen. I’m sure Miss Pelham will be glad to—”
“Stay with me?” Izzy interrupted.
“What?” His chin jerked in surprise.
Oh, this was good. She had all the advantage now.
“Miss Pelham could stay with me,” she explained. “As my companion, just for a few weeks. If she’d be so kind.”
“Stay? As companion to the Izzy Goodnight?” Miss Pelham squeezed Izzy’s arm to the point of inducing pain. “But I’d love nothing more than to help you with whatever you need.”
It was becoming evident that Miss Pelham was a very helpful sort of young lady. Even when her help wasn’t strictly needed or desired.
“I’d be most grateful, Miss Pelham,” Izzy said.
“I’m sure Father can spare me. What an excellent solution for all concerned.”
“We should thank the duke. I believe it was his suggestion.” He couldn’t see it, but just the same—Izzy cast a defiant smile in the direction of his scowl. “Isn’t he brilliant?”
Chapter Eight