The carriage stopped at the outside of the front gate. A short walkway led to the front door. Wasn't it strange she'd been here two weeks and had never even seen the outside of the house? It almost seemed as if it would be her first visit here. Now if they could just convince the uncle it was true.
Charles got out first, reaching up to assist her and help her step down. Izzy would let him do that all day if it meant they could be in such close contact. Taking her hand in his, he led her through the gate, along the walk, and up the steps to the front door. He opened it, his other hand now reassuringly on the small of her back.
"Wait in here, Isabella. I will only be a moment." He guided her to the den just off the foyer.
Izzy nodded, too afraid to do much else. She stood, feeling lost and alone. With Charles not standing near her, it felt as if a piece of her had broken off and now floated in the breeze. How had a man whom she'd just met two weeks previously become so important to her life?
"Ah, here we are." Charles winked at Isabella, as he preceded another man into the den. "Uncle Sebastian, this is Lady Isabella Hodgkin."
The older man beamed and then frowned. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Isabella."
Izzy held out her hand as she had been instructed. Sebastian bent down, taking her hand, raising it slightly to kiss the back of her glove.
Uh-oh. What had Izzy done wrong? She hadn't even spoken a word, yet Charles' uncle seemed somehow displeased. When he released her glove, she grasped her hands together, resisting the urge to wring them.
Sebastian pivoted toward Charles. "Nephew, it is indeed a pleasure to meet Lady Isabella. I was under the impression, however, her surname was Russell."
Charles feigned a frown. "No, Uncle, I'm afraid you are mistaken."
Sebastian lowered his eyebrows. "On the contrary, Charles, I distinctly remember our conversation."
Charles leaned toward Izzy. "Lady Isabella, if you would excuse my uncle and I, we must have a word."
"Certainly." After uttering the word, Izzy realized the man would now know she was not English."
Sebastian whipped his head around toward her, eyebrows raised. Charles grasped Sebastian's arm, gently tugging. "Uncle, a word?"
Sebastian unlocked his gaze from Izzy and switched it to his nephew. "Pardon? Oh, yes, of course. Please excuse us, Lady Isabella."
Izzy nodded, afraid to utter anything else. When they moved into the foyer, she hurried toward the wall, just able to make out their conversation.
"Charles, what is the meaning of this? I distinctly remember you telling me her name was Russell."
"Uncle Sebastian, I beg to differ. The day we had that conversation, you'd had a lot to…"
"What?"
"Drink."
There was a pause and then a clearing of someone's throat.
"Oh. I see. Yes, well, I'm sure you're right, then, Charles. Please excuse my blunder."
"It's all right, Uncle. I'm sure Lady Isabella didn't even notice." Four footsteps toward the den propelled Izzy back toward the middle of the room. When the conversation continued, she edged against the wall.
"I'm afraid, Charles, there is another matter, however."
A couple of footsteps sounded on the hallway floor. "Yes, Uncle?"
"I happened to notice a certain quality to Lady Isabella's speech."
"I believe Lady Isabella uttered only a word, Uncle."
"Nevertheless, I'm quite sure I detected a different… accent."
"Ah, you must be referring to her American background."
Izzy heard a gasp.
"American, you say?"
"Why yes, Uncle. We discussed it the same day I told you her surname was Hodgkin."
"You did?"
"That's when I explained she'd come to England to see her relatives."
"Ah, yes. Uh… since I was taken with the wine that day, as it were, would you kindly remind me of those facts?"
Izzy heard a sigh. "Her relatives are prosperous, successful nobility. I'm sure you're familiar with the Viscount Edward Hodgkin of Stonebrooke Manor?"
"Of course, of course. I've certainly heard of them. Fine family. Fine indeed."
Izzy covered her mouth with her hand to hold in a giggle. Charles was extremely convincing when he weaved a story for someone. She sobered when she remembered they needed to convince the entire ton of the same thing. Most likely, that wouldn't be nearly as easy.
She scooted back toward the couch when the conversation ceased and she heard more footsteps. Seating herself and arranging the folds of her dress were barely accomplished when Charles appeared from the doorway. His uncle was close behind.
Charles came toward her, bending slightly to take her hand. "Forgive me, Lady Isabella, for my rudeness. I should not have left you alone this long."
Sebastian hurried toward her at such a pace she feared he might end up in her lap. "Please also forgive my rudeness, Lady Isabella. I daresay you have the right to be quite upset with me."
Izzy bit her lip to keep from laughing. Poor Sebastian did look contrite. "It's quite all right. Please don't give it another thought."