“Let me just inform you, Lady Camm, that I have no intention of allowing you to mock me in any way, shape or form. The dance on the veranda was not a marriage proposal, and I suggest you think twice before spreading such lies again.”
He turned on his heel and stomped away from her, leaving her stunned and hurt. She looked around, noticing that everyone in the room had listened to what had just transpired. Movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she saw Anne heading toward her with an apprehensive look on her face. When she got to her, Anne took Isabeau’s arm and pulled gently on her.
“We must go outside and talk, Izzie. Come!”
When the doors closed behind them, Anne began to talk quickly. “What did you say to Tomas Hurley, Izzie? I know you didn’t want to dance with him, but you must have said something terrible for him to be speaking of you the way he is.”
“What is he saying? What did I say?” Isabeau was confused.
“I don’t know what you said. But he is going around telling everyone that you have said some awful things about them.”
“The Earl…”
“Yes, I heard him tell Earl Barnaby that you wouldn’t stop talking about how you had planned the dance on the veranda and that you were sure to get his money or a title soon. He was calling you some terrible names, implying that you are not a clean or a good woman.”
“Why would anyone believe him?” Isabeau was incredulous.
“Well, obviously not everyone did. But I guess Earl Barnaby has heard that said so many times, he just believes it without thinking twice about it.”
Isabeau was dismayed. Her dance with the Earl had been the highlight of her evening. She had felt comfortable, happy and safe with the Earl. The thought that he would ever want to court or marry her hadn’t crossed her mind. She’d enjoyed herself and genuinely liked him. Now he was inaccessible. She sighed.
“I do not understand why he is doing this.”
“We know why he is saying those things, Izzie! You told him you weren’t going to court him, didn’t you?”
“I had to. He was making demands.”
“I would have done the same thing, dear. We’ll get through this. We’ll straighten it out somehow.”
“If he is saying these things to everyone here, I can only imagine what he will tell the Duke. He has always been so kind to my family. He came to speak to father when Tomas Hurley came by. He has never said a cross word to anyone that I know of. I don’t want to be the first.”
“I just don’t think the Duke will do that.” Anne shook her head. “He is a good man. Everyone likes him. He’s the complete opposite of his brother. It’s as if he got all the good traits and Tomas got the bad.”
“Perhaps that’s why he’s such a sour man.” Isabeau sighed.
“It would not surprise me.” Anne agreed. “There is one more dance; we should go inside, so they aren’t looking for us. Who is on your card?”
She didn’t have to look. After the dance with Tomas, she’d looked for both Lords to make sure they were there and she would be able to escape after her dances with them. She and Anne went back in, and Isabeau tried to ignore the looks she was getting from both Lords and Ladies all around the room. Tomas had made the rounds, whispering in the ears of the gossipers and pushing his story to the limits. When Isabeau approached Lord Dyason, he very obviously backed away from her, holding his hands up in the air in a “stop” motion. He shook his head and laughed loudly.
“Oh, I think I will keep my money, Lady Isabeau if you don’t mind. I’m sure you will find a nice wealthy man to keep you in your lavish lifestyle, don’t you?” He continued to laugh and those around him began to laugh, as well.
She looked around at them, her cheeks a deep red and her face hot. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest as the humiliation ran through her.
“I…I never said anything of the sort about Earl Barnaby!” She exclaimed, grabbing her skirts in her hands and clutching the fabric tightly.
“If you didn’t, how did you know who I was talking about?” The young man said in a teasing voice. Again, the group around him began to laugh.
Isabeau didn’t think her cheeks could get any redder. She huffed and turned away from him.
The sound of their laughter echoed in her ears as she dashed for the door. Tears had erupted in her eyes and were streaming down her cheeks. She saw Anne hurrying after her, brushing off the waiting arms of her last dance partner. Anne caught up with her outside near the carriage they had taken together and pulled her into a hug.
“Come on, Isabeau, I’ll take you home. I’ll stay with you tonight. Things will look different in the morning.”
Chapter Three