Isabeau tilted her head, looking at him. “Please tell me what it is.”
“I understand how devastating being humiliated at the dance was last night. I would like to propose a courtship anyway, except between you and I, rather than you and my brother.”
Isabeau thought she might be sick for a moment. Her headache returned with full force. If it wasn’t one brother trying to force her into something, it was the other. She closed her eyes and prayed that her face would not betray her thoughts.
“I…I would have to think about it.”
“It would help you to save face in society, as well as give you some status. You will be well regarded if you were to become my Duchess.”
Titles didn’t interest her. She wanted love. She blinked a few times, trying not to look directly at him. “Will…will you give me time to think about your proposal?”
“Yes, of course. I do hope you will consider it. When you come to a decision, please let me know so that I may talk to your father.”
“Yes, I will do that. I will send a messenger around to you…tomorrow, if you agree?”
The Duke smiled at her. She admitted to herself that his smile was completely genuine, and his eyes were kind. He didn’t seem to be manipulating her, but she couldn’t believe that he was asking her out of his own affection. He was trying to do an honorable thing for a woman his brother had betrayed and lied about. She felt like a rag doll being thrown between two brothers.
He said goodbye and left her to her thoughts. She didn’t have to wait long for a distraction because Anne was soon hurrying across the huge front lawn. Isabeau spotted her through the window and ran out to greet her.
They hugged and walked to a table and chairs that sat outside the front door.
“How have you been feeling today, Izzie? You look like you didn’t get any sleep at all.”
“I didn’t. And I woke up with a headache. I didn’t want to even get out of bed this morning.”
Anne nodded. “I have been out talking to some of the ladies. They all say that Duke Hurley is going around town apologizing for his brother. Has he come to see you?”
“He did, yes.”
“Well, then you were worried for nothing. Did he apologize for what Lord Hurley said?”
“Yes, he did.”
“That’s wonderful! You don’t have to worry about this little thing disrupting your father’s business with the Duke.”
“He was here for another reason, as well.”
Anne lifted her eyebrows. “Oh? What was that?”
“He wishes to marry me.”
Anne sat back, a look of surprise on her face. “He does? Has he ever shown any great affection toward you?”
“He has never been unkind.”
“But he has never approached you or spoken to you about it at the dances this Season?”
“No.”
Anne was quiet for a moment. “Could you have missed the signs?”
Isabeau pressed her lips together. She thought back to when they had danced together and when he had visited to speak to her father. “I suppose I could have. He…does have a particular way of looking at me. And he always smiles. But many gentlemen father does business with are that way. They are not all suitors.”
“Perhaps other men have looked at you the same way,” Anne said. “But Edward has not looked at other women that way.”
Isabeau hadn’t thought of that. She pictured Edward’s smile in her mind, the way it reached his eyes, how genuine he seemed.
“You should talk to your mother and father. He may have mentioned this to your father before, in passing, in a subtle way that made your father not mention it to you.”
“Perhaps.” Isabeau was thoughtful. Her initial response had been one of anger. She didn’t want to be forced into a marriage with any man. But when she thought about Duke Hurley, it didn’t seem like there would be much force needed.
“Do you think you could love the Duke?”
“Oh yes, I believe I could,” Isabeau stated without hesitation. She smiled. “I do believe I could.”
“You should speak to your father, then. Get his advice. He knows Edward from their business dealings. Surely he would have the best opinion.”
“The Duke is very well liked in the town, you know. He has used his status to help people less fortunate than him.”
“I know. I would not want to be considered a charity case.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s what is happening at all, Izzie! He wouldn’t consider the daughter of one of his friends to be a charity case. It isn’t as if you need his money. That’s why it was so surprising that Earl Barnaby would think you did.”