Page 20

“Oh, yes,” Evie added with a nod. She walked toward the silks rack and ran her hand over the fabric. She picked one piece of cloth after another as she continued, “She was so unhappy she wanted the entire world to know about it.”

“What did she do?” Isabel asked as she watched the duchess play with the fabric.

“She wanted to wear the most hideous gown there ever was to show just how unhappy she was with the arrangement.”

“She did?”

“Yes, and she asked the most fashionable young lady of the ton to help her design it.”

“Truly? Who did she ask?”

Evie raised her face to Isabel’s, her eyes glinting with mischief. She pulled the hideous black cloth out of a glorious selection of silks and waved it in the air like a magician. “Me.”

A real smile tugged at Isabel’s lips. “Did you help her design a hideous gown? I have a hard time believing you could come up with anything hideous.”

“Oh, I can. And I did.” Evie nodded emphatically.

Isabel bit her lip. “Oh, no! I am certain her new family was not happy about it.”

“No,” Evie agreed. “Neither was her old family. Her father made the heinous arrangement and betrothed Julie to a man she did not know while Julie was in love with another.”

Isabel’s mouth dropped. “How did she escape the atrocious man she was supposed to wed?”

Evie smiled as she walked back toward Isabel. She shrugged as she placed the black cloth against Isabel’s skin. “She didn’t. She married him.”

Isabel crinkled her nose. “But she is married to the Earl of Clydesdale. I am quite certain the couple is happily in love.”

Evie pulled back the cloth. “The black does not suit you at all. Perhaps we should find another way to protest your wedding,” she muttered. “And yes, Julie is happily in love now. But she wasn’t at the beginning.”

Isabel looked back at her reflection. She looked pale and rather confused.

Evie went back to sifting through the fabrics.

Lady Clydesdale had married out of convenience and ended up in love. How strange. Was there a possibility of happiness under those awful circumstances?

Perhaps for others. If Isabel had learned anything in her thirty one years of existence, it was that she was not an exception to the rule. She was the rule. And happiness with a man like the Marquess of Vane? Impossible.

“I do not want to protest the wedding,” she finally said.

Evie turned and raised a questioning brow.

“No. I want the world to think that we are perfectly in love. I do not want more gossip surrounding my family. As it is, I’ve already brought shame upon my brothers. Richard’s fiancée withdrew her hand because of my transgressions. I do not want the people around me to suffer. I want to be the perfect wife and hostess. I want everyone to point at us and whisper behind their fans that ours is the perfect union.”

“Well, it is easily achievable if that’s what you want.”

“You truly think so?” Isabel watched Evie expectantly.

“Yes, but it means you shall have to smile from time to time,” Evie pointed out. “But the rest, you leave to me. I shall make certain gossip is plentiful about the radiant bride and her fortunate groom. And do not fret about the trousseau. As soon as Madame Deville has your measurements, I shall order you everything you need.”

Isabel exhaled a breath of relief. “Thank you,” she said and reached a hand toward Evie, who took her palm and squeezed. “I am so grateful to have you here, Evie.”

“I am always here for you and your family.”

* * *

“You are cordially invited to a true celebration of love between Lord Vane and the Honorable Isabel Lewis,” Gabriel, the Viscount St. Clare, read with a grand flourish, sitting across the desk from Rhys.

“A true celebration of love.” Rhys scoffed.