The Wrong Woman (20 page)

Cat had her arms around her sister and was helping her maneuver back into the bed.

“For once in your life, Izzy, let someone else take care of you,” Cat scolded gently. “Do not attempt to be the strong one. Now, lay back on the pillow, you have some visitors who would like to see you.”

“Visitors? I'm not in the mood.”

“But they've been waiting for days.”

“Who?”

“Oh, only Miles and Jack.” Cat mumbled the words and would not look at her sister.

“Miles? Lord Revere? Here?” Isobel was seized with a feeling halfway between excitement and dread. Miles was here? Now? And he wanted to see her?

“Might you have enough strength to see them?”

“I don't... Cat... I...” Isobel stuttered, unable to find the right words to refuse Miles' visit and half wanting to accept it.

“Oh, please, Izzy.” Cat appealed to her sister. “They are both waiting patiently downstairs.”

“He is here?” Isobel was struggling to sit up in the bed. As her agitation grew, so did her impatience with limbs that refused to cooperate with her desires.

“Miles has been here for some time now. I told him that you were asleep, though. To tell you the truth, he has been here the past few afternoons and I refused to let him see you. He has been very patient with me. Oh, Izzy, won't you see him? I am sure he will not stay long. And he has been very good to me and Aunt Hetty while you were ill.”

Isobel could not argue with the mountain of reasons Cat piled upon her. And the truth was that she wanted to see Miles, to understand him and how he felt about her. His behavior would determine how she behaved toward him. If he was cool, so would she be. But if he professed his love... Her heart thumped at the possibility. She must not think it. It could not be true and she was a fool. She knew he would be cool toward her. Perhaps that would finally convince her unruly heart that there could be nothing between them, that his kiss had been in error. That he could never love a fat buffoon like her.

Isobel sighed. “Oh, all right.”

Cat smiled brightly at her sister, whom she was helping into a sitting position on the bed.

“But I am in my nightclothes with my hair all rumpled...”

“You look beautiful, sister. But I will fetch your robe and help you comb your hair.”

A few minutes only served for Cat to help Isobel arrange herself in the bed. Then she disappeared to fetch Miles and Jack. All the while, Isobel's heart beat faster and faster. In her weak state, the rushing of blood through her veins made her feel a bit dizzy. She closed her eyes to stop the shifting motion of the room around her.

“Izzy?” Cat's voice caused her to open her eyes. For a moment, she felt blind from the sudden rush of light. Cat stepped into the room with Jack right behind her. And Miles.

Isobel swallowed hard and tried not to look at him. Suddenly she did not wish to see him, to know for certain that he did not like her. So she focused on Jack.

“Jack!”

“Izzy!” he said, approaching the bedside. “I am so glad to hear that you are recovering. It is amazing all you have been through and here you are...” His warm smile brought an answering one to her lips.

“Thank you. I am glad to be recovering.”

“Jack?” Cat's voice rang out, nearly cutting off her sister's last statement. “Might I... speak to you...
downstairs
in the parlor?” There was something odd about Cat's behavior, but Isobel did not have the time to discover what it was. She was too busy realizing that she was going to be alone with Miles in the room and that he had not yet said a word to her or she to him.

Too soon Cat and Jack had left the room. With them, they seemed to take all the air. Isobel concentrated on breathing. Miles remained where he was.

“Miss Masters,” he bent his head in greeting, but still made no move toward her.

“Lord Revere, will you sit?” Isobel nodded her head toward the chair next to the bed. He seemed to eye it suspiciously before he moved toward it.

“Please call me Miles,” he said as he sat in the chair. “I am afraid I have quite got in the habit of being addressed informally in this house.” A shy smile passed over his face and quickly disappeared. He seemed to be having trouble looking at her.

“All right... Miles,” Isobel said. The name felt too intimate.

They lapsed into an uneasy silence. The moment felt much longer than it must have been. Isobel was incapable of thinking a single coherent thought.

Finally, Miles spoke and relieved the tension.

“I am very glad to hear that you are recovering, Miss Masters.” He still did not look at her.

“Isobel, please. I am also in the habit of being addressed informally in this house.”

He raised his eyes to hers as he gave an unexpected chuckle. It made her heart beat still faster. “Just so. But you are recovering?”

“Oh yes. The doctor says that I shall regain my strength soon and be able to travel back to my family.”

“Yes... and your shoulder? Does it pain you?”

“Only slightly. And only when I try to move it too much. But the doctor again says that I shall regain the movement of it and, with some little exercise, it should be as if it never happened.”

Isobel smiled at him, but he was looking toward the window with pain on his face.

“Lord Rev – Miles? Is everything all right?”

He recalled himself. “Yes, I am sorry.” He sat straighter in the chair and focused his attention on a new topic. “I am not sure how much Cat has told you about the situation with Davenport?”

“Not much, frankly. And I have been too preoccupied to ask her or Aunt Hetty about it.”

“Of course.” He paused. Isobel thought he was considering whether or not he should tell her anything.

“But, I would like to hear about it,” she prompted.

“Oh.” He nodded. “Well... While you were... ill... police officers took our evidence of that night. They have Davenport in custody. He is scheduled for a trial... this afternoon, in fact.”

“And were you not needed to give evidence?”

“It was not requested of me today.”

“Oh. But I am sure you would rather be at home with your family now than in town waiting to give evidence... winter is drawing closer to us.”

“I wish to be here,” he was firm and the passion made her heart skip a beat. “I am glad to be here now,” Miles continued, “in case I am needed.”

“Yes,” Isobel said. They fell into another long silence. “And what will happen to Mr. Davenport?”

“The officers have said that he will be prosecuted fully. They cannot say what will happen to him. He is a gentleman, so he has some means to help himself.”

“His punishment will be harsh?” Isobel was concerned.

“Perhaps.”

“But he will not die?” She was suddenly horrified to think that a man would die because of her.

“Perhaps he will.” Miles sounded cold and unfeeling.

“But... that is not right!” Isobel was growing distressed.

“What do you mean?” Miles leaned forward on the chair and looked directly at her. “He must be punished. He kidnapped you and then shot you. And he killed another man.”

“I... I do not think he meant to do it. He was distracted, not a sane man,” Isobel argued. “How can I condemn another person to death?”

“I do not understand this,” Miles looked at her with confusion on his face. “How can you defend the man? He shot you. He almost killed you.”

“But I am still alive and he does not deserve to
die
for that. Surely there is something else that may be done.”

Miles looked away, shaking his head. “I suppose he might be transported or locked away for a time.”

“So long as he is not killed. Not because of me. I could not bear that.”

Miles did not answer. Yet another uncomfortable silence fell, until Isobel decided to change the subject.

“And you... Miles... how have you been?” Each moment created more distance between them.

He looked at Isobel carefully. She felt that he was examining her features. The attention brought a hot flush across her face and made her conscious of how badly she must look. Isobel dropped her eyes to her lap.

“I have been well, thank you... Isobel.” Her name on his lips only reminded her of that kiss, when he had whispered so close to her. She tried to put the thought from her mind.

“I understand that you have done much for my sister and my aunt while I have been ill.”

“It was nothing.”

“Of course it was not nothing,” Isobel protested. “I am very grateful to you for your help.”

“I was glad –
am
glad – to offer my help.”

“Thank --”

“Anything you need,” Miles interrupted. He spoke in an urgent tone. Isobel glanced at his face. He was looking intently at her.

“Thank you. But... I am sure you have many things to do.”

“No.” She heard laughter in his voice. “I have nothing to do at the moment.”

“I can hardly believe that.” The unexpected return of his lighter humor put Isobel more at ease. She grew less shy of looking at him now. “You must have many things to occupy your time.”

“Well, lately I have been reading extensively,” he smiled, as at some thought she did not share.

“Oh yes? And what reading have you done?” Isobel found relief in this innocuous subject.

He paused and dropped his eyes to his lap. His mood seemed to have grown unexpectedly serious again. “I have had occasion to read Miss Austen's
Pride and Prejudice
.”

“A particular favorite of mine!” Isobel exclaimed. It had the effect of drawing a smile out of her visitor.

“And I have also read
The Corsair
through at least twice.”

“
The Corsair
? Miles, I believe you have raided my own small stack of well-loved volumes. That is one of my favorite poems.”

“I remembered that you mentioned it... that afternoon in the grand hall.” The last was uttered almost reverently.

He remembered that? Isobel stared at Miles as he sat there in the chair. He sat straight up. She wished he would relax and feel comfortable in this room here with her. How could she find out what he was thinking? What he felt? There seemed suddenly so much to say and no way to tell him.

The silence descended again. A few times Miles raised his eyes to meet hers. But he quickly dropped them. Was he ashamed of what he must see in her eyes? Why did he not say something?

For all that she wanted him to speak, it came as a surprise when he finally did. Miles rose quickly from the chair.

“Isobel, I fear that I have overstayed my welcome. I must go now.”

“But --” Isobel held up her hand to stop him. The proximity of the chair to her bed meant that her hand was not far from his as he stood there and looked down at her. Time froze as their eyes locked, holding everything in limbo between them. Isobel felt that she could not move. What's more, she did not wish to move.

Slowly, Miles dropped his gaze to the hand that she held out. His hand moved toward hers as if through water, slowly and fluidly moving closer to her fingertips. Still, she could not move.

Just as his fingers began to touch hers, the heat of him so close, he pulled away, clenching his hand into a fist. He dropped his hand to his side and gave her a small bow.

“Goodbye, Isobel.”

He was out of the room before she could speak out to stop him.

Chapter 27

Cat knew right away that something was wrong. Miles practically stomped into the parlor where Cat and Jack were preparing to make themselves comfortable while Miles and Izzy got on with it.

So it surprised them both to see Miles again so soon and in such a temper. He issued a curt goodbye to Cat and hastily left the room. Jack followed him closely, turning briefly to shrug in Cat's direction.

What in heaven's name is going on?
Cat thought as she rushed upstairs to Izzy's room.

“Izzy?” Cat put her head in the open door, apprehensive about what she might find.

“Hmm?” Izzy raised her eyebrows and looked toward her sister. She was sitting in the bed where Cat had left her.

“What's happened?”

“Nothing at all.” Izzy gave an unconvincing smile.

“But Miles just stomped out of here, clearly agitated about something... what happened?”

“Our conversation was amiable. I can't imagine why he would have been agitated about anything.”

“Izzy!” Cat plopped down on the bed beside her sister. “Tell me what happened between the two of you.”

“I am telling you, Cat,” Izzy patted her sister's hand. “I am telling you that nothing happened between us except a very polite conversation. What did you expect to happen, my dear?”

“That you would tell him you loved him, of course!”

“Cat!” Izzy exclaimed. “Even if that were true, why on earth would I say anything about it to him?”

“I know you love him, so why not tell him? He loves you, too, you know.”

“You are mistaken, sister. He could never love me.” Izzy spoke softly.

Cat rolled her eyes. “Izzy, don't be daft.”

“I'm not. He did not speak a word of love to me. His manner was calm and reserved. He did nothing to indicate that his visit was more than a polite call. So that is all the answer I need. My feelings are inconsequential.”

“Of course they are not!” Cat whined. “And you are wrong about Miles. He
does
love you, but he is apparently as stubborn as you are and will not tell you of his feelings. I guess I should have known...” Cat trailed off, thinking of ways to remedy the disastrous situation. Why did both Miles and Izzy have to be so pigheaded about declaring that they liked each other.

“Should have known what?” Izzy broke into Cat's thoughts.

“Hmmm? Oh,” Cat said, realizing what Izzy was talking about. “I should have realized how stubborn he was when he refused to leave the house until he had taken a turn watching at your bedside.” Cat waited for her sister's reaction.

“What?” Izzy gasped.

“Did he not tell you?” Cat nearly laughed with glee.
There is hope yet!

“Tell me what? I have heard nothing of this, Cat.” Izzy looked at her intently

Cat shook her head. “So stubborn.”