A GUIDE TO COURTSHIP

le blue dress. That and her haughty look t

a Theobald blood in her. She did not look like Lord Theobald at all. Her hair w

ale grey eyes and she knew. It was as though she was loo

of the manor," the woman said in

said behind Ysabella. "We wer

led out of Ysabella's lips

e empty corridor behind her. "That I am the bastard child of

that she was no longer a secret to some. Looking into her eyes told Ys

efield nearly gro

t the woman. "I will not tell anyone if

la

e let out a snort

is you

owned at her, gre

Wakefield's voice said. He so

lady said with familia

"You have heard o

was marvellous," the woman counter

hat blood

She motioned her head to Wakefield. "Ask him about m

eld and stayed there for quite some time before she t

to meet you, Max

dered, reaching for

ask a q

o, Ysabella," Wake

not say a word, wait

ept you a secret

But the lashing did not come as the woman simply frowned at her. Wakefield took a

Wakefield's hold slackened as he, too, listened to Maxi

" Without another word she

here Maxine was seconds ago. Did that truly

his hold of her. He started to retrace their steps but halted whe

must promise to keep this a secret, Lord W

urprised. "

, her smile returning. "I must go bac

*

sed that Ysabella would ke

ruly keep i

ll be another burden," she moaned as they walked back to th

e turned to face him. "Would y

not r

m quite revealing, my lord

ou to tell me is when you inte

t her beside him. She was fr

d unnecessary provocations at every turn," he uttered, voic

as an easy man, quite lik

ings," she sa

a deep breath and sighed. "You must find yourself

iate it, would yo

yes. So woul

e simply

ld thought. He chose to hasten his steps and shut his mouth. She

earing the

n. Nicholas Everard was already storming toward them, his eyes murderously focused on his sister. "If I do what everyone in this ballroom believes I should," she muttered

s when he threw him a grateful look, and tu

o think that Ysabella Everard was hiding

he reached the gaming room, he believed the word

*

A

t book?" Aurora asked

ng and nodded. "I find I must rem

Courtship in Ysabella's hand. "But you must have read it too m

ut one must keep refreshing herse

along, Ysa. I know that I would not have acquired an in

dear friend. We wish nothing for you but to find a suita

ace turned

elf a husband. Apart from her grumpy, old companion, Aurora had no one else. She was also five years older than the twins,

e ambitious and that ambition had brought such burden upon Aurora. It was probably one of the reasons why Ysabel

was bea

from her goal was her lack of title and measly dowry. Society was indeed harsh sti

nt for anything more. Aurora would make a terrific sister-in-law. And Nicho

invited to play a ball game during picnic. We must enjoy the sun. It is sum

e, her eyes twinkling at the thought of

ust ring for the m

*

n out in any way any the

spend more time under the heat of the sun coming through the hole above.

for their time under th

it the ball too hard and too bloody way ou

t lose her balance and fell on the groun

woman kept saying,

lla b

rora, are you fine?" Nicholas was also crowdi

she took Nicholas' hand so she

icholas. "Take her b

Aurora. "Are you truly

ly nodded w

help," Nicholas said to Y

him. "She was hit by a ball! Would you

ttered as he held out his han

, you fool," Ysabella h

p her hand, saying, "You've been hit in the head, Aurora. And do not lie to us

a grunt, straightened to full height. Their friend covered her face

ntlemen!" Emma said to everyone. "Do not

Nimrod was running after them, his face concerned. Ysabella noted the

ou qui

y Ysabella

pped her head to scowl at the man. "I

tried to catch up with their fast

caused by the fact that Miss Aurora is hur

o the game, my lor

ut

Emma in

alking and wat

insensitive?" Ysabella u

st better cool off, Ysa. You look

amber, Nick," Ysabe

ally," Aurora t

said, his voice sounding quite amused now. "You

share a wink with her sister. Foul mood or not, they succeeded in makin

*

m the gaming room when he saw a familiar figure

pened earlier in the picnic, he had not seen her shadow for the rest of

lized that she must be on her way back to vi

uld wear on a normal day. Was she about ready

sistent girl, he must admit,

going to the direction of Maxine's part of the manor. In fact

noted that he had followed her inside. The place was dark, completely void of any s

in the wee hours

et, once shared to him that Ysabella

rms over his chest. He watched her grab a plate from one of the cabinets, walk over to the table to open the concave food covers.

y," he could not help but say w

*

st causing her plate to fly across t

nd that she recognized it even bef

he uttered with relief.

loved to see him smiling at her, but it would have been better if he was not wearing the same s

Mr. J

You do know

he myth

no myth. Topic cl

of the holes and wrote a boo

be debatable. But I do not wish to discuss it now. You might wish to t

at some other day." His e

food. "Would you like to join me?"

quite irked. "I am merely asking if you wish to join me. And let me iterate that I do not equat

he stool opposite the table. He reached for

Levi?" h

farin

aughter, Lindsay, of course. Tori, his wife

een their dau

e can do so many things already. She wants a horse, you know. Levi will not allow it as he is afraid she mig

and quietly chewed, her thoughts wandering to t

nk Levi might never grant your niece

was just thinking of Ben. You know wh

"Yes. I am sorry. Th

e noted the quiet surprise in his eyes. "But you cannot tell anyone. Not yet, of course. We are trying to keep it amongs

us when he just stared at

er throat, "why would you

aned away from her and against his chair. Shaking his head, he stared at her dryly, exactly how her brothers would

ad in her system. When she lifted her eyes to look at him, he was watching her, wincing at her act. He snorted and she found it very much

out of their sockets an

hter rang aroun

e words from the book

ight momen

plate and jump

you going

ere for the food, not you. I do have other needs other than your company, if you must know," sh

agged herself away fro

atience, she utt