What Isabella Desires by Anne Mallory Read Free Book Online

chosen to waste it. Considering his own circumstance, it was hard for him to feel sympathetic.
    “Let me know if you need help,” James said.
    Marcus nodded and they separated at their respective carriages.
    His head pounded. He hadn’t been eating well. Gray mist hovered in the air. Something further was coming, and he knew he wasn’t going to like it. It was a good thing that he eschewed sympathy for himself.



Chapter 6
    T wo days later, in a new dress and armed with the knowledge of how to use it to her advantage, Isabella watched the parade of carriages edge up the drive toward the masquerade. Two days of practicing new moves with her fan, mask, and dress in the mirror hadn’t made her feel one whit less nervous. In fact, she thought she was more nervous now than when she had birthed this idea.
    Calliope’s silk-gloved hand touched her bare arm. “Everything will be fine. Breathe in deeply and remember why you are doing this.”
    Oh, she hadn’t forgotten. She just wondered if she was going to regret this as much as her last attempt at pushing herself forward. Somehow, her presence at the Pettigrews’ house party had been hushed up by attendees too willing to believe that Isabella Willoughby had inadvertently attended the wrong party. If she decided to make a real stride in this new direction, her position in society would dramatically change.
    “Thank you, Calliope. For everything.”
    Calliope patted her arm, blue eyes sparkling behind her mask. “I think you will do wonderfully. And it will be excellent to have someone else to talk to at these things. James can be a dreadful bore when he’s feeling stuffy.”
    Her handsome but at times severe husband lifted an eyebrow, then made a motion with his hand that Isabella didn’t understand. However, the blush on Calliope’s face seemed to indicate that she did, and she pulled a less than steady hand through her top locks, in a parody of straightening them. “Well, yes, then.”
    Isabella held back a surge of friendly envy and instead focused on the footman who was approaching their slowing coach.
    Would Marcus be here? Would he recognize her behind the mask? Would the expression on his face show something other than polite friendliness? And if it didn’t…
    The carriage door opened and she surged out to stare at the large light stone town house flanked by two brick houses. It shone between the darker buildings as if the moon held it in special regard.
    It wasn’t until she noticed the amused faces of both the Angelfords that she realized she had alighted without help from either the footman or James.
    “Oh.” She blushed, but Calliope shook her head in amusement and gently pushed her toward the door.
    “You go in ahead of us to stay anonymous. We will meet later. Remember what I told you about holding yourself and using your accessories differently.”
    Isabella nodded and quickly set forth, slowing when she was joined by another group of people making their way up the steps. She merged with their group as they slipped through the corridors, upstairs and into the ballroom. She paused on the threshold and held herself there for a moment as she took in the sight. Gaily dressed people danced and talked and flirted, the atmosphere jovial and alive. She quickly caught sight of her prey and moved in his direction, but not directly to him.
    Despite the new dress and lessons she had practiced, she didn’t feel any more confident in her ability to fish for beaux. She was a novice among the skilled hunters of the ton. She strolled to a threesome who looked more nervous than she and smiled.
    By the time she felt the warm breath close to her neck, she was having a genuinely good time with her new companions. It seemed social situations were the same no matter the level of raciness. Make other people feel better and soon she’d be feeling better too.
    The breath of air tickled, but she knew instinctively that the person behind her was not Marcus.
    “I couldn’t