Dermott softly swore, and sliding into a sullen sprawl, reached for the brandy bottle. "Nor will I, Francis," he growled. "Tell Molly that."


Later that evening, Lord Moira and Molly had a chat. After describing his visit to the earl, Francis noted that he rather thought Dermott might make an appearance at an occasional party this season. Or at least some of those attended by Miss Leslie.

"Tell me again, everything he said," Molly demanded, exceptionally pleased with Moira's account. "And exactly how he looked."

The next morning, Molly informed Isabella that she'd received a note from Dermott explaining he'd warned off the Leslies.

"I'm free to go home, then." Isabella felt both relief and sadness. Much as she wished to be liberated from her relatives' schemes, Molly and, of course, Dermott meant much to her.

"I'm hoping I may coax you into staying with me at Grosvenor Place while we're planning your entrance into society," Molly remarked. "Although I understand you have to see to your personal affairs. Might I suggest we move to my town home and from there you make the necessary excursions to your house and business. Or better yet, if you don't think me too cautious, why not have your superior servants and business managers come to Grosvenor Place. I don't trust your relatives regardless Dermott's warning to them. Perhaps I've lived too long in a disreputable world. But such evil people don't turn virtuous overnight."

"You may coax me, with pleasure. In truth, I enjoy your company enormously. As for my business affairs, between Lampert and Grandpapa's chief steward, Morgan, I may take a banker's holiday during the season without concern. It's not as though I have the opportunity to mix with such superior people every day." She lightly laughed. "Don't worry, Molly, I'm not likely to have my head turned by the haut monde."

"They're all quite ordinary people, if truth be known."

"But it will be fun for at least a brief time to observe the social whirl firsthand. Now then," Isabella remarked in a businesslike tone that brought Molly's gaze up. "I'll send a message to Lampert and Morgan and my housekeeper. Would tomorrow morning suit for a meeting with them?"

"Consider my house yours. You decide."

"Very well. Tomorrow at nine."

And despite Molly's doubt that her houseguest would be about that early, she was surprised to hear that Isabella had been dressed and ready for her retainers shortly before nine. Such an hour was much too early for Molly's constitution. She preferred the first light of day to be approaching noon. And in that regard, she matched the tastes of the ton.

Over coffee and a light breakfast, Isabella conferred with her assistants, offering them an edited account of her activities the past month and thanking them for handling her affairs in her absence. For the next hour they discussed all that had transpired of importance during her absence. She asked questions and took notes, promising to confer with them again the following week. Should they have any questions for her before that time, they were free to come to Grosvenor Place and see her. After they'd all agreed on their instructions, and when the activities related to the house, bank, and shipping business had all been dealt with, Isabella said, "I think you all deserve a bonus for carrying on so well during very difficult circumstances. I think twenty percent would be fair. Will you see to that, Morgan? And something for the employees and household servants as well. Whatever you think adequate."

"You're very generous, Miss Isabella," Morgan replied, his expression pleased.

"And the best of luck, darling," her housekeeper, Mrs. Homer, said, beaming. "To think our little Izzy is going to make a splash in the ton. Your grandpapa would be so proud."

"It's not a splash, Homie, but only a little ripple, I fear."

"Not if they've eyes in their head," she remonstrated. "You'll outshine them all."

"Our very best, Miss Isabella," Mr. Lampert offered. "We'll be watching the society columns for news of you."

Isabella laughed. "You'll be wasting your time, but thank you for the compliment. I am looking forward to the experience."

"All good wishes from the employees at the bank and docks, Miss Isabella. It's a proud moment for us all."

Once Isabella was alone again, she smiled at their notions of her consequence. In their small world she may be looked upon as singular, but in the dazzling world of the ton, she doubted she'd garner much notice.


In the following days, Molly concerned herself almost exclusively with the details of Isabella's wardrobe. Since she and Isabella had moved into her home in Grosvenor Place, each morning brought another visit from the dressmakers. By the end of the week, the armoires were beginning to fill with magnificent gowns of every color and fabric, along with all the accompanying fripperies, a sufficient number that Isabella could be set up in the latest fashion. The time had arrived for a call on Lady Hertford. Lord Moira came to fetch Isabella in his carriage, and on the way to their meeting with the marchioness he calmed her nerves with his grace and charm.

"The Marchioness of Hertford is the Prince's lover and in that capacity is sure to have his ear. With Barbara as sponsor, everyone will understand that you are in effect sponsored by the Prince of Wales. But she's very easy to talk to, not pretentious in the least. And most important, she's more than willing to do this favor for the Prince." [6]

"I'm on pins and needles nonetheless. You can't imagine what a tremendous change this will be from my life with Grandpapa."

"You'll be a great success, Miss Leslie. Rest assured, you'll have every man in the ton begging for your attention."

For the briefest moment, Isabella thought that she would willingly relinquish all that adulation for the favors of a single man. But as quickly, she chided herself for such foolishness, and when she turned her smile on Lord Moira, she was once again in command of her feelings. "I can't thank you enough for all your help in this endeavor, Lord Moira. I'm deeply in your debt."

"Nonsense, my dear. I'm pleased to be of service. You'll be a most beautiful addition to society."

And when Isabella met the marchioness, she was all that Moira had described-gracious, without affectation, delighted to be of service to her prince. And over tea and sherry that afternoon, Isabella listened while she was apprised of the astonishing array of entertainments she would attend. Breakfast routs, tea parties, musicales, garden parties and balls, the opera and theater.

"When does one sleep?" she playfully inquired, astonished at the number of events scheduled each day.

"One sleeps very little, my dear." Lady Hertford smiled. "But it's all such a great deal of fun, you scarcely miss your bed. And with your dazzling beauty, you're going to be much in demand. I suggest," she teasingly noted, "that you sleep as much as you can this week, for after that it all begins."


Molly and Isabella sat up after dinner that night, making lists of all that still required attention.

Isabella was taut with excitement.

Molly took pleasure in that excitement, pleased to offer the young woman she'd come to love entree into the grande monde.

"I'm going to have to practice all the various curtsies and graceful phrases and the dance steps too. I'm not sure I'm ready," Isabella nervously said.

"Nonsense. You're very accomplished and quite up to the mark."

"Tell me again, what I should do if I chance to meet my relatives at any of these functions?"

"Follow Moira's advice. Cut them cold. Dermott sent a note telling me they'd been warned off, as you know. I expect that will be sufficient to protect you from any unwanted overtures."

"And if I see Dermott?"

"Do as you wish, of course. But if I were you, I'd make sure he saw that you were enjoying yourself."

"Might he become jealous?"

There was such a wistfülness in her voice, Molly didn't have the heart to disavow that possibility. Although after the account of Moira's meeting she felt there was a chance Dermott's feelings might be involved. Nevertheless, she warned, "Dermott's plagued by demons you and I can't understand. It's difficult to determine what he feels."

"When Grandpapa died, I felt such loneliness. I can't imagine how one would survive the loss of a wife and child."

"He's haunted by the memory; it affects his whole life. But consider, dear," she coaxed. "There are a number of other handsome, charming men in the ton without Dermott's afflictions. Perhaps you'll find one you fancy."

"Perhaps…" But Isabella's dreams continued to be of Dermott, and in her bluest moods she wondered how long it took to fall out of love.

"Let's decide what jewelry you'll wear with your lavender gown," Molly declared, intent on distracting her protegee from melancholy thoughts.

Isabella smiled. "My mother's amethysts, of course."

"With that new pearl tiara."

"And the bracelet you found with the flower clasp."

"Perfect. We should have a portrait painted of you in that magnificent gown. You look as grand as a princess."

Isabella laughed. "If only Grandpapa could see me now. He would tell everyone at the bank and everyone who came into the bank, and all the sailors and workers at our warehouses and docks. 'Look at Izzy,' he'd say. 'She's taken on the ton.' "

"And so you shall," Molly cheerfully replied. "Beginning next week."

Chapter Thirteen

THE EARL OF MOIRA had given Isabella's schedule to him out of roguish sport, Dermott didn't doubt. But he wasn't about to rise to the bait.