Snippet #1506943

Isobel walked further into the gardens as she was unsure if Lord Rowley would be able to spot her from where she stood near the entrance to the gardens. The night air was cool and caused her skin to pebble as goose pimples broke out on her arms. It was a little chillier than she had at first thought and she hesitated debating whether or not to risk returning to the ball room and fetching her cloak but she decided against it as she really did not want to run into that man again. She sighed as she imagined the conversation that she just knew would be waiting for her when she and her family returned home later in the evening. Her mother no doubt would be praising Lord Rowley to the highest degree and listing all the reasons why he would be a perfect match for Isobel. Her father would merely stand by the fireplace enjoying his glass of brandy and allowing his wife to dominate the conversation, it was not that he was a weak man nor too mild mannered he was just simply content to let his wife take charge in this matter. Though if he strongly disagreed he would make this known and when he did he was usually obeyed. But from the way her father behaved she guessed he did not disapprove of the possible match and so Isobel would have a fight on her hands. She was determined to refuse but knew that she would anger both of her parents and it would be a long night before they finally allowed her to bed.

She spotted a bench set back a little way from the main walkways almost hidden by the fronds of a large willow tree and Isobel made for it as it was an ideal place to hide for a while. She could not remain outside long as it would cause too much speculation as to where she was but she had a little while before she had to face the gauntlet again. She settled herself on the bench and wrapped her arms about herself for warmth, it was a clear sky that night and the sky was filled with stars. She gazed up at them lost in thought as for some inexplicible reason her thoughts turned to the man she had glimpsed standing near the dancefloor. She had not really gotten a proper look at him but she remembered a flash of dark eyes and the hint of an amused smile on his lips. She could not say why she had remembered him nor why he was now in her thoughts there was simply something about him. She would have to ask Caroline if she knew who he was. Caroline kept herself well informed on the comings and goings of the ton and if anyone were to know it was she. Isobel envied her close friend as she had already met a man with whom she was happy to spend the rest of her life with. She was betrothed to Viscount Wooding's son William who was a young relatively handsome man of reasonable means. He was not in the upper echelons of society but his family had a good enough reputation and wealth for her family to be pleased with the match. Caroline herself was smitten with him and he with her and so it was no hardship for them to be enagaged.

To Isobel the worst thing she could imagine was being chained in a loveless marriage, she already detested the idea of simply being someone's wife and providing him with children without it having to be with someone she did not like. If it were up to her she would only marry if she wanted to and even then would not allow her freedom to be taken away. But she kept such opinions to herself as they were not popular and were considered improper conversations for a lady of breeding. She shivered again and hugged herself more tightly knowing she would have to return soon but wanting to avoid it as long as possible.