Free The Hidden Heiress by Juliet Moore

your entire life?"
    "I'm beginning to consider the idea with much fondness." Marshall sneered. "Where is Edward? That was why I came in here in the first place, not so I could argue with you."
    "He's working," she replied, a note of secrecy in her voice.
    "Working? Now?"
    She shrugged. "Maybe he's looking at a promotion as well."
    Jane hurried out of the study before he could reply, leaving him staring at empty space. Was she implying that Edward was after his job? He'd kill him!
    He strode into the hallway, even less inclined than before to spend the day with Miss Norcross, but he could think of no way to get out of it. Any excuse he made would be taken as an affront. It wasn't worth it.
    Sarah Norcross was waiting where they'd left her, looking calm and unruffled. He smiled to himself, unable to imagine Isabel being so patient. But Isabel was one of a kind.
    He offered Sarah his arm. "Shall we go?"
    She came to his side with alacrity. She took his arm and smiled up at him.
    He heard something, perhaps even sensed it, on the staircase. He looked up to see Isabel gazing down at him, knuckles white. In her hand she clutched a small reticule.
    Sarah followed Marshall's gaze and smiled like a vicious tigress.
    "Hello, Miss Balfour," he said, wishing he could say more. Even though he was damn sure that he wouldn't ignore her for Sarah's sake, he couldn't say all the things he wanted to say. He couldn't tell her that he'd really come to see her before being sidetracked by Jane. He couldn't tell her that he was still losing sleep over what had happened in the garden.
    "Hello," she said with a bewildered expression on her beautiful face. Then, as abruptly as she'd appeared, she turned around and hurried back upstairs.
    Sarah frowned with distaste. "Shouldn't she be using the servant's stairs?"
    Jane opened the door in a flurry of motion. "Yes, but you know how governesses are, considering themselves above the rest of the staff. What can one do?"
    "Governesses," Sarah said, then shivered. "Always such gloomy characters. I spoke to her a bit at your last dinner party, if you'll remember."
    Marshall bit down on his tongue. "Shall we go?"
    "Of course," she twittered, spinning her parasol with her other hand. "I can't wait to see where you take me, Mr. Templeton."
    Neither can I.

Chapter 7

    "Follow that carriage!" Isabel was jolted as the hansom cab driver whipped the horses into action, her back hitting the worn upholstered cushions behind her. She ignored the look he gave her and pulled her shawl together to cover her bodice. Though a hansom wasn't fit transportation for a lady, she didn't have time to wait for an omnibus.
    She would not bemoan her fate. No tears would escape her lids over Marshall's outing with Miss Norcross. She knew where he was--even if she didn't know where he was going--and that was all that mattered. And if she hadn't interrupted their leave-taking, she'd still be wondering how to ferret out her only possible champion.
    Isabel rested her chin on the handle of her umbrella. She prayed that Marshall would know what to do. She knew he would be furious with his brother for trying to make good on his threats. As much as she hated coming between them, she couldn't leave the Templeton household so soon.
    Isabel leaned her head out the window and watched the Templeton's carriage put more distance between them. "Are you following the right carriage? The footman is wearing purple and black livery."
    "I'm working on it, Madam!"
    Seeing an object approach from the corner of her eye, Isabel snapped her hand back inside. She tapped her foot rapidly on the floor of the cab. Despite her aim not to worry herself over Miss Norcross, Isabel found her thoughts returning to the smug smile that had been plastered across the catty woman's face. Obviously, she was used to winning in matters of love and didn't like to be shown up. There were many things Isabel liked too, but she didn't always expect to get her way. She hoped Miss