Free Virtue and Vice by Kimberly Brody Page B

proof he’d sought, and once he’d explained all that transpired these past two days to his father, the earl would have to beg off the marriage, as promised. To the devil with the good dealings between the two families.
    He mounted Mercury and let the horse have his head, knowing he’d make his way back to the manor eventually. His thoughts churned too madly to pay attention to anything more than his wrath.
    How ironic, he’d spent the whole of yesterday comparing the peasant Izzy with his betrothed and finding his betrothed wanting, and they were one and the same. Except Isabelle Beaumont was still wanting, now that he knew the truth. An aristocratic maiden did not sneak off in disguise to enjoy the revelries of the lower classes, nor allow herself to be seduced by a stranger, nor quaff ale. And while he recognized the double-standard, since he had done as much himself, it did not ease his anger, for the rules were different where men and women were concerned. A noblewoman didn’t don breeches to go riding, for Christ’s sake, no matter that he’d found it arousing when Izzy was still a mystery maiden. And a soon-to-be viscountess under no circumstances allowed any man but her betrothed to lay her down on a blanket by a river. It was no matter he was her betrothed, for she hadn’t known it.
    Sudden suspicion snaked through him. Perhaps it was far too great a coincidence that the woman he’d “accidentally” met on his way to Padstow was in fact his betrothed. What if Izzy did know his identity? What if she planned to seduce him, to force their marriage no matter what he discovered about her?
    Either way, one thing was clear as daylight. He could never have her now. The thought struck him like a punch to the gut. For if he did take her to bed, surely she’d claim it was he who took the virginity she’d most likely given away long ago, and he’d be compelled to go through with the wedding. He’d not be tied to a cheating harlot for the rest of his days! Thank God her cousin had come searching for her.
    Anxious to confront his father, return to London and reclaim his bachelor status, he set his heels to Mercury’s side.
    And lamented he’d never know the heaven of release within Isabelle Beaumont’s magnificent body.
    ***
    Belinda didn’t speak until they were back at the house, in Izzy’s chamber. As soon as the door closed, Belinda whirled on her.
    “You lied to me! You blatantly lied! How could you?”
    Izzy squeezed her eyes shut. There had to be some way to make Belinda see, to express how far she’d go to have the life with Paul that he’d promised. She sat on her bed and stared at her cousin, praying she could make her understand.
    “I hate lying to you, Bel, but I had no choice! I feared you’d go to my father if you knew what I planned.”
    “No other choice? You had no other choice than to offer yourself to the first man you could find and let him tumble you in the grass?”
    Izzy cringed at her crude choice of language, but of course that’s how Belinda saw it. That’s exactly what Izzy had been doing with Julian when Belinda found them.
    But Belinda was so wrong. He wasn’t just any man. He was Julian. Kind, sensitive, exciting, tempting, handsome Julian. Nay, he was not just any man.
    “Did you give your virginity to that man? Were you with him yesterday as well? What will you tell your father?” The questions were fired so quickly, Izzy didn’t know which to answer first.
    “Bel, I can’t give Paul up. I love him. I know you don’t understand because you’ve never been in love, but I will do anything to make a life with him.” She raised her hand to stop Belinda’s protest. “I cannot change the way I feel. I’m sorry. I know I’ve disappointed you.” Tears burned in her eyes. It devastated her to think Belinda now thought less of her.
    Belinda sighed deeply and sat beside Izzy on the bed, stroking her hair. “I know you love Paul. I know you hate the idea of marriage to a