Free The Reluctant Bride (Regency Undone) by Claire Firth Page A

to draw you into this …’
    ‘Isabelle, if he is mistreating you so badly, you must stay here.  Ralph and I will protect you.’
    ‘No.’  Her friend shook her head swiftly.  ‘I have no choice Sophia.  I have tried talking to my brother but all he says is that now he has children there is no room for me at home and it is my duty to remain by my husband’s side.  He says I will be shunned by society if I divorce and he is right.  I know I must return to my husband, and he is not always so brutal as this - but first I just wanted to see you my dear friend.  If only for a little while.  Let us not waste the precious time we have together for it will be over soon enough and there really is nothing that can be done.’
     ‘But it is abominable,’ Sophia declared, horrified.  ‘You brother should never have forced you into such a marriage in the first place.  There must be something you can do?’
    Isabelle shook her head.  ‘Believe me there is not.  I am quite resigned to it.’  She braced herself.  ‘Now, enough of me.  Tell me what has been going on in your life since you married the infamous Earl of Avalon?’
    ‘Oh, Isi …’ 
    But her friend’s face was enough to tell her that she would discuss the matter no further, and before she knew it, Sophia was pouring out her own heart, trying to make some sense of her confused emotions. 
    At the end of it, Isabelle looked at her, a faint glimmer of amusement in her eye.  ‘It seems to me dear friend that you are in a much more fortunate position than I for I do believe you have fallen in love with your husband.  Would you not agree?’
    ‘In Love?  Absolutely not.  That is absurd.’
    ‘Well, that is what it sounds like to me.  And if that is the case, how lucky you are …’
    ‘Oh, no Isi.  I really don’t think so …’
    The sound of the door opening interrupted them.  Ralph stood on the threshold looking at the two women in surprise.
    ‘You remember my great friend, Isabelle?’ Sophia said quickly.  ‘She has dropped by for a visit.’
    ‘Of course,’ Ralph said in warm tones, striding into the room.  ‘It is a pleasure to see you again.’
    ‘I am only sorry I have been unable to come before now.  I have missed my friendship with Sophia so much, but …’
    ‘Her husband does not allow her to visit,’ Sophia said indignantly.  ‘Is that not the most appalling thing, Ralph?  Surely there is something we can do?’
    But already Isabelle was leaping to her feet and throwing Sophia a warning look.  ‘No, please … you must not interfere or it will only be the worse for me.  This visit has given me so much pleasure Sophia – and maybe we can do it again - but I must return now.  I only came because my husband is paying his weekly visit to his London club.  If I am lucky he may not even get to hear of this.’
    She clasped her friend’s hands tightly, then threw her arms around Sophia’s neck.  ‘Be happy,’ she whispered.  ‘It is good that at least one of us is.’
    Turning to Ralph, she smiled.  ‘Look after my dear friend.  She is a treasure as I am sure you are discovering.’
    After she’d gone, Sophia turned distraught eyes onto her husband.  ‘Surely there must be something we can do?’ she said hopelessly.  ‘You did not see the bruises on her arm Ralph … it was awful.  And she is not herself at all.   She is so sombre now.’
    Ralph sighed.  ‘I have heard rumours surrounding your friend’s husband and his … pursuits.  They are not good.  But it is very difficult in such situations to interfere I’m afraid.  Regrettably, society does not support wives who leave their husbands and it would be very difficult to extricate her from her marriage – especially when she is not willing to be extricated.  However …’
    Sophia’s eyes flew to his expectantly.  ‘Yes?’
    He shook his head.  ‘It may be possible to help in some small way.  If she has people she can trust in