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Chapter 1

All of London was ae of Lady I—S—and Lord M—M—, brother of the Duke of K—,last evening The lady in question had her Co debutantes to plead with fathers to -out balls just as eventful

—From a London society newspaper, February 1875

SEPTEMBER 1881

Isabella’s foot the bell at the house of Lord Mac Mackenzie on Mount Street, while Isabella waited in the landau, wondering for the dozenth time since she’d set off whether this ise

Perhaps Mac would be out Maybe the unpredictable one off to Paris, or to Italy, where suate the matter she’d discovered by herself Yes, that would be best

As she opened heropen, and Mac’s valet, a for here meant Mac was here, because Bellamy never strayed far from Mac’s side

Bellauised astonishment crossed his scarred face Isabella hadn’t approached this house since the day she’d left it three and a half years ago “M’lady?”

Isabella took Bellamy’s beefy hand to steady herself as she descended The best way to do this, she decided, was simply to do it

“How is your knee, Bella the liniment? Is it too much to hope that my husband is at home?”

As she talked, she breezed into the house, pretending not to notice the parlorout to stare

“The knee’s much better, m’lady Thank you His lordship is” Bella, m’lady”

“So early? There’s a wonder” Isabella started up the stairs at a quick pace, not letting herself think about what she was doing If she thought about it, she’d run far and fast, perhaps lock herself into her house and not coo up myself”

“But ed knee wouldn’t let hi, three floors up, before Bellaht

“M’lady, he said not to be disturbed,” Bellamy called upward

“I won’t be long I need only ask him a question”

“But, m’lady, he’s”

Isabella paused, hand on the white doorknob of the right-hand attic roo his lordship’s privacy, Bellamy”