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Actions you were provoked into performing,” came a new voice entering the room, startling them both.
    “ Lord Belgrave,” she said, wincing. Her voice sounded cold and waspish even to her own ears. Not that it mattered, it didn’t.
    “ Belle,” he greeted casually, bowing.
    She forced herself to stand and make the proper introductions to her chaperone Mrs. Finch and to Edmund, but that was as far as her pride would allow for her pleasantries to go. As soon as Sebastian left today, she’d have to inform Clemmens, the butler, that Lord Belgrave was unwelcome here in the future. Had she thought he’d ever have the nerve to darken her door as it was, she’d have issued that command before now.
    “Don’t let my presence interrupt your conversation.” Sebastian waved a hand between Isabelle and Edmund and took a seat.
    Edmund cast her a questioning look and Isabelle shot daggers at Sebastian.
    “I believe you two were talking about Belle’s recent actions, presumably at a ball hosted by Lady Rutherford.”
    Isabelle would have liked nothing more than for Edmund to lay Sebastian out for his teasing tone and devilish grin. But Edmund wasn’t that kind. His possessiveness of her was mild at best; he preferred to take the simple action—marrying her rather than to publicly defend her.
    Unfortunately, marriage to a dead fish like Edmund was becoming less desirable by the day, if such a thing were possible, and though her matrimonial prospects were few, she’d rather keep looking or remain a spinster than to settle for an awkward marriage.
    Mr. Appleton’s—and even Edmund’s—open disregard for her former scandal gave her hope that someone would come along who would accept her as she was. Love wasn’t necessary, of course. She knew that would never happen, but high regard, or any genuine regard at all that didn’t hedge on being overzealous, would be good enough.
    “Hmm, silence,” Sebastian said. “The mark of a conversation interrupted, I should think.”
    “ Then perhaps you should take yourself elsewhere.” Isabelle closed her mouth with an audible snap as her teeth hit together. Her face heated, then dissolved in flames when he chuckled.
    “ No. I do believe I like it here.” He reached forward and poured himself a cup of tea like the uncivilized man he was, quirking a brow at her as he did so. “I’ve been away so long, it’s always good to return home and chat with old friends—” he shifted his eyes over to Edmund— “and make new ones.”
    Isabelle bristled. “We are not old friends, Lord Belgrave, and you’d do well to remember that.”
    Sebastian turned his sharp eyes to her chaperone. “Mrs. Finch,” he said loud enough for the nearly deaf woman to hear, “you grew up in the country, did you not?”
    “ Why, yes, I did,” the greying woman said loudly, setting her teacup down on her saucer with a slight clink.
    “ And did you have any playmates?”
    “ Of course.” A wistful smile came over her face, sealing Isabelle’s doom.
    “ I see. And would you consider those playmates your friends?”
    “ The dearest I have,” she said without hesitation.
    “ The dearest, you say.” Sebastian lifted his eyebrow at Isabelle again. “Did you hear that, darling,” he drawled. “We’re not just old friends, but the dearest .”
    Isabelle scowled and turned her attention back to Edmund who returned her gaze. But neither could say anything with their annoying audience watching them with rapt attention.
    Fortunately, they were all spared a certain death by suffocation due to lack of a sufficient amount of air when Clemmens opened the door and announced an impeccably dressed Mr. Simon Appleton.
    Isabelle stood and graciously accepted the bouquet of hyacinths. She said a silent prayer that her shock at having him call upon her wasn’t stamped on her face and made another uncomfortable introduction between Mr. Appleton and Sebastian. Mr. Appleton gave Sebastian nothing more than a