Isabelle
Miss Goodwin decided to choose her words wisely. She didn’t want to insult the moody Alfred and cause him to be tumultuous. “You could buy her an estate, and set her up for life. She could live a life of leisure and never have a worry or a care in the world.”
Alfred rested his hands lightly on her shoulders, gently rubbing his thumbs near her collar. “Are you to be my Mistress then? Living outwardly like a wife, while I hide my Legal wife out of sight somewhere?” he questioned.
The tutor quickly lied, “I hadn’t given it much thought.” Though she had given it many hours of thought. She had devised several different ways to make it happen. Some were happy and joyful, some were mean and spiteful. She had indeed spent many hours thinking of it.
“What of the rumors that will come from the wagging tongues of my collogues? What of the whispers behind your back. The fine ladies of society will plague you, expose you for the vixen you are.” He took in a deep slow breath next to her, “Our reputations will be shattered, beyond any hope of repair.” He moved his hands closer to her neck til his thumbs stroked her collar from the base to the top. His hot breath was against her cheek, “What shall we do then?”
Miss Goodwin felt a tingle in the small of her back as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She didn’t care what they would tell them. Let them all spread lies, rumors, and hate. Let them know the truth, for all she cared right now. She never wanted this feeling of desire to end. She closed her eyes, and drank in the emotions she was feeling. In a soft voice she replied, “We can move away to another country, where no one knows who we are.”
“Leaving Isabelle to face the horrible shame alone?” he questioned.
The young woman knew of the deep attachment he had to his wife. Though she did not understand why. Perhaps it was some sort of responsibility he felt, or moral obligation he had conjured up in his mind. He would never abandon her to any cruel fate, and she knew it now. With deep sympathy and thoughtfulness she finally responded slowly, “No.”
She shook her head slowly, “No we could not do that to her. She does not deserve such treatment. She has nothing but kindness in her heart.”
Alfred’s voice deepened and he pressed against her ear again, “And yet you would betray her kindness.”