Isabelle
“Miss Goodwin didn’t show up for Agatha’s studies,” Isabelle spoke over dinner. “Then late this afternoon a message arrived stating she no longer had time for her employment here and she thanked us for our generosity.” She took a sip of her drink, then continued. “I don’t know how I will break the news to Agatha, it will break her heart.”
“As it has broken yours?” Alfred questioned.
Isabelle smiled weakly, “I will miss our chats. It was nice to have a friend again, since Margaret has been so busy with her own life.”
“I will go speak to her, I am sure she is still in the Aswold employ.” Alfred replied as he continued to eat his steak.
Isabelle blushed, “No! What if one of her suitors has asked for her hand. You can’t get in the way, or make her feel obligated to come back here.”
“She is obliged to fulfill her contract.” Alfred stated firmly, “Any suitor worth having would want a wife who is true to her word.”
Isabelle felt deeply embarrassed, she instantly wished she had never spoken a word. “No, please.”, she pleaded once more with Alfred. She feared what might happen, should bad words arise between Alfred and anyone at Aswold Manor. Her dearest and best friend in all the world, Margaret might become forever lost to her. Over what? Over French and Mathematics? What was Agatha to do with such knowledge anyway? Hope to marry a French astrologer? Such nonsense!
“I wont hear another word.” Alfred looked into Isabelle’s eyes and became entranced in their gaze. He found himself unable to break away from the haunting beauty he held so dear.
Isabelle looked into Alfred’s unmoving cold stare and began to feel dismay. Slowly a tear began to edge out of the corner of her eye.
He watched the slow welling of tears in her eyes, then she broke the glance and looked away. His heart melted at the site of it, “Dearest Isabelle, what has you so upset?”
Isabelle spoke her fears of him, and of her love for both Margaret and Miss Goodwin.
“We shall make a guise of it then,” Alfred suggested to ease her fears. “I will be simply taking you to visit your dearest friend in all the world. Then I might, by chance, see our former tutor and question her on your behalf. In private.”
Isabelle agreed to his plan and the two finished eating in silence.