The November sun had already set when the carriage drew up outside the house of the Duchess. Isobel was standing by the window when she watched the carriage arrive.
It was rare for a Duke to make sure that it was his daughter’s husband who would receive his title. Women were usually never given such a responsibility for they were considered weak creatures. But there was a clause attached to this as well. She needed to be married within the year so that she would not be helpless any longer. It was usually a male candidate of the family who would be given this honour, any cousin or otherwise but with Isabella things had been different. Why had it been different Isobel did not know, but she was going to find it out soon enough.
When Polly had said her that it was her father’s wish that she
