Read Online Once an Innocent by Elizabeth Boyce - Free Book Online

why he was doing this and how committed he truly was to the plan to send her away. By all appearances, he was no happier about it than Naomi.
    She rose and stood before him, her arms stiff at her sides. “Must I really I do this?”
    A pained frown creased Marshall’s brows. “I’m afraid so.” Her lips parted, but Marshall held up a forestalling hand. “Promise me you’ll be careful, Naomi.”
    His urgency confused her. “Careful of what?”
    “Just … ” He shook his head. “Please, just be careful. Steer clear of Lord Freese. I mean it, Naomi. Keep your distance from him.” His jaw tightened as his eyes looked precisely to where Naomi had been accosted by Mr. Hayward.
    Suddenly, Naomi wondered what Marshall knew about what had transpired. Judging by the tightness around his eyes and mouth, she was almost certain he knew the whole of it. Embarrassment brought a heated flush to her cheeks. “I shall do as you say.”
    She pressed a hand against her lips as she flew up the stairs, suffering an agony of shame at having her indiscretion found out. Lord Freese was the only person beside herself and Mr. Hayward who knew what had happened. Jordan must have told Marshall.
How could he?
A true gentleman would never compromise a lady so. All the more reason for her not to go to Lintern Abbey!
    Naomi’s slippered feet carried her to Isabelle’s bedchamber. If Marshall didn’t really want to send her away, then maybe his wife could convince him not to.
    She found her sister-in-law in her dressing room, selecting clothes for the trip to Helmsdale.
    Isabelle was laughing at something her maid had said when Naomi entered, but her laughter died in her throat when she saw the younger woman. She hurried past Naomi into the large, adjoining bedchamber. “Hello, dear,” she said, tossing Naomi a nervous smile.
    Anxiety roiled in Naomi’s stomach. “Marshall says I must go away,” she blurted.
    Isabelle paused in front of her vanity. Her fingers slowly wrapped around the silver handle of her brush.
    “He’s sending me to a party at Lintern Abbey, even though I said I don’t want to go, that I’d rather help you at home.” Naomi approached her sister-in-law and touched her shoulder lightly. Beneath her fingertips, she felt tension in Isabelle’s body. “Won’t you please speak with him?”
    Isabelle swiped hastily at her cheek before she shook her head and turned. Her blue eyes were bright, and color stained her cheeks, though the rest of her face had gone pale. She trained her eyes on her maid, packing the trunks. “I don’t … No, Naomi, I don’t think I shall speak to Marshall. I’m sorry. You must do as he says.”
    Naomi tilted her head. “Isabelle, please,” she begged. Why wouldn’t her friend and sister look her in the eyes? “The nursery, you said — ”
    Isabelle sucked in a breath. She lifted her chin and bestowed a withering look on Naomi. “I’ll make do without you.”
    Naomi jerked back as though struck. They really didn’t want her at Helmsdale, neither of them. She stammered an apology and returned to her room. There, she looked around with the sense of doing so for the last time. If Marshall and Isabelle were sending her away because they no longer desired her presence, then she could never return after the party at Lintern Abbey. Not really. Naomi now knew her days with her family were numbered, and she was a woman without a home.
    • • •
    As the door closed behind Naomi, Isabelle collapsed into a chair. She pressed cold, shaking hands against hot cheeks and squeezed her eyes shut. In her swollen belly, the babe moved slowly. A lump of … something — was it head or rump? — dug uncomfortably under a rib. Isabelle winced and massaged the spot, willing her child to settle. As though in defiance of her wishes, the infant only ground against her bone all the harder. “You think I’ve done wrong, too, don’t you, my love?” Isabelle muttered. “Go on and punish me, then. I