Tremors rolled through her body. She clenched her hands together to keep from ripping off her gown, petticoat, and stays. They had never felt so constrictive as they did at this moment. She just needed to breathe, to take in a lungful of pure, clean air.Susan, unruffled as always, glided beside her. She squeezed Isabelle’s forearm. “It is going to be all right, dearest.”Isabelle stared at her arm, then at Susan. She took a ragged breath. “He knew me.”“Yes, he did. That was unfortunate.”Bile rose in Isabelle’s throat. Unfortunate? It was much worse than unfortunate—it was a disaster.She sank to her knees. The pattern on Susan’s Turkish carpet swam before her eyes. Her cheeks felt like they might burst into flames. What had she done? Had she thought this to be some kind of game? The abduction of a lord was a crime punishable by death, and she had willingly participated in it. The ruse was over. She hadn’t thought of the consequences of her actions, not seriously. Not until now.She pictured herself in the gallows at Newgate, surrounded by other odious criminals at the morning hanging.
