It happened because of Lady Sarah.
Isabella should have seen it coming. She should have noticed the particular gleam in her stepmother's eye when she appeared in the hallway that afternoon with a clipboard and a very specific request.
"Isabella, I need you to go down to the wine cellar," Lady Sarah said briskly. "Check the inventory. Count the bottles. I have already sent Leofric down there to start."
Isabella looked at her. "Why can't Fletcher do it?"
"Fletcher is busy," Lady Sarah said.
"Robert?"
"Robert is busy with the orchestra," Lady Sarah said smoothly.
"Judith?" Isabella asked, ready to find someone else.
"Isabella." Lady Sarah gave her a look that closed the conversation entirely. "The cellar. Now. Please."
Isabella opened her mouth to argue, but Lady Sarah had already turned and walked off with the brisk satisfaction of a woman who had just successfully arranged something and had no intention of explaining herself further.
