Page 59 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

Daisy sighed. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, from all reports, you and the Duke are getting close. Do you feel like you might give your relationship a real chance?”

Daisy laughed. “Of course, the Duke would never actually marry the likes of me. Don’t be silly.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” She gestured at herself. “I am a mere bad word away from disgrace, and he is a respectable, extremely well-off member of Society.”

Lydia sighed. “You are wrong if you think he would care about such trivial things.”

“Trivial things?” Daisy repeated in disbelief.

“Yes. No one cares about the difference in your circumstances, except you. And if you’re being quite pragmatic about it, then consider this: he’s a Duke. He can survive any kind of scandal, with enough time and care. Whatever happens to you, he can handle it.”

“It’s not that simple,” Daisy replied.

It was one thing to say that the Duke could weather any storm, but why should he?

That would be ridiculous.

Still, she couldn’t help feeling a bit wistful about it all.

“It would be nice to think this could all end with the Duke feeling some sort of affection for me, but I must not live with my head in the clouds.”

“Oh, Daisy,” Lydia sighed. “The clouds are so lovely this time of year. Could you not linger in your daydreams a bit longer?”

She shared a mournful smile with her friend, then agreed. “I shall live in this moment and enjoy my time with the Duke for as long as it lasts.”

It had been days since he had seen Daisy, and Edmund was beginning to understand how thoroughly she had woven herself into his routine.

Not that she was ever part of it.

Rather, she had become the measure against which the day was judged. A conversation was more amusing if she was present. A gathering was deemed less tedious if she was standing by his side. Even his own thoughts seemed less inclined to brood when she was nearby.

The discovery was deeply inconvenient. Edmund had never made a habit of needing people. Yet somehow Daisy had become someone he looked for in the crowd and sought to have with him always.

A week after the second round of blind man’s bluff and the subsequent treasure hunt, Aunt Regina issued an invitation for all the couples and other guests to join her for the weekend at her country home. It was not far from London and boasted one of the most beautiful gardens in the city environs.

Edmund was not looking particularly forward to it, but what he did look forward to the most was the chance to see Daisy again.

Naturally.

He arrived early, wanting to get Harry settled in before the other guests turned up, so he was in the parlor, partaking of refreshments when Daisy arrived.

He stared at her unabashedly. He recognized the fabric of her gown. It was a pale green hue with a series of thin white stripes threaded throughout the muslin. He’d purchased it for her. He was quite surprised at the possessive surge of emotion that overtook him when she came into his sightline.

Their eyes met across the room, and Edmund held her gaze for a moment before nodding in greeting.

She bowed her head in answer and then turned away to speak with her friend, Miss Kerwood. Edmund’s eyes narrowed.

He was disappointed. Even though he had no right to expect it, he still wanted her to come to him, to have wanted to see him as badly as he wanted to see her. The slight stung. But Edmund persevered.

I will speak to Daisy soon enough and then…then…

He was not sure precisely what he wanted to say, but Edmund understood that being near Daisy was the goal and that would be accomplished without delay.

Chapter Fourteen