Page 64 of A Perfect Engagement
“You love her. Don’t you want her happiness?” Lucius’s face reddened.
“I spilled my heart out to her, and she chose my brother. What do you want from me?”
“You didn’t give her a chance that day. She was devastated after you walked out!” Lucius’s voice rose with each word. He looked over at Miss Spencer. “Come on. This was a waste of time.” He turned on his heel to leave, but Miss Spencer grabbed his elbow. She gazed up at Daniel with an expression of determination.
“They are getting married in three days. We know Charlotte hurt you, and I believe she regrets her cowardice. Perhaps you cannot forgive her, but she and your brother are making a mistake. Go speak with him. This is your last chance.”
Daniel let what she said wash over him. Charlotte had regrets. His last chance. Overwhelmed by emotions, he thought he had locked away, he didn’t know how to reply. Luckily, a small hand tugged on his jacket.
“Who are these people, Papa?” Josie asked. She held her blue velvet cape in one hand.
He crouched down and taking hold of the cape, he tied it around her shoulders. He took a deep breath. Then he picked her up, setting her on his hip.
“This is Miss Spencer and Mr. Grisham. This is my daughter, Josie.”
Miss Spencer’s eyes widened, but she placed a friendly smile on her face. “It’s nice to meet you, Josie.”
Lucius narrowed his eyes. “You’re married?”
Daniel shook his head. “No, Josie’s mother and I are not married.” He kept his expression impassive. He would not talk about it further in front of the child. “Now if you will excuse us. I have promised to walk with Josie by the pond. Our business here is concluded. Good day.” He strode off toward the lake.
*
When Daniel andJosie returned to the house, Lucius’s carriage was gone from the drive. Glad he didn’t have to deal with the two of them further, some of the tension between his shoulders released. He took Josie to the kitchen for a snack.
“Mrs. Howell, do you have any of those biscuits left over from yesterday’s tea? We have worked up quite an appetite hunting down our froggy friends.”
The housekeeper smiled indulgently at Josie. “I do still have some biscuits in my jar over there. Come tell me, who did you meet today?”
Josie skipped over to Mrs. Howell. “We saw Sir Roger and Lady Lily and Grumpy George.”
“I’ll just go check on Miss Darlington,” Daniel said.
Mrs. Howell nodded her head. “We’ll be just fine.”
Daniel walked back to the front of the house to Phoebe’s rooms. As he approached the door, he could hear two voices in a furious exchange.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Phoebe’s scratchy voice said.
“It’s not ridiculous. Why are you so stubborn?” a man’s voice retorted.
“You don’t need to bring him into this. He is already upset. It’s not the right time.”
“We both know time is the issue. I don’t want to wait another day, another minute, my darling.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows. Who was in there with Phoebe? His hand was on the doorknob before he stopped himself. It was none of his business. He decided to speak with Phoebe later. The voices had quieted, and he backtracked down the hallway and went to his study. He would buckle down and finish the ledgers he had begun this morning. Not half an hour into his work, there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” he called.
Charles Henry entered the room. “May I speak with you?”
“Of course. Have a seat. I was just going over the prices of seed for this season’s second planting of barley.”
“Actually, I’m here to speak to you on a personal matter.” Charles leaned forward in his chair, his hands gripped together in front of him.
It suddenly dawned on him who the voice in Phoebe’s room belonged too. “All right,” Daniel said, cautiously.
“I would like to ask your permission to marry Miss Darlington.”
Daniel leaned back in surprise. Apparently, today would take another unexpected turn.
