The Rogue and His Flower (Princetown Heirs #2)

Chapter 11

DAISY

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Blotting my ruby red lips with tissue, I straighten up to survey my appearance in the full length mirror before me. Objectively, I know I’m not an unattractive woman, but I don’t quite meet the expectations of the well to-do men and women of Princetown. I never have.

It doesn’t matter that my last name is Hammer, I still carry the stigma of being adopted into the family and not born into it. Drix has felt the same judgement throughout his life, but when Hubert was alive it never hurt as much because he always made us feel so accepted, so loved. He’s the only man, aside from Drix, who understood all the parts of me, who ever truly made me feel like I belonged, who wholeheartedly accepted me for everything that I am, who encouraged my individuality, and who loved me for it without restraint.

I miss him dreadfully.

Blowing out a steadying breath, I steel myself for the evening ahead. Mingling with the well-to-do families of Princetown has always been a daunting affair, but I’m well accustomed to the judgemental gazes and whispered criticisms disguised as polite conversation. Tonight, however, I’m determined to hold my head high and prove once and for all that I belong here just as much as anyone else. After all, I'm soon to become Mrs Dalton Gunn, and whilst the pain of knowing this is a marriage of convenience still stings, I refuse to let it show. This was my choice, and I will stand by it.

Downstairs I can hear the faint sound of a string quartet playing, signalling the beginning of this evening’s event. Taking one last look in the mirror, I smooth down the fabric of my royal blue gown and adjust the silver necklace Hubert gifted me, drawing strength from it as though he were here with me too. For a moment, I feel a pang of self-doubt creeping in, but then I remember Hubert’s words echoing in my mind. “Stand tall, Daisy. You are a gift to this world, and to anyone lucky enough to have your love.”

With his words echoing inside my mind, I make my way downstairs to join the party unfolding in the grand hall. Gathering the material of my skirt, the multicoloured crystal-encrusted bodice shimmers under the glimmering chandeliers that hang from the ceiling, casting a cascade of prismatic light around me. This dress is probably one of the prettiest I own, and I chose it not just for the beauty of it, but for the way it makes me feel. Powerful, if not entirely happy. Beautiful, if not slightly out of place.

Forcing my shoulders back, and lifting my chin, I catch a glimpse of Drix standing at the bottom of the ornate staircase, his eyes meeting mine with an unspoken understanding. He knows me better than anyone else, understands the turmoil churning beneath my composed exterior.

“You look stunning, Daisy,” he says when I reach him, taking my hand and squeezing it reassuringly.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” I joke, eyeing him in his smart black tuxedo. “Where are Lia and Toby?”

“Talking with Sterling and Ben in the hall. We’ve missed you, Daise. How has it been this past week?”

“I’ve had better,” I admit, wincing when he scowls.

“If Dalton has upset you, I’ll…”

“Dalton has been fine. It’s just taking me time to adjust, that’s all.”

He nods. “So, are you ready to face the vultures?”

I nod. “As I’ll ever be. Let’s get this over and done with, shall we?”

As we enter the grand ballroom, all eyes are on me, and I can feel the intensity of their scrutiny. My heart races and my palms start to sweat, but I ignore both and focus on projecting an air of confidence. Drix is my saving grace, his stoic expression betraying none of the discomfort I know he feels. He squeezes my hand once again before releasing it, and I give him a reassuring smile as we walk through a sea of people dressed in black and white. My marriage to Dalton might be a contract forged out of necessity rather than love, but I refuse to let it define me. I am still Daisy Hammer, with or without the prestigious name I am soon to be bound too. And tonight, as I pass through the ballroom filled with Princetown’s elite, I hold my head high and remind myself that true belonging comes from within, and not from the expectations of others.

“Oh, here we go,” Drix mutters as Mrs Fernsby approaches.

“Daisy, darling, your dress is… quite something,” she exclaims with practised charm, her eyes flickering over my dress with a raised brow.

As a woman of her own wealth and standing, she has always looked down on both of us. This dress could’ve been encrusted with cut diamonds and she still wouldn’t be impressed. Not that I care, her opinion means nothing to me.

“Thank you,” I respond politely, refusing to be intimidated.

“Congratulations on your engagement. We were all so surprised when Carl informed us of the news. You know, there was a time I believed Dalton was going to marry my own daughter, Clarissa, but alas, it wasn’t to be.”

My stomach coils at the mention of her daughter’s name, given she was part of the group of people who treated me so poorly all those years ago at college. The sheer fact Dalton had spent any time with her makes my gut churn.

“I wonder, how have you managed to ensnare such a man?” she adds, lifting a perfectly arched brow as her gaze drops to my stomach.

I draw in a sharp breath, but before either myself or Drix is able to respond to her veiled accusation, a familiar scent wafts under my nose and a muscular arm wraps around my waist as Dalton appears at my side.

“Actually, it was me who ensnared Daisy,” he says smoothly, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. “There isn’t a woman here tonight that is more perfect for me. Daisy looks absolutely stunning, wouldn’t you agree?”

Mrs Fernsby’s gaze cuts to Dalton, her eyes narrowing. “Indeed. Well, I shall have to go and mingle. Good evening to you both,” she says, completely ignoring Drix’s presence and twisting on her heel.

As Mrs Fernsby sweeps away, Dalton’s grip on my waist tightens imperceptibly, no doubt a silent warning to play the part of devoted fiance.

“You really do look beautiful,” he says, and I don’t quite have the courage to look into his eyes to see if he truly means it or if this is all part of his act.

“Of course she does,” Drix replies, a note of anger in his tone. “Daisy is a diamond amongst coal, with the exception of Lia of course,” he adds, his attention drawn to her as she walks towards us, stunning in a long-sleeved, black, form-fitting gown with Toby at her side. Sterling and Ben flank her.

“Lia, Toby!” I exclaim, stepping out of Dalton’s hold and throwing my arms around Lia in a hug before crouching down and wrapping my arms around Toby.

“Your dress is so pretty!” Toby exclaims in awe as I draw upright, his small hands touching the delicate fabric of my skirt.

“Thank you, Toby. You look very handsome too,” I add, beaming.

“We’ve missed you,” Lia says, her smile sincere.

“I’ve missed you too,” I reply, my chest aching a little at just how much.

“How about we get together soon?” she asks as Toby looks between us, grinning widely.

“Can I come? I promise I’ll be good,” he says, hopping on his feet.

“Of course! Maybe a play date at the park, followed by some food at Daphne’s cafe in town?” I suggest, ruffling Toby’s hair playfully.

“Yes please,” he agrees, as Lia takes his hand in hers, and glances at Drix.

“We’ll organise it soon,” she says, giving me a knowing look that conveys her silent support. “I imagine we have lots to catch up on.”

“We do,” I agree.

“Daisy, you look good enough to eat,” Ben says, stepping forward, his piercing green eyes casually perusing my dress before he grins at Dalton.

“Thanks, Ben,” I reply, my cheeks heating as he leans in and presses a kiss against my cheek.

“Careful, Ben,” Sterling interjects with a smirk as Dalton mumbles something under his breath, and his fingers dig into my hip. “You know how Dalton gets.”

“Not with my sister, he won’t,” Drix grumbles.

Sterling smothers a smile, then drops his lips to my cheek. “You scrub up well,” he adds with a wink.

“Thanks, Sterling. How are things with your family? Your stepmother and stepsister seem lovely,” I say.

It was only recently, on New Year’s Eve, that his father Robert married Melody Richards, a once famous Hollywood actress. I met her daughter, and Sterling’s new stepsister, Harlow, for the first time at the wedding. She was incredibly gracious, and utterly beautiful. Not to mention a fantastic singer.

Sterling cuts a look to Drix, then clears his throat as he swipes a hand through his glossy brown hair. “They’re settling in.”

“Are you sticking around for a while?” I ask, knowing that he dislikes his father about as much as I like Carl, and since his dad divorced his mum and she moved out, his visits to Princetown are few and far between. Which is a shame because like Ben, Sterling is one of the few people who I actually like in this town.

“Of course, I wouldn’t dream of missing your wedding,” he replies, cutting a look at Dalton, who clears his throat pointedly.

“I hate to steal Daisy away, but there are other guests we need to greet. We’ll catch up soon, yes?” he says to Drix, before looking between Sterling and Ben.

Drix doesn’t reply, but Ben nods. “Actually, Harlow has agreed to sing at Bandits Bar, you should all come, might make her feel more at ease if there are some familiar faces in the crowd.”

Sterling snaps his head around to Ben. “She has? When was this arranged?”

“Couple days ago. She’s performing next weekend, in fact,” Ben replies, his lips twitching up in a smile. “I asked her to fill in whilst the guys are doing some gigs in London.”

“Princetown Bandits are gigging in London?” Drix asks, referring to the local band Ben manages.

“Yeah, a record label is very interested in them. I’m going to meet with the label and the guys when they return,” Ben explains. “It’s been a long time coming.”

“That’s amazing, they’re really good,” Lia adds.

“If you don’t mind me coming too, I’d love to hear Harlow sing again. Her voice is stunning,” I say.

“Oh me too,” Lia adds. “She gave me chills when she sang at the wedding.”

“Pretty sure she gave a few of us more than chills,” Ben comments with a smirk, and I can’t help but notice the way Sterling’s jaw grits and his eyes narrow at Ben. I wonder what’s happening there. Whilst Ben doesn’t quite have the same reputation as Dalton, he’s still single, handsome, and heir to the Pike family fortune. He’s a catch. Perhaps he’s made a move on Harlow, or maybe it was her who made a move on him?

“Anyway,” Ben continues, “Of course you all should come. It’ll be a great night.”

"Well, I guess we better head off. I’ll hopefully see you all soon then?” I say.

“You bet, Daise,” Drix replies, pressing a kiss against Lia’s forehead as she smiles up at him.

As Dalton leads me away to greet the other guests, I can’t help but steal glances at Lia and Drix, feeling a bittersweet ache in my chest as I admire their genuine warmth and connection. In contrast, Dalton’s hand on my back as we exchange pleasantries with the guests only serves to remind me of the charade we are playing, of the lies we are weaving to keep up appearances. Despite how uncomfortable that makes me feel, I play my part, smiling and nodding in all the right places. I even manage to keep myself in check when Carl finally approaches us both.

“Are you enjoying yourselves?” he asks, his cool gaze flicking over me. I see the annoyance in his gaze at my choice of dress, but thankfully he refrains from commenting.

“It’s been a lovely evening, thank you,” I reply, even though all I want to do is escape to my room and hide. Honestly, I’m exhausted by all the pretence.

Carl nods, a polite smile on his lips as he glances between us both. “I’m glad to hear it. Daisy, do you mind if I steal Dalton away for a moment? There’s a matter we need to discuss.” His tone is casual, but there’s an underlying tension that makes me stiffen.

“That’s fine. I need to use the ladies room anyway,” I lie, glad for the opportunity to escape, even if it’s only for a little while.

“I’ll come and find you in a moment,” Dalton says, his fingers brushing mine briefly before he follows his father out of the ballroom.

The heat of his touch lingers on my skin as I slip through the crowd, and head towards the back of the manor, and the gardens beyond. I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe and need some fresh air, a moment to recenter myself. As I step out into the cold winter air, I hear two women laughing, and my steps falter. Hidden by a marble statue, I listen in on their conversation.

“What about her dress? There’s no accounting for taste,” a familiar voice says. “Daisy looks like a Christmas bauble.”

Heat floods my cheeks at the insult. It’s Clarissa, Mrs Fernsby’s daughter and someone I once considered a friend. That was before I found out that she was the one who’d dared my ex-boyfriend, Jonathon, to date me in college and then dump me in front of my peers at our graduation ball. Jonathon had pretended to be in love with me for months, took my virginity and then broke my heart, destroying my trust in people in the process. He was the reason Drix ended up in debt, because when Drix found out what Jonathon had done, he’d beaten him so badly he’d ended up in hospital. Carl paid the family off, and then used that debt to force Drix to be his enforcer.

A debt that will be fully written off once I marry Dalton and provide Carl with a grandchild he’s so desperate for.

“I really don’t understand what Dalton sees in her,” the woman she’s with replies.

“Oh, come on, isn’t it obvious?” Clarissa says, her voice tight with bitterness. “He clearly pity fucked her and got her pregnant. If this isn’t a shotgun wedding, I’ll eat my hat.”

The woman gasps. “Surely he wouldn’t. She’s a… nobody.”

“Exactly, just because she has the Hammer name, doesn’t make her a part of this world. It never will,” Clarissa replies. “Besides, we all know Dalton. There’s no way he’d choose Daisy willingly. He was probably even drunk when they fucked.”

Anger courses through my veins, and I can feel my fingers clenching into fists at my sides as I listen to their hateful words.

“Fuck this,” I mutter, stepping out from behind the statue, my presence interrupting their conversation as I stride towards them, anger boiling like bubbling lava in my veins.

“Daisy…” Clarissa begins, taken aback by my sudden appearance.

“Save your breath, Clarissa!” I reply, holding my hand up, my voice cold and steady. “I have no interest in hearing what else you have to say.”

The other woman looks on nervously, clearly regretting getting caught gossiping.

“We were just joking,” Clarissa says, plastering on a fake smile.

“Joking?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Like you were joking when you, Jonathon, and the rest of your despicable friends humiliated me back in college? Just joking when you bet him to date me, to pretend he was in love with me only for him to dump me in front of everyone at our college ball, all for your entertainment?”

“I—” she stammers, backing off as I approach her.

“You are nothing but a spiteful, cold-hearted bitch who seems to have a lot of opinions about my life,” I continue, my anger blazing now, “But let me make one thing perfectly clear, I am done letting people walk all over me because I don’t fit into your world. You think you can be cruel, that you can judge me based on my past? That you’re better than me because you were fortunate enough to grow up wealthy, with parents who love you? What kind of person would ridicule another for something that wasn’t her doing? Are you truly that heartless?”

“I think we should go,” the woman she’s with says, but I round on her.

“Don’t move, I’m not finished yet,” I command, brooking no arguments before turning my attention back to Clarissa once more. “Back in college you may have hurt me, but believe me when I say, I’m not that girl anymore. I’m not afraid to stand up for myself. So, the next time you decide to spread rumours or talk behind someone’s back, remember this moment, because if you ever speak badly about me again, or anyone else for that matter, I’ll make sure you suffer. After all, it’s me who’s marrying Dalton, and it’s my soon-to-be father-in-law who runs Princetown, and we all know that if you cross him, you’re making an enemy of one of the most powerful men in this town, in the whole of England, in fact.”

I lock eyes with her, my gaze unwavering as Clarissa steps back, fear flickering in her eyes as she realises the gravity of my threat. The woman with her edges away, sensing the need to distance herself from Clarissa, and the situation.

“You can’t threaten me,” Clarissa finally manages to say, her voice uneven.

“I just did,” I reply with a steely resolve.

“My mother is close friends with Carl, there is no way he would?—”

“I think you’ll find that my father would indeed make your lives a misery if he were to find out about how you insulted not just my fiance, but me, and by extension, him,” Dalton says, his words carrying a dangerous edge as he steps through the French doors behind her.

I take a deep breath, my heart hammering in my chest as Dalton’s eyes meet mine. There’s a moment of tense silence before he says, “And for the record, the only person I have ever pity-fucked is you, Clarissa. It is a night I regret immensely, though I barely remember it, it was so unremarkable.”

She gasps, her eyes blinking in shock. “You don’t mean that,” she stutters.

“I believe we’re done here,” he says coldly, “Leave. Now.”

The other woman scurries away, shooting him a fearful look before disappearing back inside, but Clarissa stands rooted to the spot, her expression a mix of fear and defiance. She opens her mouth as if to protest, but one glance from Dalton shuts her up.

“I won’t tolerate this kind of behaviour, especially not towards my fiance,” Dalton’s tone is firm and unwavering. “Consider this your final warning.”

Clarissa eventually seems to gather her senses and she brushes past Dalton, storming inside the manor. As she leaves, my breath whooshes out of my chest as hot tears threaten to spill from my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall in front of him. Instead, I turn away from Dalton and head towards the gardens, not wanting him to see how badly I’ve been affected by her hateful words.