Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Edmund descended the stairs slowly, feeling a slight throbbing headache from all the wine he’d consumed the evening before. In the harsh morning light, with clarity ringing warning bells in his mind, he had to wonder at the scheme he’d hatched with Lady Daisy.
She had been right to question him.
What was I thinking?
He entered the dining hall to find that his aunt was already there, sipping on some tea. He stopped short in the doorway before stepping into the room.
“Good morning, Aunt.”
“Morning, Edmund. Quite an interesting display last night. Care to share your thoughts?”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean that you and Lady Daisy were rather warmer with each other later in the evening than I suspected after seeing the way you devoured your dinner and barely spared her more than a cursory glance. Is there something you wish to tell me?”
Edmund looked up into his aunt’s gleaming eyes and suddenly understood exactly why he’d made that bargain. “I have nothing to say at this time.”
Her eyes widened with glee. “At this time, you say? How interesting.”
Just then, Harry came bouncing into the room, bringing his infinite energy with him, much to Edmund’s relief. He smiled at his son even as Harry ran around the table to embrace his aunt.
“Aunt Regina, you’re here!” He exclaimed.
“Yes, I’m here, dear boy. Since I was deprived of your company last night, I thought it best to appear magically at your breakfast table this morning.” She patted his shoulder affectionately. “Tell me, how are you today? Have you had your breakfast, or will you be joining us?”
Harry instantly climbed into a seat. “I want to have my breakfast with you.”
Edmund nodded indulgently. Usually, Harry tended to have breakfast with Mr. Oswalt, but Edmund would not send him away. He could not deprive himself of seeing his son’s joy.
The butler stepped forward to pour Harry a glass of milk and set a piece of toast in front of him.
“How was the dinner?” Henry asked as he picked up a bit of toast and took to covering it with a thin layer of marmalade. “Did Lady Daisy come? Did she ask for me?”
Edmund exchanged a fond smile with his aunt.
“She did indeed come and ask after you,” she replied. “We had to tell her the dinner was too far past your bedtime for you to attend.”
“I would have stayed up,” Harry protested as he let his knife drop with a clatter.
“Yes, you would have, and then you’d be tired all day today,” Edmund said.
Harry pouted. “No, I wouldn’t.”
“Yes, you would. Don’t argue with me,” Edmund retorted.
Harry’s lower lip protruded a touch, but he refrained from arguing further.
“You know, you could invite her here to see you again, if you’re so eager,” Aunt Regina said to Harry after flicking a glance at Edmund.
She really cannot help interfering.
“Yes!” Harry shouted. “Oh, do let’s invite Lady Daisy to join us. Can she come here, Papa? Please?” He clasped his hands together as if in prayer and fixed Edmund with a pleading stare.
Edmund sighed in defeat. “We can invite he—”
Harry didn’t wait for him to finish. “Hooray!” He seized his piece of toast, took a tremendous bite, then chewed happily.
“I’ll show her my toys, the horse and carriage, all my drawings, the stone I found at the creek…
” He continued to list all the things he’d show to Lady Daisy when she came around as Edmund watched him with an affectionate smile.
When Harry stuffed the rest of his piece of toast in his mouth and was momentarily rendered speechless while he chewed, Edmund turned toward his aunt. “You see what you’ve done?”
She waved a hand dismissively. “It’s good for him and for you.”
Edmund frowned, a feeling of unease making his stomach turn. He did not want his aunt to get her hopes up too high. “For the sake of propriety, we should invite more guests. Shall we send word round and ask Winston to pop by as well?”
His aunt widened her eyes at him. “Your friend, Winston? Isn’t he out of town?”
“No, he returned to London last night, I believe.”
“Yes! Let’s invite Uncle Winston, too. I love Uncle Winston,” Harry cheered.
“Well then, that’s settled,” Edmund said with quiet satisfaction. “We’ll invite them both to tea.” He looked up at the butler, who was standing by the buffet. “Mr. Alberts, would you inform Mrs. Grey that we are to have guests for tea?”
“Don’t you have to invite them first?” Lady Archworth asked while giving him a wry smile.
“Quite right. Alberts, have my steward send out two invitations, one to the Earl of Claymore’s daughter and one to Lord Salwick.”
“Right away, Your Grace.” Mr. Alberts gave a bow and left the room.
Edmund could feel his aunt’s eyes on him and turned to face her, his eyebrows raised. “Have I something on my face, Aunt?”
“No, I am just surprised at how quickly you agreed to this idea. You usually do not like hosting.”
“Yes, well, it’s Winston. He’s hardly a stranger, and Lady Daisy does not seem like one to expect all the tedious formality. And I have every confidence that Harry will keep her well occupied.”
“Hmm.” Lady Archworth continued to watch him with a narrow gaze but said nothing more.
Keeping his face blank, Edmund returned his attention to his plate.
His aunt would not be easy to fool. They would both do well to remember that.
Daisy walked slowly down the stairs, flinging her shawl over her shoulders. The morning was crisp and bright, and she was looking forward to her walk with Lydia. No doubt the other woman had a lot of questions about the night before. Daisy was not sure what she would say.
“Amina, would you make me a hair of the dog, please? I have the worst headache.” She heard her father’s voice in the hall below her and paused, reluctant to see him after last night.
“Of course, my lord. Shall I bring it to your study?”
“Yes, do that. As fast as you can, Amina.”
Daisy heard footsteps scurrying away and resumed her descent down the stairs.
She reached the bottom and almost ran into her father, who was still standing by the staircase, leaning against the wall.
They both jerked in surprise, and the Earl immediately began to scuttle away towards his study, avoiding her as if he hadn’t seen her.
“Good morning, Father” she called after him.
He nodded and mumbled something she didn’t quite catch before hurrying the last few feet toward his study and opening the door. She stared after him.
Shall I ever get used to his bizarre behavior? I suppose not.
Then she heard the doorbell and knew Lydia had arrived.
With a sigh, she turned away from her father and hastened to open it.
With Amina making the hair of the dog, there was unlikely anyone else close by to answer the door.
They no longer had a butler, and the other two maids had no doubt begun the cleaning for the day.
The house might be old and falling apart, but there was no reason for it to be dirty.
She opened the door and beamed at her friend. “Good morning, Lydia.”
Lydia, who wore a buttercup yellow walking dress and matching bonnet, smiled back gamely while reaching for the crook of Daisy’s arm. “Morning. Are you ready to go?”
“Of course. I can’t wait.”
They hurried off down the road, dodging carriages and vendors wishing to sell them pigeon pies or flowers. At the end of the street, they turned into the back gate at Hyde Park and left the bustling streets behind.
Daisy sighed in relief. “That’s better.”
Lydia nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, much. We could hardly discuss the details of last night with all those other people crowding around us.” Her bright eyes sparkled with mirth as she pinched Daisy’s arm playfully.
“But now, I wish to know everything. Why were you and the Duke out on the veranda for so long last night? What were you discussing so secretively?”
Daisy paused. She was not sure if she should tell her friend the entirety of her conversation with the Duke.
While she did not mind sharing her part of the agreement with her dearest friend, it seemed a tad inappropriate to tell his secrets.
So, Daisy took her time carefully tiptoeing through the finer details.
She told Lydia her own feelings and motivations but kept the Duke’s affairs to herself.
Once she finished her recitation, Lydia turned to peer at Daisy. “And you agreed with him?”
Daisy stepped over a log. The Hyde Park path was just up ahead, and even so early in the morning, there were some stragglers taking the air.
“Yes. What else could I do? Join with Dulforth?”
Lydia shuddered. “Certainly not. But the Duke is a grumpy sort. Will anyone honestly believe that you are a couple?”
“You do not need to be polite about it, Lydia. I know I am beneath his touch.”
“Nonsense!” Lydia yelled before consciously lowering her voice. “He’d be lucky to have you.”
“Would he?” Daisy snorted. “Can you just imagine how my father will behave when he learns of our alliance?” Daisy shook her head mournfully. “Papa is sure to do something untoward, and then the Duke will think less of him…and me, by extension.”
“I do not think that likely.” Lydia tapped the tips of her fingers against the crook of Daisy’s elbow. “I will not pretend to know His Grace well, but he does not strike me as the sort of gentleman who would enter into this agreement with you while turning a blind eye to your father’s…faults.”
Daisy groaned. “You think it is inevitable, then? Papa will embarrass me in front of the Duke and…”
“I think the Duke will not allow a little humiliation to sway his own thoughts and feelings.” She lifted her free hand and tucked an errant lock of hair back underneath her bonnet where it belonged.
“If he offered to be your partner, then the Duke means to side with you—no matter the situation.” She hummed thoughtfully.
“I understand the Duke is very protective of his son. I do believe he was of his wife as well.”
“I understand that she died many years ago,” Daisy said softly, feeling a bit guilty for prying.