Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Edmund returned to the house after spending some time in the garden with Harry. Much as he was trying, he felt as if he was carrying the entire world on his shoulders.
He collapsed onto a ; the stress of the day, followed by another sleepless night, was already having an effect on him. His butler walked in carrying a tray. “You have a visitor, Your Grace.”
Edmund frowned in annoyance. “Who is it?”
“It’s Miss Lydia Kerwood, the Viscount’s daughter.”
“Daisy’s friend has come calling?”
Immediately, Edmund’s aches, pains, and other annoyances were forgotten. He sat bolt upright.
“Send her to the parlor,” he ordered.
Edmund took but a moment to smooth his waistcoat and run his hands through his hair. Then, he followed not too far behind the butler and arrived at the parlor room just as Alberts was stepping away.
Edmund opened the door and found Miss Kerwood pacing, as she fidgeted with a handkerchief. He could sense her agitation instantly and did not waste time with pleasantries. “Miss Kerwood, what is the matter?”
She nodded, without ceasing to pace, her face anxious. “I do not know if I am doing the right thing.”
He nodded in understanding though he had no idea what she was talking about specifically. “Well, what is it that you’re doing?’ he asked.
“Breaking a confidence,” she replied with a sigh.
“And what kind of confidence is it? Will it result in someone getting in trouble with the law, for example?”
She shook her head, grimacing as she shot him a derisive glance. “Of course not.”
“Well then…?”
She took a deep breath. “All right. What I am about to tell you is something you cannot spread about. Swear you will not tell a soul.
Edmund cocked an eyebrow as he watched her resume pacing. He said nothing.
She stopped and stared at him. “Promise, Your Grace,” she demanded.
“Very well, I swear I won’t repeat anything you tell me. I will keep whatever secret it is you wish to share quite safe.”
She flicked uncertain glances at him while pacing.
Finally, she came to a stop in front of him.
“The reason that Daisy needed that money was that her father got into debt. He was unable to pay, and the person he owed threatened to put that about if Daisy were not willing to…” She hesitated and color stained her cheeks.
Edmund felt rage sprout in his belly. “If Daisy were not willing to…what?” he growled.
“Well…he wanted to take liberties with her. He said he would marry her…afterward, if you get my meaning.”
The monster.
Edmund clenched his fist. “Why wouldn’t she tell me this? I would have protected her.”
“She was embarrassed, and she had no reason to trust you, I suppose.”
Edmund suppressed a groan of despair.
“There is something else you should know.”
“What?” he asked, anxiety spiking.
“Daisy is leaving. She said something about going to Scotland and then France. If you have any interest at all in her, you need to move quickly.”
Edmund took a deep breath and then nodded resolutely. “Very well. Leave it with me. I will manage it.”
Daisy fought for all she was worth, wriggling in Dulforth’s arms until his hold loosened on her. She pushed him away, breathing hard and tried to make a run for the door.
He laughed out loud before catching hold of her wrist and pulling her back to him. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Leave me be!”
She hoped that someone might hear her making a commotion and come to see what was happening, but the door remained resolutely closed.
“Help! Help!” she cried as she kept trying to pull away from Dulforth.
He laughed. “Nobody is coming to rescue you. Don’t you understand? You cannot escape me.” He pulled her flush against him, wrapping his arms around her waist.
He bent down and put his lips on her neck. She squeaked in surprise, her body tensing. As anger surged through her, she pushed him away and slapped him hard.
The Baron let go of her wrist, his hand cradling his cheek in shock as he stared at her as if she had sprouted a second head. “You slapped me,” he growled.
“You deserved it,” Daisy said, bosom heaving, heart accelerating in fear. She took a step back and then another.
The Baron made a horrible sound low in his throat. It was animalistic, savage, and caused the tiny hairs on Daisy’s arms to shoot up in terror. She rushed to the far side of the room, putting as much distance between herself and Lord Dulforth as possible.
Good God! Please, save me.
Then what she’d been praying for finally happened. The door swung open. It was pushed so hard that the wood banged against the wall. She looked back to see who her rescuer was, and her heart leaped.
“Edmund,” she whispered.
“Stay back!” he roared; his angry eyes trained on Dulforth.
Dulforth glanced from Daisy to the Duke, then he made a movement indicating that he meant to run in her direction.
Daisy shrieked. She closed her eyes, readying herself for the impact, but a moment later she was enveloped in sandalwood, soft wool, and strong arms. She gasped, tensing slightly in surprise before looking up into Edmund’s face.
“How are you here?”
“I shall tell you later.” He relaxed his grip on her then turned to face Dulforth.
His shoulders went back, and he drew a breath before pulling back his fist and punching the baron in the face. When the baron was down, Edmund leaned down and grabbed his coat.
“Get on your feet.” He barked, his face mottled with fury.
Daisy gasped, while Dulforth was mewling like a wounded dog. “Please, Your Grace… Daisy, please, make him understa—” He begged just as Edmund picked him up and slammed him against the wall.
“Silence!” Edmund said. “You do not ask her for a single thing. Not after what you’ve done.”
Dulforth cried out, raising his hands to cover his face. “Please stop.”
Edmund snarled, released him and stepped back, with Daisy still behind him, shielding her.
Then, he glared at Dulforth with contempt.
The Baron stood where he had been just a moment before, but now he looked different.
Instead of being poised and ready to spring or attack, his expression was one of dread.
His bald upper lip quivered, and he continually touched the spot, as if he wished his mustache remained to give him solace.
“You are a coward and a scoundrel,” Edmund declared. The Baron nodded feebly. “I ought to summon a constable and have you locked away in Newgate.”
Lord Dulforth’s mouth dropped. “No…no, Your Grace. Anything but that,” he said haltingly.
Edmund heaved a disgusted sigh, then added, “But I will not allow your misdeeds to harm my Daisy any further.”
My Daisy…My Daisy?
She gazed at Edmund and a well of hope and affection pooled inside her.
“Keep the money Daisy gave you. Use it to leave London forthwith. I do not want to hear about hide nor hair of you again; otherwise I will find you and break every bone in your body. Do you understand me?”
The Baron, still cowering, nodded frantically. “I do. I’ll leave right away.”
Edmund nodded stoutly. “See that you do. I will be watching you.”
The Baron gave him a look of fear, but behind the fear was anger. It was clear he had not intended for things to end like this, and he felt thwarted.
Edmund turned to her, putting his hands on her elbows and peering into her face with concern.
His gaze passed over her face and then fell to the mark on her wrist from when the Baron had grabbed her.
His eyes darkened and the next thing she knew he was whirling around on the Baron and slamming his fist into Lord Dulforth’s face.
Daisy squeaked, jumping a little in shock.
“No one touches my Daisy,” he snarled.
Daisy gave a small gasp at this display of chivalry, and her heart warmed. She looked at Edmund as he turned back to face her, concern back in his eyes.
“Are you all right?” he asked, “Do you require the services of a physician?”
She shook her head, swallowing hard. “He did not hurt me more than what you can see.”
“Are you sure?” he asked gently.
“Yes. I’m sure. Can we leave?”
“Of course. If you will allow me to, I can take you home.”
“Thank you.”
He put his hand on her lower back and led her out of the parlor and out of the house, where Amina was still waiting anxiously.