Chapter 2
Chapter Two
“That deplorable man!” Victoria exploded, her face flushed, the agitation practically radiating off her. “I will see to it that he won’t torment you any longer. I am heading for his house and I will—”
Daphne watched, heart tightening, as her aggressive twin began to march toward the door, presumably straight to Briarwood’s house.
Elizabeth caught her sister’s arm just in time, holding it firmly even as her own lips turned pale.
“Victoria! You will only make things worse for Daphne. That’s what he is looking for. Scandal. He will use it against you, can’t you tell? That man knows what he is doing, unfortunately. He will twist your words and actions to solidify his imagined claim over our sister.”
Daphne could feel the tension vibrating in the room, the sharp edge of fear and anger clashing around her. She glanced at Victoria, whose wild eyes darted from one person to another like a trapped animal refusing to yield, her chest heaving.
“What do you think we should do then?” Victoria demanded, pulling her arm free. “Should we merely sit here like little lambs for the slaughter? That’s not me. You know that.”
“We know, Vicky. That’s why I’m trying to stop you. Even though it might make you feel extraordinarily uncomfortable, we must be mere lambs for now.”
Victoria squeaked in protest, but Elizabeth silenced her with the following statement.
“It’s better than being bait.”
Victoria’s teeth clamped together firmly. She pressed her lips together resolutely and Daphne could see the strain as she fought to accept Elizabeth’s idea and quiet her own emotions.
Dominic agreed next, his voice steady, like the hunter he was. “Elizabeth is right. Listen to her.”
Her gaze flicked to Daniel where he stood by the hearth. His fists clenched and unclenched, betraying the fury he otherwise kept controlled. It was not only Victoria who burned with anger.
“I will protect you, no matter what, Daphne,” Daniel declared, his voice low but fierce. “I had been gone long enough, leaving you all here with Father while I escaped his wrath. I am not going to be that coward anymore.”
Daphne could see the burning guilt and anger blending in her brother’s eyes.
Still, she felt a rush of gratitude, tinged with terror.
She wanted to leap forward and embrace them all, to tell them how much she needed their protection, but she stayed still, letting the storm of their indignation and resolve settle around her.
The violence of their passions gave her strength, yet it also reminded her just how dangerous Briarwood truly was.
“Daniel,” she murmured his name gently, feeling sad that their family still had to deal with more conflicts, even with their father gone.
He looked at her with a fierce determination he had never shown before. Briarwood was wrong. Her brother was not weak.
“Do not be afraid, Daphne. He will not harm you. Not while I’m still breathing.”
A hush fell in the room. They all knew the gravity of the situation and the weight of such a promise.
“You are not alone in this, Daniel,” Marianne murmured. “Each one of us here can help keep Daphne safe.”
A chorus of agreement ensued, punctuated by Dominic’s nod, Alasdair’s assent, his Scottish brogue thickening, and Gerard’s vow. The sisters exchanged glances, their way of swearing allegiance to one another and the family anew. Determination was etched on their faces.
Even with her whole family rallying behind her, Daphne’s stomach twisted. She felt like something was going to happen, anyway.
Something terrible.
“What if he does what he promised? What if he comes every day? What if the ton believes his delusion that I belong to him?” she asked, her voice breaking. “I don’t want to drag everyone into ruin. Perhaps that is all that my refusal can do.”
“No!” Daniel bellowed, making Daphne flinch. “You will not marry Briarwood. Not for me or anyone in the family. You will marry the man you want, sister. Nobody else.”
“While I agree that Daphne should not marry someone she does not like, especially a man as terrible as Briarwood,” Dominic said, “we should consider the fact that the man is on a hunt and Daphne… well, he won’t rest until he catches her.”
“I won’t be caught,” Daphne insisted. “I am not any man’s conquest. Since this is a game to him, it would be better if we made it harder for the hunter. I can remove my presence from his influence.”
She had never been this defiant before, but she could not help it. The man made her skin crawl. Her declaration, however, had quite an effect on her family. Each member remaining in the drawing room stared at her.
“You want to leave London,” Daniel said.
It wasn’t a question, but a comment. An acknowledgement.
“Perhaps if I am far enough from his reach, I won’t be of much value.
If I leave town, and go somewhere else, I will be out of his line of sight.
And If I am gone…” She lifted her hand and delicately waved it.
“The Earl will not want what he cannot see. Therefore, I’ll be no longer interesting.
Then, Briarwood will be stymied. While he tries to figure out what to do, hopefully another more willing debutante will catch his attention.
He would then realize what a waste it would be to keep looking for me. ”
“Do you think that will work? I am afraid a more willing debutante may not have the same appeal to a hunter,” Daniel said, his brows furrowed, as he paced back and forth so close to the fire in the hearth.
“Hmm. That’s actually a fairly good idea,” Wilhelmina commented, a finger rubbing her chin.
“Do ye think so?” Alasdair asked, frowning. “Lass, tis runnin’ away. We’d be giving Briarwood the upper hand.”
“Alasdair, darling, think about it,” Elizabeth soothed.
“The man may fancy himself a predator. Do you think he will waste his lifetime trying to catch stubborn prey when there are so many others to distract him? There are women practically falling over his feet, despite his age and the rumors surrounding the sources of his income.”
Marianne, who was seated close to Daphne, reached out for her younger sister’s hand and clasped it within her own.
“The farther you are from the man, the better. He can’t touch and harm you if he does not know where you are.”
Victoria’s eyes were suddenly frenzied with excitement. Her earlier turbulent emotions had calmed down, and renewed hope seemed to emanate from her.
“Distance is safety. Yours is the best idea, Daphne.”
“What about Scotland then?” Alasdair suggested. “If we are talking about distance, anyway, then consider one of my more secluded estates. I can have you hidden and guarded there.”
Dominic shook his head in disagreement. “It may be too obvious, Alasdair. Briarwood knows your connection to Daphne. We also exiled the late Lord Grisham to your country before he died. He will suspect Scotland. The man may be a scoundrel, but I believe he’s smart enough to search for Daphne in Scotland.
It might even be the first place he considers. ”
“As much as I want my sister the furthest away possible from Briarwood,” Elizabeth conceded, “Dominic is right. He would guess the connection immediately.”
“All right, then,” Daphne said with a sigh. “I can’t go to Scotland. Still, I should hide beyond London. It should not be too far, however, that none of you can visit me from time to time.”
“Not that far,” Gerard murmured thoughtfully. “It should be a place Briarwood would not associate with you or this family, but still close enough so that we can check upon your safety.”
For a moment, everyone sank into their own thoughts, the room was heavy with quiet.
Daphne fidgeted as unease twisted in her chest.
Will we be able to find a place where I can truly be safe?
Her eyes drifted to her brother. He paced back and forth, each step seeming to scorch the floor beneath him.
“I may have a place,” Wilhelmina said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence and drawing every gaze.
Heads whirled toward her. Eyes were wide.
“My publisher, Mr. Finch, just might have the answer. He has a vicar cousin who lives with his wife in a quaint little village. It is not too far from London, and they are respectable people. I have been there myself, briefly. The place is quite modest, but they should have room for Daphne.”
She looked at everyone else in the room, as if waiting for a comment. Nobody said anything. They seemed ready to know more about Finch’s relative’s home.
So, she continued. “Finch’s cousin is not associated with any of us.
Not by blood. Not by title. Not by any business.
Briarwood would not think of the place. He’ll get too tired of hunting and find someone else.
We could tell people who ask that Daphne has taken ill and needs to recover in the fresh air. ”
“That just might work, Mina,” Daphne breathed, her right hand resting on her chest. Her heart had been beating too hard and fast as of late that sometimes it was difficult to ease the ache in her chest. “It will be far enough from the ton’s gossip and Briarwood’s reach but near enough that I may still see some of you.
Hopefully, it will take Briarwood weeks or more to find a connection between me and Mr. Finch’s relatives. ”
Her sisters and brothers-in-law finally one by one voiced their agreement and gave little nods respectively.
“We can send word to the Gazetteer immediately. Mr. Finch should be there by morning. Hopefully, we can reach his relative immediately so that Daphne can leave as soon as possible. Before dawn. She might even use the servants’ entrance.
What do you think, Grisham?” She finished this speech by peering at Daniel.
He was, after all, the head of the household and had been the first to swear he would protect Daphne with his own life.
Daniel nodded, his features still not relaxing. However, Daphne would like to believe that his shoulders had somehow lost some of their tension.