Chapter Ten
‘Good to see you, Cousin. Thank you for joining us for dinner this evening on such short notice.’ William pressed a kiss to Lady Daphne Buchanan’s cheek as he greeted her in the parlour.
Simmons nodded to him and closed the door, so they could speak in private.
Daphne was essential to the success of William’s plan.
He prayed she would not baulk at his request for help in making Miss Potts into Lady Penelope Denning.
‘I see widowhood continues to suit you,’ he added, smiling at her.
And it did, much as being a widower did him.
It was something they had both shared and borne together: the loss of a spouse who had made them miserable for all intents and purposes despite how much they had initially loved them.
Daphne had fallen for an older bachelor who held little regard for monogamy, much like William’s wife.
In a way it had made him and Daphne depend on one another over the last year.
She was the only one who truly understood and he was grateful for her friendship.
He hoped what he was about to ask of her didn’t strain their relationship.
She smirked at him. ‘As it does you,’ she quipped.
‘So, what is all this secrecy about, Liam? My mind is a whirlwind of theories. I can hardly wait to see which one of my speculations is correct.’ Her eyes sparkled from the light of the glowing sconces in the room as she clasped her hands together in excitement.
‘Sherry?’ he offered.
She tilted her head and nodded, her sandy-blonde waves catching the light. ‘Of course. This must be good for you to ply me with my favourite drink before we dine.’
He poured, handed her the glass and gestured for her to sit on the sofa before he sat down next to her. ‘I need your help,’ he said.
She took a sip of her drink and studied him. ‘You look painfully serious. With what?’
He released his breath. ‘Creating a fake betrothed and making her believable to the ton…by this weekend’s ball.’ There, he’d said it in one big rush. He felt better already.
She watched him for a beat and then threw back her head and had a hearty laugh. ‘You are good. I almost believed you,’ she said, wiping one of her eyes.
‘I am serious, Cousin.’
She set down her glass on the end table next to her and her eyes widened. ‘What?’
‘We have had an eventful week and I am desperate.’
She stilled and placed a gloved hand gently on his forearm. ‘Start from the beginning and tell me what has happened. Leave nothing out. We will figure it out together, Cousin. We are family.’
Telling Daphne everything hadn’t been as hard as he first believed.
She had listened and nodded throughout, interrupting only once to add in a curse of frustration when he relayed to her the events with the trespassing reporters at the lake and how they had scared the wits out of Millie and Miss Potts.
‘Scoundrels, all of them,’ she added, even after William had moved on and outlined his plan in full to her.
He sat in silence and allowed his body to reclaim the calm and relief he felt now.
Whether she agreed to assist him or not was out of his hands, but to have finally shared all his worries, hopes and fears with someone who knew all he and Millie had been through relieved him in a way he hadn’t anticipated.
His cousin was an ally, no matter what her answer, and he would respect her choices, no matter what they were.
‘And this Miss Potts,’ she asked. ‘She has agreed wholeheartedly?’
He paused. ‘Perhaps that is too strong a word, but she has agreed to do her best for Millie’s sake.’
‘And?’
He shook his head. ‘And what?’
‘What incentives have you given her? For her to agree to take such a risk, it had to have been something impressive?’
While Daphne was not a snob, William wasn’t sure how she would react when he told her the truth of Miss Potts’s upbringing. He also felt a surge of protectiveness in him for the woman, which was odd to acknowledge, despite its truth.
‘Liam?’ she asked, extending the length of his name to show her concern.
‘I promised her a good reference for herself as well as her two friends in case it did not go to plan and she was no longer able to stay on as governess here. I also offered her an additional lump sum that she can use as she sees fit.’ He rubbed the back of his neck, which had begun to ache.
It didn’t seem like much now when he thought of the risks she was taking. He felt a bit like a cad.
‘That is all she requires?’ she asked. Her brow furrowed, and she took a sip of sherry before resting the tumbler in her lap. ‘Why did she not ask for more? This is quite a risk.’
‘I do not believe she thought to. She is…kind and has had little. She grew up as an orphan. It was initially why I selected her as governess. I thought…’ He paused and shrugged.
Understanding bloomed on Daphne’s face and she gifted him a soft smile. ‘That she would understand Millie as she lost her mother.’
‘Precisely.’
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before the mantel clock chimed eight times loudly, reminding them it was time for their evening meal.
William viewed his cousin’s silence as her answer and decided to take the rejection in stride.
It had been a long shot and she had her own reputation to risk.
He didn’t blame her for not wishing to be a part of such subterfuge.
Success could not be guaranteed and if they failed the ton would scrutinise them relentlessly.
‘Shall we?’ he said, standing and offering his arm to escort her to the dining room for their meal. ‘I know Millie will love seeing you, as will Miss Potts enjoy meeting you.’
Daphne set down her drink, rose and accepted his arm. ‘So, you have your governess dining with you? That is unusual, is it not?’
He shrugged. ‘Yes, but you know we are not a household that stands on such formalities.’
She chuckled. ‘I do.’
‘But I do it for Millie,’ he rushed out. ‘She is quite taken with her.’
‘Oh? Is she the only one? Or perhaps you are quite taken with her yourself?’ she whispered and lifted a brow at him as they walked out of the parlour.
‘Cousin, you know I am not interested in an attachment of any kind.’
She smirked at him as they walked into the dining room, and she leaned close to his ear. ‘Perhaps, but you also did not answer my question, Cousin.’
William would have rebuked her quip if they were not already deep into the dining room and headed towards their chairs.
Millie smiled and rushed to Daphne, colliding with her legs and hugging her.
His cousin stooped and kissed his daughter’s cheeks one at a time and lavished her with praise and well wishes before she disengaged and stood.
She glanced to William.
‘Lady Buchanan, let me introduce you to Miss Potts, our new governess. Miss Potts, this is my cousin, Lady Daphne Buchanan.’
Millie rushed back to her seat as Daphne and Miss Potts exchanged pleasantries.
Seeing the women side by side was strange.
Despite having similar builds, their features and colouring were in sharp contrast. Daphne was blonde, green eyed and wore a soft periwinkle-blue gown while Miss Potts was brunette with equally dark eyes in her signature plain-dress style.
Today it was dark grey. While an improvement over her brown dress, it left little to enhance her looks.
He wondered what they would make of each other.
William shouldn’t have worried. The women chatted along easily at dinner and, despite not joining in, Millie’s gaze was bright and interested as she listened and watched them talk.
At times, his daughter smiled and even turned to him, as if she, too, approved of their dinner companions.
It set William at ease in a way he hadn’t expected and their dinner together ended far too soon.
Even though he’d missed his usual time at dusk with Millie due to their extended meal, she kissed his cheek and left with her nurse willingly for bed.
The dinner had been a success even if his cousin hadn’t agreed to help him.
Miss Potts excused herself not long after and the evening ended the way it had begun, with him saying goodbye to his cousin in the parlour. He helped her with her coat and she faced him as she fastened the clasp at the throat. ‘I have thought over your plan, Liam. I will help you.’
At first, he didn’t move. But then he hugged her fiercely, pressing a kiss to her cheek. ‘Thank you,’ he said.
She laughed. ‘I do not know if it will work, mind you,’ she added. ‘But I will help you in whatever way I can. I will compile a list tonight of what she needs to know and I will arrive tomorrow to begin preparations.’
‘Thank you, Daphne. I owe you.’
She smiled widely as he opened the door for her. ‘Yes, Cousin, you will. And I cannot wait for the day to collect such a favour.’ She winked at him and he laughed as he watched her walk down the front steps towards her waiting carriage.
William closed the door and turned to find Mrs Chisholm and Mr Simmons standing behind him.
Although a bit startled, he wasn’t entirely surprised to see them waiting in the wings for news of how his dinner went with his cousin.
He smiled. ‘She has agreed to help us. Lady Buchanan will return tomorrow with a list of what Miss Potts needs to know.’
Mrs Chisholm clapped her hands together. ‘That is splendid news, Your Grace.’ Even Mr Simmons appeared to sigh in relief. The outcome of the evening could not have been better.
‘Mademoiselle Dashiell is also supposed to return tomorrow for the fittings of gowns for Miss Potts. Having Lady Buchanan here to oversee such matters will be helpful,’ Mrs Chisholm added.
‘Ah, yes. I agree,’ William added. ‘Things are coming together. And how are the actual preparations for the ball itself proceeding? I know I am asking a great deal of you both right now.’
‘All is on schedule, Your Grace,’ Simmons replied.
‘Excellent.’