Chapter 3
“Take it or I swear to God, you will wear it over your face for the rest of our stay!” Lady Wallace bellowed. She threw some sheer white underwear at Daphne’s head.
“I have enough packed, Mama. Why in the world would I need this atrocity?”
“Because one way or another, you are coming home with a husband.”
“I should just wear this without a dress then, it should make it much easier.”
“That—”
Melanie ran into Daphne’s room, her hair a complete catastrophe, tears streaming down her face, and loud cries from her lips.
“Aunt, I cannot seem to find the pair of shoes you bought me last week!”
“What? Those shoes cost more than all the dresses. Where did you keep them? These girls! You will not be the death of me. Come, come, and bring your maid.”
Melanie was shepherded away by a bristling aunt. At the door, she turned and gave Daphne a wink then continued her wailing down the hall.
Daphne collapsed on the floor with laughter and had barely gathered herself when Amelia shuffled inside. Her sister was worse in appearance than Melanie. She crashed to Daphne’s bed, a series of complaints pouring from her lips. Her words fell fast and harsh.
Amelia always spoke like she was on fire. But with the stress of the wedding, that had tripled.
“It will be fine, sister,” Daphne consoled. She had not exactly understood everything her sister said. The only certainty was that if her mother were to find them unprepared, there would be blood.
“It is fine. You just have to prepare for Harry’s place. Once we get there, everything else will fall in line.”
“The family will hate me, I just know it,” Amelia complained at rapid-fire speed.
“Nonsense, they love you. They know how the Marquess feels about you. They would not dare to say a bad word behind your back, not to mention in front of you.”
Another jumbled sentence. Daphne made out a few words, enough to cause offense. She tamped down on her temper, with the knowledge that her sister was a nervous wreck.
“Fine, I promise. I will be in a better mood and I will not cause any trouble for you.”
“This is not about Percy, is it? There is another man on your mind and Melanie knows about it. All I am saying is, pull yourself together for me.”
“I will.”
Amelia narrowed her eyes, “Later, we will discuss why you confided in Melanie and not me.”
“Before or after you have snapped everyone’s head off?”
Amelia threw back her head and wailed about how Daphne was making fun of her and not being helpful at all. Daphne laughed and held her sister. A minute later, they heard their mother’s bellow and had to break apart.
It was like when they were eight and nine again. When Daphne had to stand outside their father’s study, watching out for their mother while Amelia looted the study for some sweet snacks. This was after both of them had been banned from the kitchen and Daphne remembered their father had a horrible sweet tooth.
One shout from their mother and they were dashing down the hall with their loot. Now, Amelia was to be married and Daphne was not sure what she was doing with her life.
After Amelia left, Daphne’s maid arrived. She helped her pack the rest of her luggage. The family set out for the Marquess’ estate. Her parents on one side, and the girls on the other.
Once they reached the estate, their mother turned to Melanie and Daphne. “Your priority this week is to look out for the eligible bachelors. The Marquess has many friends, so I assume many of them will be there.”
“We do not know these people…” Daphne started.
“And you, Daphne,” her father interjected. “Percy will be at the estate. Ensure that you catch his attention.”
“Papa, no!” Daphne blurted.
“What do you mean, no? Have you lost your mind?”
The carriage came to a stop in front of one of the buildings. Melanie alighted first, followed by Amelia, her mother, then Daphne. She told the earl, “We are not a good match, Papa. Believe me, I have known Percy for years.”
Her father grunted, tapping on his tobacco pipe. “Everyone thinks that way before they marry. You will never learn enough to love about a person until you share one bed and one roof. Even then, it is hard.”
“What I know now is enough. I cannot marry Percy. He is not right for me.”
“Then tell me why you think this of him. Perhaps we will understand.”
Daphne stuttered a few words and then looked ahead. She saw a loud yellow coat and a dashing top heart. “Speak of the devil. That is Percy and his family.”
“My lord, my lady, I did not know it was possible for four women to arrive earlier than us,” Percy’s father, the Viscount of Suffork, commented, eyeing his son. “How do you do?”
Lord Wallace replied with a chuckle. “Quite well Lord Suffork. The ladies did surprise us today, I must say.”
Lord Suffork rubbed a large hand on his gut and laughed. “I can see that. Especially the bride-to-be. Congratulations, Lady Amelia.”
Percy’s mother, Lady Suffork, touched the frills on Amelia’s white dress, “and your dress is exquisitely done. When this is over, I must know who supplied it.”
“Of course, my lady. Thank you.” Amelia blushed.
“Lady Daphne, lovely as usual,” Percy complimented, strutting to her side and lowering his hat in a salute.
“Thank you, Mr. Farton,” she replied, pasting on a fake smile.
Lady Wallace clasped a hand to her chest, “Do they not look dashing together?”
Discreetly, Daphne shifted to the right, and moved a little bit further forward. She really did not want to be associated with Percy in that sense.
The servants came to take their luggage. The parents continued chatting while Melanie and Amelia coordinated the packing. Her parents spoke in low voices that were unlike them, picking flints out of each other’s clothes, and showering compliments on the Sufforks.
Percy slid closer to her, “You seem tense, Daph.”
“I am fine.”
He made a sound in his throat, “You are fine. I do know this week will be torture for me. You are tense.”
“That is because you will not stop talking nonsense, Percy. Stop encouraging them.”
“Shall I recount why us getting married is a good idea?”
“Talk about anything else, please.”
“Will you marry me?”
Daphne huffed out her exasperation. The sun had baked them all to bad tempers. She did not need Percy adding to it. Daphne was afraid that he would say something to make her snap. She would not hear the end of it from her parents.
Several guests were clattering up the lane. Another couple joined her parents and the Sufforks. They congratulated them and drew Amelia into their circle, further shifting her and Percy apart.
“What do you say? Should we announce our engagement too? You will receive all of the attention.”
“I despise that much attention, thank you very much.”
Daphne swept up her skirts and took one step.
“Lord and Lady Wallace,” a deep voice called from behind. Victor Anderson stepped out from behind her parents, followed by Harry Norman, the Marquess of Lutton. Her new brother-in-law-to-be grinned from ear to ear.
Daphne’s heart stumbled as she jerked her gaze away from him. His black coat and dark hair were both lighter than his heart. Her parents opened their arms to Harry, exchanging pleasantries with the Marquess.
“You know my friend, the Duke of Kensington, he arrived just in time for the ceremony.”
“Your Grace,” Lady Wallace gushed. “It is my utmost pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“As it is mine,” Victor said, holding out his hand. Her father gave Victor a firm shake, passing a meaningful glance at Daphne. She felt a headache coming on before her father announced.
“This is my daughter, Lady Daphne, and her cousin, Miss Melanie Keats. Come, come.”
Daphne wore a tight fake smile and went to answer her father. She was determined to remain civil. If he wanted to be the idiotic rake, then she could be the aloof damsel.
She would not spend another minute bawling into her pillow over a man who did not have a shred of integrity. So, she was not experienced like his other women, so why did he graze her lips like a man about to die?
Melanie frowned at him. “Good day, Your Grace.”
“I know you, Miss Keats,” Victor said with an amused tone, startling Melanie. “You glared at me a few weeks ago at the ball.”
“I…I did?”
“I could never forget such a vicious glare…”
Daphne snorted. “How could you, you think you are God’s gift to women, Your Grace.”
“Girls! What has come over you?” The countess cleared her throat. “Your Grace…”
“My lady, my lord, I should show you to your rooms,” Harry broke in. “Let the young ones get acquainted.”
The countess looked back to make sure they were accompanied by their maids before taking the hand Harry offered.
“I know I am God’s gift to women, my lady,” Victor countered, persisting with his amused voice. Melanie’s entire face was flushed.
“I am Percy. Percy Farton. Nice to meet you, Your Grace.”
He shook Percy’s proffered hand and then nodded toward his parents who were chatting with other couples. “Should you not take your parents to their rooms, Mr. Fart-ton?” Percy’s face darkened. Daphne would have laughed if she was not incensed with the man.
Percy’s throat worked, as though he was swallowing all the bad words he ached to say to the duke.
“Go. They await your guidance.”
Percy turned to Daphne and kissed her cheek. “I will see you at dinner.” With another glare at Victor, he did as he was told.
“Should you not be out hunting for the London girls that have missed you thoroughly? Being a pompous jerk is not exactly your style.”
“Hunting. I do like that word. Are you one of the ladies I am supposed to hunt?”
“I shall not be tainted with likes of you, nor am I one of the night ladies you frequent, Your Grace.”
He laughed outright, “Ah, night ladies. How exciting for me.”
Melanie dashed an elbow into the small of Daphne’s back. Daphne bit the inside of her mouth to restrain all the other sharp retorts boiling in her head. Victor was infuriating. How did she not notice that about him before?
How dare he refer to her childhood friend as Fart-ton?
“Lady Daphne, it does appear like this will be an exhilarating week for me, after all.”
“You speak as though your presence matters to me. I assure you it does not, Your Grace. If anything, I am revolted by it.”
“And here I thought you were pining for me.”
“Pine for a relentless rake? I do not think so!”
Daphne took Melanie’s hand and walked away, following her parents. Beside her, Melanie was shaking. Whether from fear, anger, or excitement, Daphne could not tell, for she too could not comprehend the stream of emotions that stirred frantically within her.
* * *
Victor chose and discarded several shirts. The coats he had brought were no longer feasible. None of them were colorful or flamboyant enough.
“Damn it, why the hell are all these colors a bore?”
Dan sighed, picking up the last one from the pile. “You have always been specific about black and white, Your Grace.”
“Then, should you not know better?”
“You burnt the last red shirt I bought. You said it reminded you of brothels. Considering the fact that you have never stepped foot in one, I cannot tell why you were certain.”
“I have been there,” Victor insisted. “Now, find me a wearable shirt.”
“Does that mean you will miss dinner?”
And miss seeing her?
“I cannot.”
“Short of stealing off the back of the other gentlemen, there is nothing else I can do, Your Grace.”
Victor stalked to the pile. “Hand me the damned thing.”
Dan walked over with a white shirt. The cool material slid over Victor’s skin, reminding him of Daphne’s cool scathing tone earlier.
“If a woman…” Victor started then broke off.
“Your Grace?”
“Nothing, get the coat,” Victor bit off. If a woman sees a man she kissed years ago, is it normal for her to completely despise him?
He was not about to whine about Daphne to Dan. That would be preposterous. He had, at least, expected her to be civil. He understood that she was entangled with the peacock, but did she have to make it that obvious?
At some point, he would have apologized for staying silent all those years. When he knew nothing could come of it, he would have approached her. Her outright venom both wounded and excited him. Something about the way her eyes flashed and her lips curled.
He found that he could hardly wait to join the group for dinner, for the sole purpose of arousing her anger once more.
Daphne said she would not acknowledge his presence. She had no idea how stubborn he could be.
“Your Grace?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you humming a tune?”
Victor stilled, “No.”
Not to mention the years had been extremely kind to her. He could not imagine why that oaf had waited so long without marrying her. Any man could see she was a fire waiting to be kindled.
Once dressed, Victor strode from his room and met up with Harry. His friend had waited outside for him. Together, they strolled to the dining room. Victor came to the understanding that Harry was in the process of hiding from Amelia.
He was afraid she would ask him about colors again and he just could not tell apart shades of red and blue, one more time. Victor laughed at him all the way to the hall. Once they entered, the sweet aroma of salts and grease pervaded his nostrils, causing his stomach to rumble.
He found his mother laughing with a group of other mothers — including Daphne’s — and he deftly avoided them. He was not about to endure another tale from the palace.
The two men headed to the drinks table and grabbed two glasses each.
“A good best man would find a way to make me happy,” a disgruntled Harry complained.
“Sure. If he was good. I never promised good. My presence was all you required.”
“I shall forever regret this decision.”
“What do you know about Percy Farton?” Victor asked as the other man entered the hall.
“They are very close with the Parsons, if that is what you want to know. Matter of fact, Daphne and Percy have shared a close relationship since childhood. I believe he wants to marry her.”
Close relationship indeed. Where was he when Daphne was attacked by Weatherton?
Victor took a sip of his drink to conceal the displeasure on his face, “I thought so. Why has he not proposed?”
Harry shrugged, “Do you want me to find out?”
“No. I was simply making conversation. You have to admit that he does stand out in that purple coat.”
Harry’s lips curved up, “He does. A good man, that one. I met him once at the tables. Never lost his temper even when his hands were beaten.”
“Ah,” was all Victor said. It was great. It was splendid that Percy was a good person. It did not make him crave to pour the drink over his head at all.
Victor turned away, too sharply. He stumbled into two girls who came up behind him. A cuss was about to leave his lips when he looked into the freckled, displeased face below his.
A smug smile lifted his lips, “You know, Lady Daphne if you want me, you just have to say the word, instead of stalking behind me.”
Angry nostrils flared as she withdrew her hand from the other girl’s, “You cannot be serious. You just slammed into us and that is the best you can say?”
“Your…Your Grace,” Melanie, if Victor’s memory served him right, stammered.
“You could have stepped aside.”
“You could have watched where you are going!”
Victor met Daphne’s hot stare, a smile still playing on his lips. Until his eyes dropped to her half-open mouth. He caught his breath and averted his gaze. It landed on his mother, who had her head cocked, watching the exchange.
Soon, another woman joined the group, naturally linking her arms with Harry’s. Lady Amelia.
“Your Grace, I trust you find your rooms comfortable?” Lady Amelia asked before she looked at her sister’s face with frustration.
“What happened?” Amelia continued.
“It is nothing, dear. Come, I will…” Harry hurried.
Daphne’s lips were quivering, “Him,” she pointed at Victor. “Why did you invite such a character?”
“Daphne! Oh God, Your Grace, I apologize for my sister. The journey was long, she is tired.” To Daphne, she rebuked, “Daphne! I warned you!”
“He… he is to be my best man,” Harry stammered in answer. “He had to come.”
“It is fine,” Victor quipped.
“How can it be?” Daphne snapped, “You just ruined my dress!”
“Oh no!” Amelia cried, clapping a hand to her mouth. Her face was a mask of horror.
And that was when Victor glanced down at the said dress. He realized that the glass of wine he had been drinking now painted the lower part of the dress red. He had not noticed because he had been too busy staring at her mouth.
Before he could work up an apology, she said, “I cannot believe you are so inconsiderate.” She swung around and left with her head high.
By his side, Harry emitted a tired sigh. “This will be a long week indeed.”
Victor glanced at him. Harry continued in a comical mournful tone, “You could simply make it better by proposing to her, my friend. It is your job as my best man.”
Victor abandoned him to find food, although his heart was heavy with guilt.