Chapter 5 #2
Daisy wished she could accept such kindness, but knew it would be highly unconventional.
Even if the Dowager would agree to such an arrangement, Daisy would always feel beholden to both Lady Archworth and the Duke.
“I would rather take the opportunity to earn the sponsorship if it is all the same to you.” She hesitated for a moment.
“I… it is not just for my dowry that I need the funds. Other…obligations also compel me.”
He cocked an eyebrow, eyes widening curiously. “I see.”
He stared thoughtfully at her while she stared back, wondering what he could possibly think of her while marveling at how the candlelight seemed to shine from inside of his eyes so that she felt as if she was looking into a room, one whose contents she would give her right arm to know.
But he remained enigmatic.
“What if I were to loan you the money you need?” he asked.
She shook her head regretfully. “I would have no way to repay you. It would be out of the frying pan and into the fire.”
“The loan would be long-term…and you might take as long as you need before offering any sort of recompense.”
She sighed. “You are unexpectedly generous, Your Grace. Unfortunately, I cannot accept your offer. Not in good conscience.”
“So, it is my aunt’s prize or nothing?” he asked softly.
She nodded regretfully. “I fear so, Your Grace.”
He took a breath, glancing away towards the parlor.
The Duke watched the people milling about for a moment while she stared at him, curious to see what he would do next.
His brow furrowed and created fine lines above his nose.
Her fingers tingled with the urge to reach out and smooth out those creases.
What am I thinking? I am in a rather precarious set of circumstances. The Duke is offering to help, yet all I can think of is how nice it might be to touch his handsome face.
She groaned, then closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
Going forward, I must keep all my thoughts pertaining to the Duke of Blackvale entirely innocent.
She allowed one eye to pop open. When she saw the way faint crow’s feet crinkled the corners of his eyes, indicating that he smiled readily and often, she amended her oath.
Mostly innocent.
As her other eyelid fluttered, she stared at him openly and saw that his mouth was carved into a fine, sculpted shape. The contours around his upper lip were particularly enticing and…
Drat! Must try harder to be in control of the situation.
She might have gone on in such a manner, cataloging all of the Duke’s glorious attributes and scolding herself for admiring him so, had he not cleared his throat abruptly and said, “I’ve had a notion.”
“Yes?” she said, shoulders straightening instinctively.
“I will be your competition partner. I will help you win.”
She gawped at him. Of all the things she’d expected him to say, that had to be the last.
“Why would you do that?”
He shrugged. “Because you saved my son. Because you’re a woman with honor, and I do not wish you to see you lose your integrity. I know full well what desperation can lead a person to do.”
Daisy could not collect her thoughts fast enough to summon an appropriate response. So, she floundered. “I…well…I say…I should…”
He lifted one hand straight in the air and held it up with his palm facing her, as if to quieten her rambling.
“My aunt has a…peculiar sense of humor. I’ve seen many of these…
games she likes to organize. I feel confident that we can win.
You seem to have your wits about you, but you will need a companion who is equally able to match you in each task.
” He nodded stoutly. “I am the only gentleman who fits that bill. We could have a good partnership.”
Daisy slowly nodded. “I suppose we could…but what do you gain from this aside from being tremendously inconvenienced?”
He pursed his lips. “Since I lost my wife, my aunt has been determined to find me another. I am quite content with things as they are, and I could use some respite from the constant matchmaking. If you and I were thought to have made a match, she would not feel the need to keep pushing all these ladies at me.”
Daisy considered him closely, wanting to gauge the truthfulness of his words. She would definitely feel much better about the potential success of the enterprise if she thought he was gaining something from it as well.
Try as she might to read any duplicity in his looks, Daisy could only see earnestness when she looked upon the Duke.
“I’m sure if you told your aunt how you felt, she would stop pressuring you,” she said.
He huffed. “You would think so, but she is a stubborn one and has always believed she knows what’s best for me.”
Daisy nodded in understanding. “But then what happens when she thinks you’re engaged to me, and then we go our separate ways? Won’t she be hurt by your deception?”
He smiled. “You see, this is how I know this plan has potential. That veracity of yours. You have not only considered my aunt’s feelings, but have already begun contemplating what will happen after the competition concludes.”
She eyed him shrewdly. “Yes. Well, we ought to consider all the possible outcomes. And I worry that even if we both get what we want, someone, perhaps your aunt, might wind up feeling cheated by our dishonesty.”
He seemed to consider her words deeply before replying, “It is not unusual for betrothed couples to participate in Lady Archworth’s games, then call off their engagement before meeting at the altar.
I shall simply do the same. I will tell my aunt, when all is said and done, that while we won the competition, the process showed us how incompatible we truly were, and we thought it best to break the engagement rather than make a marriage that would leave us both miserable. ”
“You’ve thought of everything,” she said.
“No, but this is the best solution I could concoct on such short notice.”
Daisy gave a polite smile at that. “Do you really believe this will work?”
“I know it, as long as we are in alignment.”
“Have you thought about what will happen if we don’t win?” she asked.
“I suppose I should consider it,” he uttered after giving a light laugh.
The Duke lifted a hand and scrubbed it down the line of his smooth chin. Daisy’s eyes followed his every movement and, once more, she had to school her thoughts so that she would not allow distracting, wanton ideas to enter her brain.
“In that case,” he continued, “I will assume you will have less scruples in accepting the money from me instead of my aunt. I could provide you with the dowry you need and the extra funds for…?”
Daisy blushed, lashes sweeping down to cover her eyes. “I still prefer to keep that private.”
The Duke nodded. “Very well. Have your secrets. But are we in agreement?”
Daisy looked up at him, staring keenly into his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I am. Are you?”
Daisy pursed her lips. “I do not have much choice,” she said drily.
“You always have a choice, Lady Daisy.” His tone grew more stern and less playful. “If you wish, you can just take the money I am offering you.”
She shook her head. “No, I cannot. I wish I could.” She emitted a wistful sigh. “Very well then, I’m in agreement. What happens next?”
The Duke glanced over his shoulder into the parlor.
“We have been out here too long, long enough that someone is bound to have noticed. Let us compound that by sitting together when we go inside for just long enough for the gossips to take note. It will be the foundation of our story as two people falling in love.”
Daisy cocked her head to the side. “You say that with some cynicism. Why is that?”
He snorted, shaking his head. “I simply do not subscribe to fantasies. Come, let us go before our presence out here becomes scandalous.”
He stepped aside, allowing her to precede him back into the parlor.
She could feel him at her back, like a raging fire warming her, or burning her up, she wasn’t sure which.
She had her doubts that this enterprise was a promising idea, if only because she was experiencing such odd sensations and thoughts in the Duke’s presence.
How can I possibly maintain my dignity when I am seized by these new desires? What if I throw caution to the wind and run my fingers through his silky chestnut tresses?
Daisy lifted her right hand and contemplated precisely how far she would allow herself to go.
But before she could act foolishly, the Duke took her hand and led her to the sofa, seating her at the edge before positioning himself to stand right next to her.
It was a clever thing to do because while there was no possible way he could have anticipated her thoughts, he had saved them both from a potentially embarrassing situation.
She took the opportunity to look up at him, letting her eyes linger on his smooth lips.
How would it feel to press my own against his? Would he return the gesture and pull me toward him?
She turned away, admonishing herself from her runaway thoughts.
This would certainly never work if she were to set her cap at him. She looked away, glancing around the room in an effort to find something else to hold her interest.
That was when she realized that the Duke’s plan was already working.
Everyone was staring at them.