Page 15 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

Edmund shook his head even as he mused dryly about his son’s knowledge of flowers. Clearly, Mr. Oswalt was doing an excellent job.

“You’re welcome, my lady,” Harry said.

Edmund raised an eyebrow, suppressing a proud smile at what a charmer his son was becoming.

“Oh!” Lady Archworth clasped her hands together. “That was well done, my boy. It is important to learn at a young age that ladies love to receive small tokens,” she instructed. Then, she sent Edmund a sidelong glance as though she meant for him, too, to rush to the flower patch and pluck a fistful of posies.

Edmund sighed, taking hold of his son’s wrist. “All right, enough. It’s time to go, Harry. Say goodbye to the lady.”

Harry’s mouth turned down, and Edmund narrowed his eyes at his son in an attempt to prevent a tantrum.

“You must come to dinner,” Lady Archworth said to Lady Daisy.

Edmund turned to stare at them. While he would like to think that his aunt was merely attempting to smooth over the moment and appease Harry, Edmund could feel more at play in the invitation. He was well aware of what his aunt was thinking. She obviously thought that Lady Daisy was the perfect candidate for his potential wife. Indeed, Edmund could not dispute that she was particularly good with his son, and her looks were certainly pleasing,andthere was something compelling about her.

Something that called to him…

He was not interested in taking on a wife. There was no need; he already had his heir.

“I don’t know if I should,” Lady Daisy replied.

Edmund frowned. Even if he had no interest in her, it was rather rude of her to turn down a dinner invitation without offering some sort of excuse.

“Oh, but you must,” Regina insisted. “I want to hear your thoughts on a series of events I intend to hold for theton. I think you’d have some pertinent thoughts on it. Are you in the marriage mart or has some lucky man already picked you?”

She smiled coyly. “I thought it was the lady’s prerogative to choose the man.”

Aunt Regina lit up. “Oh, a woman after my own heart. Youmustdine with us.”

Lady Daisy gave an exaggerated sigh of resignation. “Very well, my lady, I shall come to dinner.”

Harry jumped up in excitement. “Hooray! Papa, can we go to dinner too?”

“Of course you must. It’s a thank you dinner to Lady Daisy for saving you,” Aunt Regina said.

Edmund looked away, shaking his head. He was certain his matchmaking aunt was up to no good, again. “Come, Harry. Let’s go see the balloons.” He managed to tug his son away fromthe ladies a few paces before remembering his manners. “Aunt Regina, are you coming?”

“Of course.” She waved to Lady Daisy and hurried after them.

Daisy drifted slowly back to where she’d last seen Lydia, the entire encounter echoing in her mind. Lord Harry had really been very sweet, but his father was something else. His presence dominated the place even though they were outdoors. His brown eyes had been intense and brooding, even with the sunlight shining through them, lighting up their honey tones. She worried that she’d stared too hard at them, stared too much athim.

She’d tried her best not to pay him any attention, but her eyes seemed to keep getting pulled in his direction. She could only hope he hadn’t noticed.

While reviewing her own erratic behavior, Daisy spotted Lydia talking animatedly to a group of ladies. Hurrying over to them, she hovered at the edges until Lydia caught sight of her. Her friend’s face lit up, and she excused herself from the group and came over to Daisy.

Daisy smiled at her.

“Where have you been?” Lydia asked.

Daisy shook her head. “I just needed to get some air.”

Lydia looked around before giggling. “We are outdoors.”

Daisy shrugged. “I know. But the air was thick with perfume and powder.”

“I understand. You needed to get away from all the people.”

“I did.”