Page 17 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

“Whyever not? There’s nobody here to hear me but you.”

Just then, the front door opened, and a butler appeared, making Daisy jerk in surprise. “Oh!” She clutched her chest. “Where did you come from?”

“It is my job to listen for the carriages to arrive, my lady,” the butler said and bowed. “You’re welcome to come in, Lady Daisy and…?” He paused inquiringly, his eyes on Lord Claymore.

She was puzzled for a moment. Surely, if the Dowager Marchioness and Duke had told their servant she would bearriving today, they must have also mentioned that her father would be accompanying her.

Then again, when we met, I was without a chaperone.

Daisy allowed herself only a split second to mull over this quandary, then did the proper thing and introduced her father.

“This is my father, the Earl of Claymore,” Daisy said.

The butler nodded. “Do come in. His Grace and Her Ladyship are waiting in the parlor.”

Daisy took a deep breath and began to climb the stairs to the front door. It had rained not half an hour before, and so the steps were wet. She kept her head down, determined not to fall in her heeled slippers. Her heart rate was still erratic from being startled, and now she was nervous about meeting the Duke again and making her proposal to the Dowager Marchioness.

She had known that the Dowager must be quite well off, but like her father, she’d been unprepared for the type of wealth on display. They walked down the thickly carpeted corridor, lit up with lamps embedded in sconces that lined both walls and were interspersed amongst enormous, glorious paintings. The walls were made of dark wood, and they passed various closed doors as the butler led them to the parlor.

Finally, he opened a pair of double doors built into an arch and announced them. “The Earl of Claymore and his daughter, Lady Daisy Murray.”

Daisy stepped into the room, feeling like an imposter while her father strutted ahead of her, chin raised proudly as he looked around at the company. Daisy was surprised by the size of the group, noting that it was comprised of some prominenttonfamilies.

I had not thought the Dowager’s dinner invitation would include so many.

Her eyes scanned the gathering anxiously, and Daisy was relieved to find that Lydia was present.

At least there is somebody I can talk to without feeling intimidated.

Her father clearly suffered from no such nerves. He walked up to Lady Archworth and raised her fingers to his lips in greeting.

“Very happy to make your acquaintance,” he murmured before kissing her knuckles.

The Dowager stared down the length of her aquiline nose at Lord Claymore. Daisy sucked in a deep breath and held it, hoping the awkwardness would ebb away as soon as the Dowager responded. But then, the moment of unease lengthened.

“My daughter tells me she rescued your great-nephew from certain death,” her father added in a pompous way, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Daisy blushed, turning her face away in embarrassment. She had indeed told her father about the incident, but only to explain why they were invited. He was making it sound as if she were boasting.

“Yes, she did,” the Dowager Marchioness said primly. “We are most grateful for her quick actions.”

“Yes, my daughter has always been quick on the uptake, you’ll find. Chip off the old block.” He beamed at everyone who was listening, and Daisy groaned under her breath.

This evening is off to a disastrous beginning.

Lady Archworth stepped to the side, leaving her father to wax lyrical about Daisy’s alleged exploits to a couple who were perched on a nearby settee. The Dowager then approached Daisy with a smile on her face.

“Very glad to see you again, Lady Daisy. I’m so glad you could join us.”

Still suffering the sting of mortification, Daisy fixed a feeble smile on her face and said in a papery thin voice, “I do apologize for my father.” She lowered her tone further so that her wordswould be inaudible to all except for the Dowager, “He can be a bit… enthusiastic.”

The Dowager laughed brightly. “Oh, I have lived long enough to have seen all types. Don’t worry your little head about it. We all have unfortunate relatives.”

She patted Daisy’s hand before going to stand in the middle of the room and clapping her hands together.

“Ladies and gentlemen, now that we are all here, we can adjourn to the dining hall.”

Everyone got to their feet and started to shuffle out of the room in pairs. Daisy waited at the back of the room until everyone had left before following them. Her cheeks still felt heated from embarrassment. It did not help that her father had instantly offered his arm to Lady Chavelle, a prominent member of theton, in order to escort her to the dining room.