Page 2 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

Daisy touched the back of his head. “You are bleeding!” she hissed, showing him the blood that had transferred to her fingers. “Why must you behave in this way?”

“Do not speak to me like that!” Claymore snapped. “I am still your father.”

“Do you even know what that means?”

“All right, that’s enough,” Dulforth said, sounding both amused and contemptuous. “Now is not the time.”

The butler returned carrying a tray filled with bandages, a jug of water, some tinctures in opaque glass bottles and a pair of scissors. He placed the tray on a table in front of the Earl, who promptly passed out at the sight.

Daisy sighed tiredly while turning to the butler. “If you would be so kind as to fetch a physician, I would be most grateful.”

The butler bowed and exited the room, leaving Daisy alone with the Baron and her father once more. She felt a moment’s regret for not having traveled with a lady’s maid. Having another lady by her side at this moment would have been most comforting.

She took a step away from her father and then instantly regretted it when the Baron raised his head to look at her.

His thick dark brows grew together. “What’s the matter, my dear?” he asked.

She shook her head at once. “Nothing. Aside from father, of course?—”

“Then why are you sidling away from me?” he interrupted, still piercing her with an inquiring gaze.

“I’m not sidling…” Her voice faded as he looked increasingly skeptical. She rubbed her hands nervously on the skirt of her gown. “I was just…” She cast around for something to say but couldn’t think of a thing.

He straightened up, his beady eyes trained on her as he took a step towards her. “You were just…what?” he breathed, his voice low and terrifying.

Daisy swallowed loudly. “Nothing. I was doing nothing. We should attend to my father?—”

“Claymore is fine. He’s received worse injuries and survived. He’s like a cockroach; he simply cannot be squashed or exterminated.”

It was Daisy’s turn to scowl. “You need not speak of him in such a manner.”

Dulforth sneered, “I can speak of him however I please, especially considering how much he owes me.”

“Owes you?” Daisy could feel the pulse in her throat flutter as her heart rate increased.

She had long ago wished to better understand why the Baron spent so much time in her presence. Suddenly, she comprehended the situation with clarity.

He is protecting his investment. He cannot leave Father alone…He cannot step away from my side…until he gets what he thinks he has coming to him.

“Oh yes. Of all the money your father owes, to Chambers and others, he owesmea great deal.”

“Why…er, why would you lend him the money knowing…”

“Knowing what a degenerate he is?” Dulforth’s voice deepened. He tilted his head to the side as if weighing his next words carefully. “He is very persuasive and…” His eyes raked her frame. “Perhaps I had an ulterior motive of my own.”

She took a stumbling step back. “W-what do you mean?”

“Oh, come now, Lady Daisy, you know what I mean.”

Daisy swallowed hard. She knew perfectly well what the Baron wanted and was aggrieved that she failed to see where his intentions lay before.

He means to make me his wife.

Her stomach twisted into a knot.

The Baron does not care about me or what I want. He only wishes to see me become his wife.

Fear and revulsion roiled through her as Daisy replied, “I do not.”