Page 21 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

He snorted. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how your eyes sparkled once Lady Archworth made her announcement. You think that you will win the money and pay me back that way, don’t you? But you have no partner, and I have a better proposition for you.”

“I’m not interested in your propositions. Don’t you think one was enough?”

He laughed nastily. “I’m trying to help you, my dear.”

“I am not your dear, and I don’t want your help.”

“Not even if I can help you win the money?”

Daisy met his gaze then and tried to understand his meaning.

Why would he want to help me? If I win the money, my father will be released from his debt, and I will be free to set out on my own.

Intrigue got the best of Daisy, and she nodded, indicating Lord Dulforth should explain himself.

His mustache twitched as his lips parted into a thin smile. “I could be your partner, Lady Daisy.”

She gave a bitter laugh and shook her head resolutely. “Not even if you were the last gentleman on earth would I consider such a union.”

The Baron’s forehead furrowed in annoyance. “Be careful how you speak to me,” he growled. “I have it within my power to destroy you.”

Daisy pursed her lips to avoid saying something she might come to regret, then she looked away from him, only to see the Duke, standing by the door, watching them both. He was staring atthem curiously, as if he were attempting to read their body language and interpret the conversation from afar.

Daisy squeezed her eyes shut.

This is too much. I need to win that competition, but I cannot continue being judged by the Duke and hounded by the Baron at every turn and bound. It might be best if I left altogether and…

“Eh-hem.”

Daisy was summoned from her moment of reflection when the Duke approached and cleared his throat. She noticed that this, too, was a habit of his; a surefire way of garnering attention without ever having to raise his voice or call for silence.

“Lady Daisy, are you in distress?” the Duke asked. She blinked owlishly at him.

She understood that he’d been watching closely, but until this moment, she had not imagined he was so perceptive.

Lord Dulforth snorted derisively and gave the Duke a pained smile. “Of course not. Lady Daisy and I were just talking.”

“Mm.” The Duke tilted his head to the side and continued appraising Daisy with his eyes. “Having a conversation and being in a state of agitation are not mutually exclusive notions,Lord Dulforth.” He righted his head, then spoke directly to her once more. “My Lady, are you uncomfortable in any way?”

Obviously irritated by this intrusion, as well as the Duke’s dismissal, Lord Dulforth squared his shoulders and said in a tone that was much too loud, “There is no need to intervene, Your Grace. Lady Daisy and I are perfectly capable of keeping one another company.”

At that, the Duke twisted his neck slowly so that when he finally met the Baron’s eyes, the act seemed to carry a multitude of meanings. His gaze flicked back and forth between Lord Dulforth and Daisy before he said brusquely, “The lady does not seem to enjoy your company much. Perhaps you should leave her alone.”

Lord Dulforth opened his mouth and then closed it again. Daisy was certain he meant to argue or perhaps cause a dramatic scene, but then, he seemed to think better of engaging in a debate in Lady Archworth’s house.

The Baron nodded once and scurried off toward a group of revelers who were clustered just inside the doorway, talking in an animated fashion. He vanished into the throng with little difficulty, and it was then that Daisy allowed herself to fully meet the Duke’s gaze. She looked at him with newfound respect.

“Thank you,” she said simply.

A small smile inched its way onto his face, tugging at the corners of his lips. “Then, I read the situation correctly? The Baron was luring you into a scheme?”

Daisy scoffed. “Not precisely, Your Grace.”

His eyebrow arched. “It was you then who was planning and plotting with Lord Dulforth?”

She gasped, once again unsure if he was teasing her or merely trotting out a second summation of the situation. “I would never conspire with such a creature, for your information.”

His smile broadened. “That is as it should be.” He sent a dark look over his shoulder in the direction of where Lord Dulforth had disappeared, then quickly returned his gaze to her. “It was clear that you were in his company against your will. He hasn’t…hurt you, has he?”