Page 38 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

He expelled a breath as he took his own seat. “I am,” he admitted.

The Dowager Marchioness gasped. “What?” Her hand fluttered to her chest. “To whom?”

Edmund regarded her briefly, a smile playing on his lips. “Well, if you must know, I asked Lady Daisy Murray to be my wife.”

“Daisy?” Lady Archworth said in a high, breathless voice. “OurLady Daisy?”

“First of all, she’s notours, and secondly, I believe I supplied you with her last name, so it should be clear enough by now.”

Lady Archworth made a whooping sound, clapping her hands and grinning. “I shall ignore the sass. That is wonderful news! Lady Daisy will make you an excellent wife. I knew the moment I met her that she was the right woman for you.”

Edmund felt a pang of guilt for deceiving his aunt so thoroughly. “I think that’s a tad dramatic, Aunt, don’t you?”

Regina narrowed her eyes at him. “Dramatic?Moi? No, darling, dramatic is going ring shopping after having only two meetings with a particular lady. Whatever happened to courtship?”

He huffed a laugh. “I’m not one for courtship. I know it is proper to court Lady Daisy, but I would rather not tarry much. Besides, what would I do? Take her for ice cream at Gunther’s?Promenade in the park?” He shook his head. “And for what? To what end? To find out what I already learned that she’d make an appropriate Duchess?”

Lady Archworth beamed at him. “Appropriate? Heavens, Edmund, I know you’re not the romantic type, but you must recognize that the young lady is kind, protective, and sharp-witted! Not to mention quite becoming.”

Part of him wished to halt his aunt, yet another part of him, a deep, secret, hidden part of him, couldn’t disagree with her.

“Still, the courtship is not just about knowing the other person,” his aunt went on. “It gives you a chance to charm the lady and make her fall in love with you.”

“I don’t need her to fall in love with me. That is not important. What matters is that we understand each other and are aligned in our goals,” he said flatly, glad that he was not lying about that.

Lady Archworth sighed tiredly. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, I suppose. You are choosing a bride as deserving as Lady Daisy, and that is a good start. The rest will come. Have you told our dear Harry?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Whyever not?”

“Because I’m waiting for the right time.” Edmund just hadn’t thought about doing it since this was all a farce anyway.

“Nonsense!” his aunt scoffed, and before Edmund could stop her, she took up the bell and rang it imperiously.

The butler appeared in moments. “Mr. Alberts,” she said, “Fetch Harry for us right away.”

“Yes, my lady.” Mr. Alberts bowed and left as Edmund’s heart rate increased.

He would have preferred not to involve Harry in his chicanery with Lady Daisy. He knew that his son liked her and did not want to raise his hopes. But he could not keep this entire business a secret from the boy, either. It would be hopeless.

Harry skipped into the room with a big grin on his face. “Did you summon me, Papa?” he said before bowing in front of Lady Archworth. “Good morning, Aunt Regina!”

Harry looked from one to the other, his face bright with curiosity.

“Good morning, my boy. Your father has something to tell you,” Lady Archworth said, beaming.

Edmund pursed his lips.

“What is it, Papa?” Harry asked.

Edmund sighed. “It’s about Lady Daisy.”

He jumped. “Lady Daisy? Is she here?”

“No, she is not,” Edmund said.

“What is it about her, then?”