Page 46 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

“I… I’m fine.” She gave him a tremulous smile.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded jerkily. “I’m sure. I…thank you.”

He reached forward and grasped her hand. “I should have been by your side earlier.” He squeezed her fingertips. “You ought not thank me for arriving after the damage has been done.”

“No damage has been done here.” Daisy mustered a soft smile for the Duke. “I assure you. When I converse with the Baron, he rattles me, but…”

“Then you ought to refrain from engaging with him.”

Daisy retorted, “If only it were so easy to avoid his company.”

The Duke gave her a long look, and she held quite still. She could see how he was assessing her words and actions, and she recalled clearly what Lydia had just said moments before about her readability.

Whatever the Duke saw in her expression, he did not press her for further information. Instead, he just lifted her hand and tucked it around his elbow.

“Come, Lady Daisy. I should like to introduce you to some of the other contestants.”

As he made to step away from the alcove, the Duke pulled her closer to his side and lowered his voice, “Stay right next to me. I shall not let Lord Dulforth force his company upon you again.”

Daisy’s heart fluttered. The Duke understood her so well. He had struck right at the core of her worries and even assured her that he might assuage them. But even though he sounded confident, and she believed in his protective instincts, Daisy knew that her troubles with Lord Dulforth were far from over. Until her father’s debt was paid, she could not rid herself of him.

Chapter Eleven

“Where are we going, Papa?” Harry asked as Edmund helped him with his coat.

“We’re going to Hyde Park.”

Harry pouted. “Why? You always make me behave well when we’re there. I want to stay at home.”

Edmund grinned. “What if I told you we were going to meet Lady Daisy?”

His face lit up, and he gave a small yip of excitement. “Are we?”

“Yes, we are. Still want to stay at home?”

“No!” He took Edmund’s hand. “Let’s go!”

Edmund laughed brightly. “All right. Let’s go. Mr. Oswalt?”

“Coming.” The tutor came hurrying towards them. He had a satchel tucked underneath one arm, which was rather inconvenient while trying to slip his arms into his coat and clap his hat down on top of his head.

They paused to give him time to get himself together before setting off on foot with two footmen trailing after them.

Hyde Park was just around the corner from Edmund’s townhouse in Mayfair, but traveling with his son meant that he liked to be prepared for anything. So the footmen carried umbrellas and a change of clothes for Harry. They could also call for the carriage should something happen and Harry was injured. Edmund knew it was perhaps a tad unconventional for someone of his rank and stature to waltz toward the park on foot, but he enjoyed these outings with his son and disdained sitting inside a stuffy carriage on such a lovely day.

He paused as he saw Lady Daisy and her father waiting by the entrance. They seemed a bit tense with each other, and Edmund frowned.

What could have transpired?

Then, Daisy turned and spotted him and Harry, and her face lit up.

Edmund watched her curiously. It seemed as if she held them in high regard, or else she was really desperate to win the prize and knew he was the only way she would.

But today there was no competition, and his aunt was not even present, so she had no need to look so pleased to see him if she was not. He stopped and bowed.

“Lady Daisy.” He took her hand and kissed the air above her knuckles. “Lord Claymore.” He nodded to the Earl.