Daisy sighed. “Come join us. You may as well hear about my most embarrassing moments.”
CHAPTER 3
Although a rake might feign otherwise, as a gentleman of rank and breeding, he prefers the company of a serene and poised young lady.
“LET’S SEE NOW,” Lady Eloise Dayne said, putting a finger to her chin and drifting off in thought. “Rose must be about twenty-three, and that would make Laurel about twenty-one. The twins, Lily and Daffodil—though everyone calls her Dillie—are just shy of seventeen. Now Daisy, that delightful girl, will turn nineteen next month. Did I mention their father acquired his wealth in the merchant trade? One would never guess it, for he has quite the manners and education of a gentleman. The girls are clever, too. Quite accomplished young ladies.”
“Ah, just what I need, an accomplished young lady.” Gabriel set down his teacup with a clatter. He glanced at the ornate wall clock hanging by the door of the winter salon, and noted it was almost five o’clock. He’d paid his duty call. Although he’d enjoyed most of the time spent with his grandmother, it was time to leave. “Grandmama, I fear I must be going.”
“But Daisy—”
“Please, not another word about the girl. Did I in any way lead you to believe I gave a fig about her or her relatives?” Bloody hell, she couldn’t seriously be considering him for Daisy, could she? If he were seeking to settle down—which he wasn’t in the least—it would never be with an addled bit of fluff like her, even if she had practically stopped his heart with her beautiful smile.
“Well, no. But you and Daisy seemed to be getting along so well.”
“Getting along well? Whatever gave you that impression? Her devil of a cousin emptied himself on me, and all she could do was flutter about me ineffectually, saying ‘sorry, sorry, sorry’ like a damned parrot with a one-word vocabulary. And later, when I joined you in this parlor, all she could do was gawk at me even as she chided me for my wicked ways.”
Eloise let out a chuckle. “Well, you are a handsome man.”
“Despite my scars.”
“Most of them aren’t that noticeable, and the two that are make you look divinely rugged. I imagine Daisy found them quite attractive.”
Bloody hell again. Will my grandmother never give up?
“I’d be surprised if she noticed anything, for the girl seems to walk in a perpetual cloud. However, I will admit that even foggy-headed girls are consumed by one thing... marriage. I saw wedding bells mirrored in her blue eyes.”
“Ah, you noticed the color of her eyes.”
“No,” he muttered and received a scowl of disbelief in return. Very well, so what if he had noticed? No man could overlook Daisy’s magnificent eyes or her other splendid attributes. But it didn’t mean he was interested or that she pleased him. The war years had trained him always to be vigilant and notice details, that’s all. Her details happened to be spectacular, but it wasn’t something one confided to one’s meddlesome grandmother.
“You are being most difficult, Gabriel. Why won’t you admit that you liked the girl?”
“Because I didn’t. I found her quite unremarkable. She had nothing of interest to say. She lacked style. I think she forgot to brush her hair today. That dark mane of hers tumbled wildly about her shoulders.”
Well, I do like that. Yes, indeed! Wild dark hair and big blue eyes, and a body—no! Daisy Farthingale was not the stuff of his fantasies.
“Her only lure is her wealth,” he continued, “which isn’t enough to tempt me. However, I’m certain she’ll find some fop who’ll fall in love with her dowry. With a little luck, he might even fall in love with her. After they marry, she and her family can slowly drive the wretch insane.”
He expected a feisty response from Eloise, for he had truly gone on a spiteful rant. Instead she sat quietly, staring beyond him toward the door with a pained expression on her face. “Hello, Daisy,” she said in a tight voice. “Don’t believe a word of what Gabriel just said.”
Gabriel felt as if an anchor had just been dropped on his stomach. He tried to stand but couldn’t. Instead, he watched helplessly as Daisy remained at the door wringing her hands while trying to regain her composure. She looked beautiful and vulnerable.
She looked young and very hurt.
Where was Watling? Why hadn’t he announced the girl’s arrival? Or did the blasted chit just burst in whenever she pleased?
Eloise patted the seat beside her and motioned for Daisy to join her, but the poor girl couldn’t seem to move either. “You look lovely, child. Your hair’s done up quite elegantly.”