Her mother gently rapped on the table to regain her attention. “Daisy! Are you listening to me?”
And last night she’d kissed him back with undeniable ardor, pouring her heart and soul into that kiss. She hadn’t meant to, but he’d told her to close her eyes and simply feel. She had. Hot, buttered crumpets! She’d felt every muscle and sinew of his big, powerful body.
“Daisy!” Her mother was still rapping her knuckles on the breakfast table. “Honestly, child!”
Daisy grabbed the cup of tea just set in front of her and took a gulp. Too hot! She gagged and dribbled most of it onto her napkin.
Julia groaned.
Her mother sighed. “Oh, for pity’s sake. What am I to do with you?”
Daisy muttered a lame apology. “I’m a little off my stride this morning. I’m so sorry, Mother. I’m trying very hard to be on my best behavior.”
“You didn’t try hard enough last night,” Julia declared, mimicking her mother’s frown. “You punched Lord Hornby’s son in the nose.”
Daisy set down her napkin and smothered a sigh of relief. They were angry because she’d walloped Lumley? “Oh, that. He tried to kiss me and I didn’t want him to. I set him in his place with a very gentle slap.”
Her mother pursed her lips. “You should not have been alone with him in the conservatory. Do you see that you are to blame for provoking the situation?”
“Me?” She shot out of her seat. “Perhaps, had I gone in there alone with him, but Julia was with us at the time.”
Julia gasped. “Are you blaming me?”
“Well, you did traipse off with friends and leave me trapped with that muggins—”
“Because I don’t recall being appointed your chaperone.”
“Indeed, you were not,” her mother agreed, patting Julia’s hand in sympathy.
Daisy wondered who, if anyone, had been charged with her care? A little detail neither her aunt nor her mother deemed significant.
“Because I have myself and young Harry to think about, so how can I think of you as well?” Julia withdrew a handkerchief from her sleeve and waved it about dramatically. “Life is not easy when one is a widow with a small child.”
“I’m glad you mentioned Harry,” Daisy said, ashamed that she’d provoked the confrontation with her aunt. Even though Harrison Farthingale had been dead for over a year, poor Julia was still mourning him. But she was still Harry’s mother and he desperately needed her attention. “I’m terribly concerned about him.”
“Don’t bring up that nonsense about the boy missing his father,” Julia said with a flash of pain in her eyes that cut straight to Daisy’s heart. “He’s a baby. He hardly knew Harrison and can’t possibly understand that his father is gone.”
“But he does,” Daisy said, trying to remain calm despite her mounting frustration. Why wouldn’t her family listen to her?
“He’s my son and I say he’s fine! However, I am not. I’ve suffered a terrible loss and have you ever shown concern for me? Have you ever wondered who will take care of me now that my husband is dead?”
Daisy once more gripped the table’s edge, finding it safer than wrapping her hands around Julia’s throat. No, that was cruel. All the elders were still reeling over the loss of Harrison Farthingale, most of all Julia. However, Julia also had her faults. She was a beautiful woman who thought of herself first, last, and always. Unfortunately, her little boy suffered for it. “You know that you have a home here for as long as you wish. Papa has told you so, many times.”
“Be that as it may, I’m a grown woman and not a charity case. I need to be in my own home, taking care of my own husband. Giving him children.”
Daisy struggled to remain calm. “You already have a child.”
Julia frowned. “And I’m young, healthy, and able to have more.”
In truth, she had been a good wife to Harrison Farthingale, he being the sort of person suited to her temperament. Daisy’s uncle had enjoyed doting on his wife as much as Julia enjoyed being doted upon. Now, she had no man to pamper her. To Julia, that was a serious problem requiring immediate remedy. Having mourned husband number one for the requisite respectable length of time—and she truly had mourned him, Daisy had to admit—she was ready to move on to securing husband number two. “I wasn’t about to waste my time with you and Lumley Hornby when Lord Malinor was so... so eager to gain my attention.”
“Lord Malinor?” And thank you so much for thinking me a waste of time.
“He’s quite important in the Ministry of Finance.”