He looked wonderful in the ill-fitting shirt Eloise had loaned him.
She gazed at the shirt and the muscles rippling beneath it like perfect waves across the vast ocean. Chest hairs, as pure a gold as the hairs of his thick mane, peeked out between the straining buttons. She moved her gaze upward and groaned. Even his tawny-brown eyes were perfect, flecked with gold and slanted ever so sensually.
“Daisy, are you all right?” Eloise asked with some concern.
Why? Because she looked like a stunned trout with her mouth agape? Because she couldn’t take her eyes off the man and his handsome features? It didn’t seem fair that he should have a firm jaw, straight nose, inviting lips, and cheekbones as finely sculpted as his warrior’s body.
She heard Eloise clear her throat and stifle something that sounded like a titter. “Daisy?”
Did the gentleman also believe she was two cards short of a full deck? Is that why he was now grinning at her and continuing to hold her despite his obvious reluctance?
She shook back to attention, or perhaps he was the one gently shaking her. “I’m fine. Just perfect, Eloise. I really must be going. Oh, sir. I’ll leave this with you.” She offered the gentleman the crumpled shirt still clutched in her hand, for she’d foolishly forgotten to hand it over to Eloise when she’d started for the door. “It might fit better than the one you presently have on, which seems rather tight... but not in a bad way... that is, you’re big.”
He released her and took it without comment.
Eloise sighed. “Honestly, Gabriel. I think you ought to thank the girl. By the way, Daisy, this is my grandson, Lord Gabriel Dayne, youngest son of the Earl of Trent.”
Daisy inhaled sharply. “You’re Gabriel?”
“I am,” he said with a quirk of his eyebrow, which made him appear quite sinister.
“Oh.” She refused to be disappointed in the knowledge. Of course, it meant that he had to be ruled out as a possible suitor. After all, the manner in which he’d earned the right to be called a lord, considering he was the younger son of an earl, had provided fodder for gossip for months on end.
Eloise had spoken about him and his elder brother, Alexander, quite often. While Alexander was a decorated war hero, Gabriel was an unredeemable wastrel and a dishonorable gentleman in every way, one to be avoided at all costs. However, Eloise loved him and firmly believed he was misunderstood.
Daisy wondered whether Alexander was as ruggedly handsome as his disrepute of a brother, something she would like to know since she was determined to marry Alexander. How else was she to be restored in her family’s good graces? Alexander had an excellent reputation and pedigree and, because he was the eldest, would inherit the earldom and the Trent fortune that went along with it.
Yes, marrying Gabriel’s brother was her brilliant plan and would be the perfect solution to her problems. She’d heard so much about his exploits over the past three years she felt as if she already knew him, as if they’d grown up together and been best friends.
Could love be far behind?
Of course, she’d have to meet him first.
Why wasn’t he in town yet? And why did it have to be Gabriel Dayne who’d held her in his arms? Not that Gabriel wanted her in his arms. Nor did she wish to be in his arms.
He placed his hands on her shoulders again to steady her when she began to sway, mistaking her movements for a swoon, although there was absolutely no danger of that. She was merely uncertain whether to leave the room or stay and give him the set down he so richly deserved now that she knew he was the disreputable grandson. Swoon, indeed! The notion was ridiculous!
His big, confident hands tightened ever so slightly on her shoulders.
They were the sort of hands that knew their way around a woman’s body. Were her cheeks still flaming?
“Sorry to disappoint,” Gabriel said rather coldly, no doubt sensing her disapproval of him.
“You disappointed your grandmother. As for me... well, I don’t know you, nor do I—” She stopped herself from saying more. Daisy disliked him for the pain he’d caused Eloise, and would continue to cause, if his behavior was any indication.
Now that she’d met Gabriel, she regretted having cried with Eloise upon learning he had been shot and lay lingering close to death for months—served him right for dallying with another man’s wife. She regretted rejoicing with Eloise when learning he had pulled through. It had been a long recovery, for he’d truly been at death’s door.
“Yes,” he said with icy frankness, “she’s among the many I’ve let down.”
What had happened to change him? He’d been a wonderful boy, if Eloise was to be believed. She’d spoken often of Gabriel’s youthful love of adventure, of his good nature and his valor. He’d even had a tender heart, particularly when it came to defenseless animals. Trent Hall, it seemed, became an infirmary for every stray cat, dog, bird, lamb, and frog whenever young Lord Gabriel was in residence.