And the Miss Ran Away With the Rake(39)

“No,” she acknowledged, not saying anything more, returning to her breakfast with a determination to ignore the man and concentrate on her plans to find Dishforth.

For she hadn’t much time to accomplish her task.

Daphne had no idea how long Phi could hold up her end of the bargain and stall the family from discovering the truth—that she wasn’t, as her mother believed, continuing her sojourn in London at Great-Aunt Damaris’s home. Which meant the grand dame of the Dale clan had to be kept under the impression that Daphne had returned to her parents’ house in Kempton.

Given that it would take a week or so for the letters to cross and recross, as long as Phi could intercept any damaging correspondence and no one reported Daphne’s whereabouts or repeated some gossipy report from the night of the ball, Daphne would have just enough time to discover Mr. Dishforth, fall utterly in love with him, and then return to London or Kempton betrothed to the perfect gentleman.

At least that was the plan. She glanced down at Mr. Muggins for reassurance.

The dog had his eyes on the plate that Lord Henry was filling over at the sideboard.

She ground her teeth in frustration. Did he have to stay? Then she reminded herself—this was his family’s house, and she was the interloper.

When he noticed her staring at him, he asked, “Whatever are you doing up so early?”

“I prefer to arise at this hour.” She glanced over at him. “As do you, it seems.”

“Yes, I had thought to avoid the wedding hordes.” His glance at her and Mr. Muggins was telling.

Or the stray unwanted Dale.

Daphne smiled blandly, as if she hadn’t a clue what he might mean.

Then he turned, plate in hand, and faced her. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why?” His jaw set. “Miss Dale, your being here is inexplicable.”

“And yet, here I am.”

“Again, I ask why?” he pressed.

He would.

“Tabitha, of course.” She glanced away, because she didn’t trust herself. Lord Henry was many things, but the man was no fool and his sharp gaze had a way of piercing her—leaving Daphne with the sense he could see right through her gown, straight to her very heart.

“And your family approves?”

“But of course,” she lied again. “My lord, let me be frank—”

“I prefer it,” he said emphatically.

“As do I,” she told him. “I am here for Tabitha and Tabitha only. Once she and Preston are wed, I will return to London . . .” Or to wherever her furious family decided to banish her. She suspected a prolonged visit to Dermot Dale would be in order, never mind that Dermot had the distinction of being the only Dale ever to be convicted and transported to Botany Bay.

A moment of panic struck her. I wonder if they have modiste shops in New South Wales?

She steeled herself to such a fate and looked Lord Henry directly in the eye. “So you can see, you will not have to suffer my company any more than a fortnight, and then we shall never see each other again.”

She waited for him to add some comment. An “Amen!” or “Thank God.” Or the one probably closest to the surface of his sharp tongue, a heartfelt “Good riddance.”

But he did not. Much to her amazement, he nodded and sat down in the chair across from hers. “Then if that is the case, Miss Dale, might I suggest that we pledge to keep our distance?”

“You mean keep to our separate corners, as it were?” she asked, glancing tellingly down to the other end of the table.

“Yes, exactly,” he said, completely missing her point.

“An excellent proposal,” she agreed.

“Nothing I would like more,” he said, then tucked into his breakfast.

Daphne paused, then cleared her throat. “Ahem.”

He glanced up and blinked at her as if he had already forgotten her presence. “Yes, Miss Dale?”

“You can start by moving.”

He glanced up. “Excuse me?”

“Moving, my lord.”

“Wherever to?”

“The other end of the table.” She nodded down to the far end. The one well away from her.

“But I am settled here. I always sit here.”

“Yes, that may be so, but this was your idea, your proposal.” She dabbed her lips with her napkin. “It hardly seems gentlemanly to insist on such an arrangement, then require a lady to move.”