Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers #4)(31)

Cassandra Leighton seemed inordinately pleased. “Too bad,” she said.

“No quarreling,” Lady Miranda said gaily, coming to stand between Daisy and Llandrindon. “It befalls you to pay the forfeit, my dear!”

Daisy’s smile faltered. “What is the forfeit?”

“It’s called ‘play the wallflower,’” Lady Miranda explained. “You must stand against the wall and draw one of the gentlemen’s names from a hat. If he refuses to kiss you, you will remain against the wall and continue drawing names until someone consents to your offer.”

Daisy’s smile held fast, although her face turned white, leaving two red flags of color at the crests of her cheeks.

Damn it, Matthew thought savagely.

This was a serious dilemma. The incident would start rumors that could easily produce a scandal. He couldn’t allow it. For her family’s sake, and her own. And his…but that was something he didn’t want to think about.

Automatically he started forward, but Miss Leighton grabbed his arm. Her long nails bit into the fabric of his coat sleeve. “No interfering,” she warned. “Everyone who plays must be willing to accept the forfeit!” She was smiling, but there was a hardness in her eyes that Matthew didn’t like. She intended to relish every second of Daisy’s downfall.

Dangerous creatures, women.

Glancing around the room, Matthew saw the anticipation on the gentlemen’s faces. Not one man there was going to turn away an opportunity to kiss Daisy Bowman. Matthew longed to crash heads together and yank Daisy out of the room. Instead he could only watch as the hat was brought to her and she reached inside with unsteady fingers.

Withdrawing a slip of paper, Daisy read it silently, her fine dark brows knitting together. A hush fell over the room, a few breaths caught in hope…and then Daisy said the name without looking up.

“Mr. Swift.” She thrust the slip back into the hat before it could be confirmed.

Matthew felt his heart catch violently in his chest. He wasn’t certain if the situation had just improved drastically or become exponentially worse.

“That’s impossible,” Miss Leighton hissed. “It couldn’t have been you.”

Matthew glanced down at her almost absently. “Why not?”

“Because I didn’t put your name into the hat!”

He made his face unreadable. “Obviously someone did,” he said, and jerked his arm from her clutches.

A nervous hush fell over the room as Matthew approached Daisy, and then excited titters scattered through the group. Daisy controlled her expression admirably, but there was a frantic riot of color on her face. Her slender body was as tense as a bowstring. She forced a careless smile on her lips. Matthew could see the violent pulse in her throat. He wanted to put his mouth on that visible throb and stroke it with his tongue.

Stopping in front of her, he held her gaze, trying to read her thoughts.

Just who held the upper hand in this situation?

Ostensibly he did…but Daisy was the one who had called his name.

She had chosen him. Why?

“I heard you during the game,” Daisy said, so softly that no one else could make out the words. “You sounded like a cow with digestive problems.”

“Judging from the results, my cow was better than Llandrindon’s cricket,” Matthew pointed out.

“He didn’t sound at all like a cricket. He sounded as if he were clearing phlegm from his throat.”

Matthew sternly choked back a sudden laugh. She looked so annoyed and adorable that it was all he could do not to snatch her against him. Instead he said, “Let’s get this over with, shall we?”

He wished Daisy wouldn’t blush so hard. Her fair coloring made it even more apparent, her cheeks like scarlet poppies.

There was a collective intake of breath from the group as Matthew stepped closer until their bodies were nearly touching. Daisy’s head fell back, her eyes closing, her lips slightly pursed. Reaching for her hand, Matthew lifted it to his lips and pressed a chaste kiss to the backs of her fingers.

Daisy’s eyes snapped open. She looked stunned.

More laughter from the group, and a few playfully chiding cries.

After trading a few good-natured quips with some of the gentlemen, Matthew turned to Daisy and said in a pleasant but decisive tone, “You had mentioned earlier, Miss Bowman, that you wanted to look in on your sister at this time. May I escort you to her?”

“But you can’t leave!” Cassandra Leighton exclaimed from the back of the room. “We’ve only just begun!”

“No, thank you,” Daisy told Matthew. “I’m certain my sister can wait a bit longer while I enjoy myself here.”

Matthew gave her a hard, penetrating glance. He saw from the sudden change in her expression that she understood.

He was calling in the favor.

Leave with me now, his gaze commanded, and no arguing.

He saw also that Daisy wanted badly to refuse him, but her own sense of honor would not allow that. A debt was a debt.

Daisy swallowed hard. “On the other hand…” She nearly choked on the words. “…I did promise to sit with my sister while she had her tea.”

Matthew presented his arm to her. “At your service, Miss Bowman.”

There were a few protests, but by the time they had crossed the threshold, the group was busy organizing another game. God knew what minor scandals were brewing in the parlor. As long as neither himself nor Daisy was involved, Matthew didn’t give a damn.