Loved by a Duke (The Heart of a Duke #4)(10)

Understanding flashed in the woman’s eyes. “You care for him.”

“No,” she said quickly. Because she didn’t really care for him. She loved him. And love, this deep, abiding, twisting, aching sentiment that wreaked havoc on one’s thoughts, was far greater than merely caring for a person. “I’ve known him for my whole life,” she murmured into the damning silence. And she’d loved him since the picnic at her parents’ country seat when he’d promised to make her his duchess and saved her fingers from being burned. Daisy slid her gaze away, unable to bare her greatest hopes and desires to this woman. No one knew of her love for Auric. Mostly because Daisy Meadows had ceased to exist for the past seven years, since her brother Lionel’s death.

Anne claimed her fingers and she started at that unexpected boldness. “Do you know, the pendant worn by my eldest sister, Aldora, was lost. Given back to the gypsy woman who entrusted it to the care of her and her friends.”

No, she’d not known the piece had left the Adamson sisters’ care, until now.

“It always finds its way into the hands of the lady who needs it, Daisy.” A wistful smile pulled at Anne’s lips. “For me, the pendant represented,” her gaze took on a faraway quality. “Well, it represented a good deal to me. When I discovered it gone, I pledged to find it. I dragged my sister Katherine along to the Frost Fair in search of it.” The Frost Fair. That inane event held on the frozen Thames nearly two winters ago. Anne laughed, the sound clear like bells. “All on the word of a gypsy and maid who indicated that is where it could be found.” She pierced Daisy with her gaze. “Do you know why I’m telling you this?”

Daisy shook her head. The other woman spoke with a hope and optimism Daisy had not known in seven years. A stab of envy struck her for altogether different reasons.

“You see, Daisy, I wanted that necklace with a desperation. I was not willing to relinquish my hopes merely because of the inconvenience of not being able to find it. I set out in search.” Her smile widened. “Of course, Katherine discovered it at the Frost Fair.”

All Society knew the romantic story. A broken-hearted duke plucked the then Lady Katherine Adamson from the frozen Thames and now they had a grand love, the kind of which had debutantes and dowagers sighing with envy.

“Sometimes, Daisy,” the woman said, interrupting her thoughts. “Sometimes you might have to look more or try harder, but if you do, ultimately you’ll find the heart of a duke.”

When you love something enough as you do, it will come. A cool wind slapped against the windows. Daisy folded her arms across her chest and rubbed, as Lionel’s voice echoed around her mind.

Footsteps sounded in the hall and, in unison, they swung their gazes to the entrance of Lord Harrison’s conservatory. A tall, golden-haired gentleman stepped inside.

“Hullo, lo—” The Earl of Stanhope’s words trailed off as he moved his stare between his wife and Daisy.

It was the Earl of Stanhope! A giddy breathlessness filled Daisy’s chest, threatening to lift her up and carry her from the room on the brusque breeze battering the glass panes of the conservatory. Why, it was the lady’s husband. The countess had stolen away from the ballroom to meet her husband. Not Auric. But rather, her own husband.

Suddenly feeling like the veriest worst sort of interloper, Daisy dipped a curtsy. “Forgive me,” she murmured. She should be properly scandalized at having interrupted the stolen interlude between two lovers. Except, relief dulled any other sentiment.

Anne shot a hand out. Daisy started as the countess captured her fingers. “The woman we returned it to is an old gypsy by the name of Bunic?. I cannot tell you where she will be.” The countess squeezed Daisy’s hands. “But if it is meant to be, you will find her.”

Frustration warred with hope. The gypsy, Bunic?, had been found at the heart of the frozen Thames, along the streets of Gipsy Hill, the English countryside. Why, the woman might as well be anywhere. Daisy squared her shoulders. And yet, the heart was out there. It had been handed off to the woman, Bunic?, after seeing more than three ladies wedded and, more importantly, in love. A slow smile turned Daisy’s lips. Lady Stanhope was indeed, correct. Some young ladies, well, the fortunate ones, they found love without the benefit of baubles and talismans. The others, the Daisy Meadows of the world, with their ridiculous names and freckled cheeks, they had to look more and work harder for happiness, for the gentleman who’d love them. Some men were worth looking for—and Auric was indeed one of them.

Even if he’d been an absolute lout through the years. Not all the years. Just seven of them. The most important seven of them. “Thank you so much, my lady,” Daisy said softly. She dropped another curtsy, hurried to the door, and then paused a moment beside the handsome earl.

He sketched a bow and stepped aside, but Daisy paused in the doorway and spun back around. “My lady?”

“Yes?”

“You are so very fortunate.”

The sparkle of happiness in the woman’s eyes indicated she knew as much. “And you will be, too.”

Having already stolen enough of the couple’s time, Daisy slipped from the conservatory and closed the door behind her. She started down the long corridor, retracing her steps to the noisy din of the crowded, overheated ballroom. As each step brought her closer, the strands of the orchestra’s waltz and trill of laughter from Lady Harrison’s guests grew increasingly in volume.