Loved by a Duke (The Heart of a Duke #4)(70)

The other guests raised their glasses in salute.

She swallowed back a wave of emotion as the last of her reservations slipped away. Through the years, she’d grown to depend on no one and rely on only herself. With the loss of her brother and father and the misery of her mother, Daisy had found herself alone. For so long she’d believed herself mature and capable, not needing any help from anyone. Yet, with Auric’s brief but telling toast, he’d reminded her—everyone, at some point or another, needed someone. And now she had him.



Never before had Auric been more grateful for the end of a meal, than this his wedding breakfast. He and Daisy stood in the foyer amidst the smattering of guests. Servants bustled back and forth with the remaining items belonging to her.

Frederick rushed forward with Daisy’s green cloak and helped her as she shrugged into it with a murmur of thanks.

Tears flooded the old servant’s eyes and it occurred to Auric that since Lionel’s passing, the butler had become more of a devoted family member than perhaps Daisy’s own mother.

The marchioness swept over and took Daisy’s cheeks between her palms. She managed a watery smile but no words. Instead, she patted her daughter gently on the cheek before turning to Auric. She captured his hands in hers.

He stiffened at the warmth seeping from gray-blue eyes—Lionel’s eyes. “I’ve always loved you like a son, Auric.”

The pit that had formed in his belly since he’d registered the implications in wedding Daisy despite the secrets between them grew to the size of a boulder. He was undeserving of the marchioness’ warmth and affection. He cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the show of emotion.

As though remembering herself, the marchioness drew her hands back and let her arms fall to her side.

“I will care for her,” he said quietly. Care for her when he’d not cared for the woman’s other cherished child.

The muscles of Lady Roxbury’s throat moved. “I trust you,” she said quietly, unknowingly twisting that blade of guilt all the deeper.

He needed to be free from here. Auric reached for Daisy and she boldly placed her fingertips in his. A charge of awareness shot between them and he guided her hand to his sleeve. Frederick rushed over to pull the door open. The wrinkled lines of his face conveyed the man’s regret. Auric suspected the one splash of joy that had remained these years had been in the lady’s presence here. What remained when Daisy was gone?

Daisy gave a smile to the old servant. “I shall miss you, Frederick.” Was there another lady in the whole of the kingdom so unabashedly good and kind to her servants?

The older man blinked rapidly in an attempt to keep the sheen of tears in his eyes from falling.

“Thank you,” Auric said quietly. For caring for her when her parents did not. For caring for her when I failed her and Lionel. The words went unspoken.

The servant nodded. “It has been an honor, Your Grace,” he said, proudly straightening his shoulders.

With that, Auric and Daisy stepped out of a townhouse they’d taken their leave of countless times through the years, and into the blindingly bright, spring day. The large, white clouds filling the blue sky rolled over the sun, blotting the bright rays. They moved in a companionable silence down the pavement and paused beside Auric’s carriage. A handsome footman held a hand out to assist Daisy into the carriage, but with a frown, Auric reached past the young man and helped her in himself, uncomprehending this possessive, primitive desire to keep her only for him.

Since his great folly, he’d prided himself on practicality and composure. With Daisy, he forgot the years of carefully ingrained decorum he’d drummed into himself. The clouds shifted overhead and a ray of sun beamed into the carriage, momentarily freezing him. He could be happy. They could be happy. Perhaps she didn’t ever need to know the truth of Lionel’s death. The horrors of that night, the shame he carried, they were too ugly and deserved to be buried.

Daisy peeked her head out of the carriage. “Well, are you coming?”

A half-grin pulled at his lips and he climbed inside, claiming the opposite bench. The footman closed the door behind him. A moment later the carriage rocked into motion. They sat there, two people who’d known each other the length of their lives, once friends, now wed. His gaze went to the butterfly combs artfully arranged within her curly, brown tresses. He leaned over and lifted her atop his lap. The abrupt movement loosened several silken curls. They tumbled over her brow.

A startled shriek escaped her. “What are you—?”

Auric placed a kiss at the corner of her ear. “How did I fail to see that which was right before me?” he whispered to himself. He captured one of the silken curls and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger, marveling at the silken texture.

She held his gaze, a tremulous smile on her lips. “Perhaps because you required your quizzing glass,” she whispered.

“Ah, yes.” He tucked one of the tresses into the butterfly comb. “Because I’m an old, doddering duke?”

She giggled. “Well, not doddering, perhaps.”

Auric claimed her lips, exploring the feel of her. A breathy sigh escaped her and he swallowed that sound. His tongue found hers. Daisy wrapped her hands about his neck and angled her head, as though she sought to better avail herself to his mouth. He drew back and a sound of protest bubbled up her throat and spilled past her lips. He turned his attention to her neck, moving his lips over her wildly fluttering pulse. He shoved open her cloak and through the fabric of her dress cupped her breast.