The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4)(2)

Delilah peered at her sideways. “What is it, Cousin Daphne?”

Daphne quickly dropped the small ship back into the tissue paper, ensuring that Delilah didn’t see its name.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Someone at the door had saved her. Thank heavens. Daphne quickly turned toward the sound. “Who is it?”

“It’s Mama, dear.”

“Just a moment, Mama.” Daphne waved a hand at Delilah. She gave the girl a stern stare. “Not a word about this,” she whispered fiercely. “You may borrow my diamond ear bobs for a fortnight.”

Delilah gave her a conspiratorial wink and a firm nod. “I promise.”

“Thank you,” Daphne whispered, moving over to the window. Her cousin could always be counted upon to be bribed. “Now help me with this chair. I must hide this thing.” She lifted the box.

“Why?” Delilah asked, springing into motion to assist Daphne with pushing the tufted chair near the window over to the wardrobe.

Daphne whispered while she pushed. “There’s no time to explain now.”

The chair scraped across the wooden floor.

“What’s that noise, dear?” Mama called from the corridor.

“Nothing. I’m coming.” Daphne mashed the lid back on the box, climbed up on the seat of the chair, and quickly shoved the gift onto the highest shelf of the wardrobe. She hopped down and smoothed her hands over her coiffure and skirts before hastily making her way to the door. She swung it open and stood facing her mother.

Her mother brushed past her into the room. “Delilah, there you are.” Mama’s gaze swept the room. “Why is the chair near the wardrobe?”

Daphne concentrated on keeping her face blank. “Because I was … looking for something.”

Her mother’s confused gaze met hers.

“A … fichu. The one Aunt Willie gave me last Christmas.” She took a deep breath. At least that much was true. She had been searching her room for the little lace collar all morning. “Don’t you remember it, Mama? It was a hideous thing. I think I put it in the top of the wardrobe and I’m too short to find it without the chair.” She gave Delilah a pleading look.

“Yes, and I’ve been helping her,” Delilah added in an overly loud voice.

Daphne let out a loud, long sigh. “It’s ever so inconvenient being the opposite of tall.”

“The opposite of tall, Cousin Daphne?” Delilah asked.

“I don’t care much for the word ‘short’,” Daphne replied with another sigh.

Mama’s brow wrinkled. “If the fichu is so hideous, why are you searching for it?”

Daphne made her way over to her dressing table. She sat and began rubbing cream onto her hands. “Because Aunt Willie would be disappointed if she arrives this weekend and doesn’t see me wearing it at least once. I’d rather see a smile on her face and suffer through a few hours of wearing a hideous fichu.”

Her mother’s face was wreathed with a smile. “You’re kind to your auntie, dear.” Aunt Willie was her mother’s and Delilah’s mother’s sister. The three women had grown up together, the daughters of the sixth Earl of Galverston.

Delilah absently patted the bow on the top of her head. “I agree. That’s quite nice of you, Cousin Daphne. I will endeavor to do the same when you are elderly and present me with a hideous fichu.”

Daphne let out a short bark of laughter. “Thank you, Delilah. I appreciate that, even though I am only seven years older than you. Not to mention I don’t care for hideous fichus. Though I suppose, in my old age, I may endeavor to create a few of them, as Aunt Willie has done.”

“You may be only seven years older than me, Cousin Daphne. But they are seven crucial years. You are about to become engaged and I am not even close to my come out. Alas.” Delilah put the back of her hand to her forehead and let out an overly dramatic sigh.

“What’s this, dear?” Mama asked, her eyes trained on Daphne’s writing desk.

Daphne’s mother stood near the desk looking beautiful with her honey-blond hair now laced with white and her gray eyes that Daphne had inherited.

“What?” Daphne asked.

“This book.” Mama slid a volume from the top of the desk.

“Oh, that.” Daphne nearly sighed in relief. “It’s just my copy of The Adventures of Miss Calliope Cauldwell. I found it in the back of my desk drawer earlier while I was looking for the fichu.”

“I remember it now. This used to be your favorite book, dear,” her mother murmured.

Daphne made her way over to stand next to her mother and stared down at the old, worn cover. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Mama was right. It had been her favorite book. Back when she dreamed of things like adventures and spying and—

Fiddle. None of that mattered now. She’d been on an adventure—thank you very much—and it had been positively dreadful. She opened her desk drawer and slid the book inside. Then she shook her head. “I know it’s been exceedingly busy downstairs today, what with preparing for the party,” Daphne said. “Why, I must have heard the knocker at least a half-dozen times. I promise to come down right away to assist you.”

“That’s not necessary, dear. Pengree and I have been seeing to all the callers, except—”