The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4)(3)

“I know, Mama, but I insist upon helping.”

Her mother’s smile was cheerful. “Nothing to worry about, my dear. I’m in my element. Notes are coming from all corners of London and the countryside. The party tomorrow night is sure to be a smashing success. All of our relatives, friends, and acquaintances are eager to wish you well on your potential engagement to Lord Fitzwell.”

Daphne swallowed. Why did it still sound so foreign to her ears? Engagement to Lord Fitzwell. This is what she’d been planning for weeks. She’d been spending time with Lord Fitzwell, allowing him to escort her to events about town, riding with him in the park. It was time. It was past time. She was soon to begin her third Season out. But now, now that it was finally about to happen, the knots in her belly were forming an army. “The engagement has not been announced formally, Mama.”

“Of course not, dear. Not yet, but everyone knows that the ball may very well turn into your engagement ball.”

Daphne put the back of her hand to her forehead. “Is it hot in here?”

“Oh, dear. I do hope you’re not coming down with something.”

Daphne shook her head. “Oh, no, no, no. I’ll be fine. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve taken to bed ill. Besides, I have a myriad of duties I should be attending to, like helping you with the party preparations, Mama.” Daphne bit her lip. The lovely, thoughtful, expensive party that would no doubt be difficult to call off. Not that she wanted to call it off. No, she did not. She was going to have this party and accept Lord Fitzwell’s suit, if he proposed, of course, and nothing was going to stop it. Nothing save— There went the dread rising in her throat again. She gulped.

“The reason I came up is because you have a visitor, dear,” Mama said quietly.

“Mama, you needn’t have troubled yourself. You should have sent Pengree or one of the footmen.”

Her mother pressed her lips together. “I wasn’t certain you’d want to see this particular visitor.”

Daphne whipped her head around, her brow wrinkled. “Who?”

“Who?” Delilah echoed.

Mama’s kind eyes searched Daphne’s face. “It’s Captain Cavendish, dear.”

Delilah’s eyes rounded and her mouth formed a wide O. Daphne sucked in her breath but quickly shook her head and concentrated on keeping her face still. She mustn’t allow her mother to see how greatly the name affected her. But she’d just named the one person who stood to ruin the entire party, indeed, the entire engagement. And her mother didn’t even know why.

Captain Rafferty Cavendish.

Daphne’s husband.





CHAPTER TWO




Daphne turned to Delilah who still sat on the bed, now with a catlike smile pinned to her gamine little face. “Why didn’t you tell your mother that Captain Cavendish sent you that gift?” Delilah asked as soon as Mama had left the room. “Why did you hide it?”

“It’s quite a long story and one I don’t have time to explain, now—”

“Oh, pleeease tell me, Cousin Daphne. I do so j’adore a good mystery.”

“If you enjoy a mystery, then my telling you will rob you of the pleasure of solving it. And I hate to mention it, but I don’t think you’re using j’adore correctly in all instances.”

Delilah tapped her cheek. “I am still learning French, cousin. And you are right about the mystery. Very well. I shall settle for a hint. A good one, if you please.”

Daphne couldn’t help but shake her head and smile. “No, Delilah, not now. It’s something complicated that only adults should discuss.”

“I cannot wait to be an adult. You get to hear all the best gossip.”

Daphne stared at her reflection in the looking glass. “As I said, Delilah, don’t be too quick to want to grow up.”

“But I want to grow up. I want to have adventures like Calliope Cauldwell. I want to have handsome gentlemen send me gifts even if they are odd ones like tiny wooden ships. Though I am certain I would prefer jewelry.” Delilah fell back onto the bed with her hand on her forehead again. “Oh, I wish something would happen. Nothing ever possibly in the least ever happens around here.”

Daphne turned to her cousin and put both fists to her hips. “Don’t be so dramatic, Delilah. Adventures can be quite dangerous. In more ways than one. And as for something happening around here, you don’t find an engagement party to be exciting?”

Delilah sat back up and braced both hands behind her on the quilt. “I suppose an engagement party is a start, but I’d like there to be something truly exciting.”

“Like what?”

“Like a plot, or a mésalliance, or a scandal!”

“Fiddle. Think what you’re saying. We don’t live in the middle of The Adventures of Miss Calliope Cauldwell. True life is much less exciting, I assure you. I am going to marry Lord Fitzwell and that is far from a mésalliance.”

Another sigh from Delilah. “More’s the pity.”

“Delilah Montbank, think about yourself.”

“I shall endeavor to, Cousin Daphne. But I don’t hold out much hope for reforming myself. I believe I’m quite a lost cause.” The gamine smile popped back to Delilah’s lips. “Now, are you going to go downstairs and see Captain Cavendish? Thank him for his gift?” The girl’s dark eyebrows waggled.