The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4)(40)

“You fell on top of him?”

“Yes.”

“Because he moved away when you tried to kiss him?”

“Yes. Oh, Cass, Lord Fitzwell was right to leave me. I am a shameless hussy. A harlot. A wanton.”

Cass was obviously fighting a smile.

“Don’t laugh at me, Cass,” Daphne said miserably.

“I’m sorry, dear. Truly I am, but I think you’re far from a wanton for trying to kiss Captain Cavendish in the garden. You must remember, you are married, dear. You keep forgetting. And he may have stepped away from you last night but he kissed you in the library, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“Well, then. He may have had other reasons for stepping away last night.”

“I know Julian threatened to murder him, but—”

“What?”

“Julian told me. He had two conditions for allowing me to go with Rafe tonight. The first is that I remain safe. The second is to not touch me.”

“Well, no wonder. Captain Cavendish is trying to do the honorable thing. He wouldn’t be much of a gentleman if he kissed an intoxicated lady, would he? Not to mention he’d promised her brother to keep his hands to himself.”

“But I don’t want him to keep his hands to himself,” Daphne groaned.

A gasp sounded from the other side of the closed door and Cass turned wide eyes to Daphne.

Daphne simply shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. I suspect it’s just Delilah. She has her ear pressed to the door.”

“I do not!” came Delilah’s disgruntled voice.

“You might as well come in, Dee,” Daphne called. “And please mind the door slamming. I have the devil of a head.”

The door opened and Delilah, a huge white satin bow in her hair and a fresh white day dress on, came prancing in. She closed the door with extreme care. “Very well, I might have been listening, a little.”

“I never doubted it,” Daphne replied.

Delilah came to stand at the foot of the bed. “What does it feel like to have a devil of a head?”

Daphne groaned again. “It’s dreadful and I hope you never find out.”

“I’d have the devil of a head in an instant if it meant I would end up rolling about in the grass with Captain Cavendish.”

Daphne’s jaw dropped. “Delilah, I swear, if you tell anyone—”

“I know. I know. Don’t worry. I intend to remain entirely silent on the matter.”

Daphne laid her head back against the pillows and rubbed her temples. A memory pushed itself through her hazy mind. “Did you tell Lord Fitzwell where to find me last night, Delilah?”

Delilah had a foxlike smile on her face. “Perhaps.”

“I thought you’d gone up to bed. How did you know?”

“You cannot possibly think I would remain in bed with all of the interesting things happening in this house last night.”

“What interesting things?” Daphne asked, pressing her fingertips to her temples.

“Things like Lord Fitzwell finding you outside in the gardens with Captain Cavendish.”

“But that only happened because you told him where I was. How did you know, by the way?”

“I can’t be held responsible if I happened to help along the interesting things. And I knew because I was the one who pointed you in the direction of the gardens last night. Don’t you remember? You were singing a song I taught you. I knew Captain Cavendish was out there.”

Daphne sat up straight and then groaned and rubbed her skull again. She’d moved far too quickly. “Delilah Montbank, tell me you did not orchestrate that entire set of madness that occurred last night.”

Delilah put her hands on both hips. “Well, I like that. You’re welcome.”

“You did it all on purpose?” Daphne groaned. “Why?”

“Because Lord Fitzwell is not meant to be my cousin.”

Daphne turned a pleading look toward Cass. “What do you think about this?”

Cass shrugged. “I can’t say I blame her. And I’m quite impressed by her ingenuity.”

Delilah beamed and executed a haphazard pirouette before bowing to Cass. “Merci, my lady.”

“Did Aunt Willie know what you were about?” Daphne asked her cousin.

“Oh, Cousin Daphne.” Delilah rolled her eyes. “Aunt Willie is the one who informed me that Captain Cavendish was in the gardens alone. Now, I had better get downstairs before Mrs. Upton eats all of the teacakes.” And with that, Delilah skipped back to the door and left.

Daphne gave Cass a dejected look. “My entire family is plotting against me.”

“It’s not as bad as all of that. I promise you,” Cass said. “I think you should just take the day and rest, dear. There’s no need to make any hasty decisions.”

Daphne shook her head. “No. No. There’s no time to rest. Read me the list of eligibles, won’t you? I may have made a mess of things with Lord Fitzwell but he’s not the only gentleman in London.”

“I don’t think—”

“Please, Cass. Read them. After I get back from the mission with Rafe, we’ll have another party. There will be another engagement. And by then I’ll have my annulment so all will be well.”