The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4)(70)

Daphne glanced down at her embroidered white day gown. Such a far cry from the shirt, breeches, and stockings she’d been wearing while pretending to be a cabin boy. She plucked at the top of her head where a useless ribbon sat holding up her bun. She missed her cap. She rubbed her silk stocking against her bedspread. Silk was certainly more luxurious than the wool stockings she’d worn as Grey. So why did she miss those, too?

Here she was. Back in her proper house, in her proper clothes, with her proper life. And it was all just too … boring. Why had she never noticed how exceedingly dull it was to live in a town house before? She meandered over to her writing desk and picked up her copy of The Adventures of Miss Calliope Cauldwell. She smiled to herself. Perhaps someday she would write a similar tale. If only Rafe had allowed her to go to France with him, the stubborn rogue.

A soft knock on the bedchamber door pulled Daphne from her thoughts. “Who is it?”

“It’s Cass, dear,” came her sister-in-law’s sweet voice.

“And Lucy,” added the duchess’s bright one.

Daphne laid the book back down, swiveled, rushed over to the door, and opened it. “Come in. Come in.” She ushered the two ladies into the room. They made their way over to the windows and sat in the two chairs that rested there.

“We came to check on you, dear,” Cass explained, once she was settled. “How are you?”

Daphne resumed her seat on the bed and clutched the tiny ship in her fist. She sighed. “I’m … fine.”

Lucy scrunched up her nose. “You don’t sound fine.”

Daphne put the back of her hand to her head as if checking for fever. “I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“I do,” Lucy replied with a knowing smile and a twinkle in her two-different-colored eyes.

“You do? What is it?” Daphne sat forward on the bed and blinked expectantly at Lucy.

Lucy splayed her hands wide. “You’re in love, dear. You’re exhibiting the classic symptoms. Restlessness, fatigue, boredom. And I’d wager you’ve not spent so much as a moment without Captain Cavendish in your thoughts since you’ve got home, have you?”

Daphne’s cheeks heated. She moved her hand down to press on one of them. How had Lucy known? She glanced at the replica. Suddenly, she had the desire to hide it. “Well, I—”

“And that little ship in your hand speaks volumes,” Lucy added with another nod.

Daphne’s jaw dropped. “How did you see—”

Cass tapped her fingertips along the arms of the chair. “I must agree with Lucy, dear. I was madly in love for years with someone I couldn’t have. I know the signs when I see them.”

Daphne shook her head so vigorously her bun came loose. “I’m not madly in love with him. I’m not.”

Lucy’s smile was scandalous. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you, perhaps, just a little in love with him?”

Daphne set the replica on her bedside table. She stood and paced to the windows, standing in between the two chairs. “Very well,” she conceded. “Perhaps. Just a little.” Daphne whirled to face them and pressed her palms to both cheeks. “This is awful, isn’t it?”

Cass and Lucy exchanged satisfied looks.

“Not awful at all, dear. It’s wonderful.” Cass reached up to squeeze Daphne’s hand.

Daphne plopped down on the window seat and gave Cass her hand. “But it’s not that easy. What about the blond doxy?”

Lucy cleared her throat. “Yes, about that. I hope you don’t mind but Cass recounted that particular tale to me, and I have to say, I don’t think it makes much sense.”

Daphne’s head snapped to face the duchess. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, why in the world would Captain Cavendish have been downstairs looking for you if he had a blond waiting for him in his bed? And why didn’t he lock the door between the two rooms to keep you from finding her?”

Daphne’s heart hammered in her throat. “But she was in his bed and—”

“And what?”

“You didn’t actually see them touching, did you?” Lucy asked.

“No.” Daphne’s voice trailed off.

Cass winced and returned her hand to her own lap. “I have to say when I first heard it, it sounded quite condemning, but upon further reflection, I agree with Lucy. I can’t say I’d believe that Captain Cavendish would take a woman to his bed with you in the room right next door, Daphne. It’s beyond the pale even for a rogue.”

Daphne shook her head. She didn’t know what made any sense anymore but there was more than one reason she and Rafe couldn’t be together. She said the only thing she could think of at the moment. “But Rafe’s refused to allow me to go to France with him.”

“Daphne, be reasonable,” Cass replied. “That trip is far too dangerous for you. Captain Cavendish couldn’t have asked Julian for such a favor. Even if he wanted to.”

“Why not?” Daphne asked. But she already knew the answer and knew she was acting like a pouting child for asking.

“If it makes you feel any better, I can assure you Julian wouldn’t have said yes,” Cass added.

Daphne braced her palms on either side of her thighs on the cushion. She stared down at her slippers, dejected. “Has Rafe left yet? Do you know?”