The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4)(87)

Daphne sighed and kissed him back. “And I love you, Rafe Cavendish, my husband.”





CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

One week later The Earl of Swifdon’s town house, Hanover Square




With Cass and Lucy’s help, Daphne had managed to arrange another ball at her brother’s town house. They’d planned it before she’d left to find Rafe on the sloop. Dressed in a bright pink gown with a matching topaz necklace glimmering at her throat, she stood at the top of the stairs waiting for Pengree to announce her to the crowd inside the ballroom just beyond the double doors. She pressed a gloved hand to her middle where her insides quaked with nerves.

“I feel as if I’m going to be sick,” Daphne murmured.

“Well, you look gorgeous, dear,” Cass said from beside her. Cass was wearing a light blue gown with white trim. “Don’t worry about a thing.”

Daphne smiled at her lovely sister-in-law.

“Oh, please tell me I may throw rose petals at your wedding, Cousin Daphne,” Delilah said, spinning around in a circle beside her. The girl was wearing a bright yellow ribbon on the top of her head and a matching golden gown. Her governess, one in a long string of ladies who became too exasperated with her antics to remain, had just given her notice. As a result, Delilah was quite unchaperoned this evening and she’d managed, as usual, to talk her aunt into allowing her to sneak down to the ballroom.

“I promise you may throw rose petals at our wedding ceremony?” Daphne replied, smiling at the child.

“Not just any rose petals. Pink and white ones. Pink and white are the only sort of rose petals to throw at weddings. They are trés romantic,” Delilah gushed.

Daphne shook her head. Now her twelve-year-old cousin was an expert at weddings? “Very well, pink and white,” Daphne replied.

Cass laughed.

Rafe came sliding through the corridor, slightly out of breath. He stopped at Daphne’s side and gave her a peck on the cheek. He wore impeccably tailored black evening clothes and a starchy white cravat that set off the bright blue of his eyes. Daphne’s heart swelled. He was so handsome, her husband.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” he breathed to Daphne, squeezing her hand as Pengree eyed the couple up and down.

“Bonsoir, Capitaine,” Delilah said, giving him her most formal curtsy. “There shall be pink and white rose petals at your wedding ceremony.”

Rafe’s brow furrowed. He glanced at Daphne. “What’s this?”

“Oh, ignore her. Did you talk to Julian?”

“Not yet but he agreed to meet with me in his study later.”

“Well, he can’t very well say no after we do this.” Daphne nodded toward the doors in front of them where they could hear the crowd in the ballroom.

“Ready, my lady?” Pengree asked, tugging on the lapels of his livery.

“Ready!” Daphne replied with a gulp and a nod. She squeezed Rafe’s hand.

Pengree opened the wide double doors, revealing the crowded ballroom. “Lady Daphne Swift,” he intoned.

Daphne released Rafe’s hand and took a tentative step forward. “If I could have your attention, please,” she said in the loudest voice she could muster to the waiting crowd. She paused and glanced back at Rafe, who was hidden from the ballroom by the door she was clutching. “Oh, Rafe. I’m so nervous. What should I say?”

Rafe straightened his cravat and tugged at his cuff. “Say this, ‘A fortnight ago…’”

Daphne turned her head back out to face the crowd and repeated his words. “A fortnight ago…”

“I cheated you out of an engagement ball at this very house by acting foolishly, which was very bad manners,” Rafe continued.

Daphne repeated his words quickly. “I cheated you out of an engagement ball at this very house by acting foolishly, which was very bad manners.”

“But I hope to make it up to you by going through with it now as originally planned,” Rafe whispered.

“But I hope to make it up to you by going through with it now as originally planned,” Daphne repeated, the smile on her face widening. She reached behind her to squeeze Rafe’s hand.

“So, if you’ll all just wait a moment,” Rafe said.

“So if you’ll all just wait a moment,” Daphne repeated.

“I intend to announce my engagement to Captain Rafferty Cavendish.”

“I intend to announce my engagement to Captain Rafferty Cavendish.” Daphne turned to him. “Oh, Rafe are you certain? Are you entirely certain? You’re not just doing this because of the mission and the annulment and everything?”

“Not a chance, Grey.” He winked at her.

Daphne turned to Cass. “Maid of honor?”

Cass’s eyes were filled with tears. “I’d be delighted.”

Daphne turned to Delilah. “Attendant?”

“Mais bien s?r,” Delilah replied with another formal curtsy.

Daphne turned back to the crowded ballroom. “Yes. I’d like to formally announce my engagement to the most wonderful man in the world. Captain Rafferty Cavendish.”

*

Later that evening, Daphne and Rafe sat on the settee in the middle of Julian’s study holding hands. In addition to her pink gown, Daphne wore a sparkling ring on her third finger. She hadn’t tugged at it in days.