Page 103 of Romancing Daphne

James held up his index finger in warning.“Daphne. Do I need to pull you in front of a mirror again?”

“I have thought back on that conversation.”

He could not tell by her expression whether those recollections had been pleasant ones.

“Did you mean what you said about continuing your courtship because you wished to and not merely because you were forced?”

His Daphne was standing on the proverbial riverbank, debating whetherto accept the river god’s escape or turn and attempt to trust her Apollo.Theirs was a tenuous connection, the thinnest, most fragile of threads.

“I meant it with utmost sincerity,” he told her. “I liked you from the first, and that liking grew to affection. Soon that affection deepened to a tenderness I have never felt for another person in all my life. In time, my dearest Daphne, I hope you can come to trust the truth of that.”

They reached the doors to the drawing room, and James released her hand and motioned for her to precede him.

Daphne looked at him with uncertainty as she passed. Beneath that bewilderment, however, was a reassuring hint of hope.

Miss Artemis’s voice rang through the drawing room.“Are you absolutely certain I cannot pretend to die?” she asked with something akin to desperation.“Or at least swoon? I am particularly adept at feigning aswoon.”

“No such display will be required this evening,” the duchess said.

James happened to meet the duke’s eyes in that moment and caught in them a look of amusement that would not have seemed so foreign on any other gentleman. He had always suspected the duke cared a great deal for Daphne but, until that moment, hadn’t realized he had a fondness for his youngest sister-in-law as well.

“Your father accepted our invitation almost before we issued it,” His Grace said with a twist of his mouth.

“I do not find that particularly surprising.” Father had likely nearly swooned himself at the prospect of being a guest at Falstone House.

“It is absolutely essential that you do not appear particularly surprisedby anything that might be said or done this night.” The duke gave him apenetrating look, emphasizing the importance of his words.

“I will do my best, Your Grace, though I cannot guarantee my acting abilities.”

“Your best is all we ask.”

“Is there anything I might do to aid your effort, Your Grace?”

“You can begin by not ‘Your Grace’-ing me all the time. Your father must be made to see that you are an accepted part of this family.”

But was he? James fervently wished it were true, though he could not quite convince himself.“What do you want me to call you?” He was not about to hazard a guess.

The duke did not pause to ponder or debate with himself. Apparently he had thought out this part of the plan ahead of time. “Kielder will do. Though my family members call me Adam, I think it wise not to give your Father any reason to find you impertinent.”

“And the duchess? How am I to address her?” He seemed to have hit upon an unexpected question.

The lieutenant, standing in the drawing room doorway, gave the decisiveopinion.“The privilege of Christian names is rarely given between any gentlemanand lady unless they are inarguably related. I believe Persephone must be ‘Your Grace’-ed and ‘ma’am’-ed throughout the evening. And Artemis had best remainMiss Artemis”—he threw his youngest sister an impish smile—“though it lends her an air of maturity that could never ring entirely true.”

Miss Artemis clasped her palm to her heart.“Your cruelty has slainme!” she declared in tones that rang with drama as she sank to the ground in an excessively graceful manner.

Not a single member of her family rushed to her inert form, nor looked the least bit concerned. Their countenances registered a mixture of amusement and exasperation. James found himself smiling, something that seemed to occur far more often than not of late.

A moment after melting into a heap on the floor, Miss Artemis regained her feet.“Was that not quite convincing?” she asked, obviously certain herswoon had struck fear into their hearts for her well-being.“I am certain Lord Techney could not help but be moved by such a sight.”

Their Graces merely shook their heads, turning to each other for a private conversation.

Lieutenant Lancaster came to Miss Artemis’s side.“Should a swoon prove necessary, we will be certain to inform you.”

“Excellent.” Miss Artemis could scarcely have looked more satisfied.“We must concoct a secret sign of some kind, a word or a gesture by whichI will know I need to have a convenient fit of the vapors.”

James leaned a touch closer to Daphne.“Miss Artemis must keep everyone’s days lively.”

Her eyes smiled up into his.“If there is one thing I can say for my family, it is that life amongst us is never dull.”

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