Page 66 of Romancing Daphne

“Daphne?”

She recognized James’s voice but didn’t open her eyes.

“What’s happened?” he asked.“Are you unwell?”

Unwell?A less-apt word had likely never been spoken. Daphne forced herself to look at him, allowing herself the tiniest morsel of hope that she would see in his eyes something to refute the bitter truth she had stumbled upon.

His expression was precisely the same one she’d seen repeatedly over the weeks: concern, sympathy. A quarter of an hour earlier, that look would havemelted her. Now she felt only cold.

Shehad wept for days after Evander’s death. She had probably cried when her mother had died, though she’d been too young at the time toremember. Outside of those two moments, she had met the slightest threatof tears with fierce resistance. Standing there so entirely alone, forced to facethe horridness of her situation, she did not hold back the rush of emotion.

“Good heavens, Daphne. You’re crying.”

She flinched at the soft brush of his fingers along her cheek. His hand stilled immediately.

“What has happened? Why are—” He laid his hands on her arms. Shepulled back.“How long have you been standing here?”

“Please leave me be,” Daphne whispered.

“You may have misunderstood something you heard. I—”

She pushed away from the tree, distancing herself from him.“Just leave me alone.”

The panic-stricken look on his face told her what would come next. He would attempt to explain it all, to justify a month’s worth of lies. She could not bear it. No one should be made to endure so much deceit.

Daphne turned and walked swiftly in the direction of the house, thoughavoiding the gathered guests at the picnic. She did not slow as she crossedback to the house.

She dropped onto the small bench set near the door, pressing her hand to her wounded heart. She could not stay—not now. Certainly Persephone would agree to leave forthwith. She likely would not even press Daphne for an explanation.

She only sank further at the thought of facing Adam. How certain she’d been that time would prove his doubts unfounded. How assured she’d feltof James’s regard. But she’d been wrong. So very wrong.

Her fairy-tale courtship was nothing but a lie.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Daphne appreciated beyond expressingthatPersephoneallowed her to pass the brief carriage ride back to Falstone House in complete silence. It was a merciful gesture. She knew she would not be permitted to escape the reality of her discovery long. And as the falling out between her and James became known, there would be questions. So many questions.

They stepped inside just as Artemis came bounding down the stairs. “London is ever so much more fun than Shropshire,” she declared, rounding the corner and disappearing toward the back of the house.

“Is His Grace home, then?” Persephone asked the butler as they were divested of their outer coats in the front entryway.

“Yes, Your Grace. In his book room.”

“Excellent.”Persephoneturned to Daphne. “I do not wish to abandon you, but—”

“Please, go greet him,” Daphne said. “I know you’ve missed him.”

Persephone made her way directly toward the stairs. For the first time since Adam’s departure from London more than a week earlier, Daphne saw a genuine smile on her sister’s face.

Daphne stood in uncomfortable indecision. Where ought she to go?How desperately she wished for her own room, her own bed to cry on. But Adam would demand a full accounting of her situation. She wouldrather not make that painful confession with her youngest sister listening in. Delaying the inevitable struck her as decidedly illogical, even if it wasunderstandable from an emotional perspective.

“You have done quite enough thinking with your heart of late,” shetold herself. “It is high time you remembered how to lead with your head.”Daphne nodded to herself, hoping to solidify her determination. She didnot allow the slightest slump in her posture as she followed Persephone’s path. She reached the book room door only a moment after her sister did.

Persephone lightly rapped on the door as she slowly opened it.

“I told you, Hampton, I did not wish to be disturbed today by anyone regardless of their business with me.” Adam sounded thoroughly annoyed.That would make their coming interview all the more uncomfortable.

Persephone did not seem particularly put off by his tone.“Oh, but mybusiness with you is of a most crucial nature,” she said from the doorway.

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