Page 99 of Romancing Daphne

“Your Grace,” James acknowledged, the smallest bit of worry in his tone.

“We”—Adam indicated Linus with a slight lift of his head—“have just had a most interesting conversation.”

Adam did tend toward cryptic explanations in favor of useful ones, especially when he was displeased. Daphne turned to Linus, hoping for more information.

He did not disappoint. To James he said,“Your father is a parasite.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

With effort, James assembled hismuddled thoughts. Fear that the duke and lieutenant had come to skewer him for the frustratingly brief kiss he’d shared with Daphne dissipated with the realization that Father was making trouble. Again.

“I will move forward on the assumption that I find myself in a position of apologizing for my father’s behavior.”

“A good assumption,” Lieutenant Lancaster muttered.

“What has he done?” James knew without a doubt he wouldn’t like the answer.

“I refuse to gossip in the corridor,” the duke said.“To the book room.”

The Dangerous Dukeand the young lieutenant made a very intimidating picture as they strode purposefully in the direction of the stairs. Watching them, James wondered how he’d managed to summon the fortitude to face the fearsome duo after his mistreatment of Daphne. They felt almost like allies now.

He turned toward Daphne and held out his hand.

“You wish for me to join you?” she asked.

If she doubted something as basic as his desire for her presence—hisneedfor it—even after their tender moment of affection, then he had more work ahead of him than he realized.“I discovered quite early in our association that you are a godsend, Daphne. If you are willing to help me through yet another disaster of my family’s making, I would consider myself even further in your debt.”

She shook her head, color stealing across her face. She blushed adorably, though James knew better than to tell her so. She took the hand heheld out to her. Progress had been made, certainly, but he still felt herhesitation. He needed only time and opportunity. She would eventually see that he could be trusted despite his less-than-stalwart history.

“What do you think your father has done?” she asked as they walked together down the corridor.

“I cannot even begin to guess.”

“Could he—” Her question ended as abruptly as it had begun. She pressed her lips together, her eyes darting away from him.

James had learned to recognize that expression. She was holding back.“You must never worry about telling me anything, Daphne.”

She studied him a moment, gauging his sincerity. He must have appeared at least momentarily trustworthy.“Do you suppose your father has decidedupon another young lady to whom he will demand you pay your addresses?”

“He can demand until he’s blue in the face, for all the good it will do him,” James said.

Still, she looked unsure.“He might offer to return your income if you do.”

“There is not enough money in all the world,” he insisted.

“Allthe world? Are you certain? That seems like a great deal of money to me.” He heard the smile in her voice and, better yet, saw that her expression matched her tone.

They stepped into His Grace’s book room. The duke and the lieutenant occupied the precise positions they had upon James’s first encounter with the formidable gentlemen. The air, however, was not thick with the feeling of impending doom, nor were a full dozen weapons laid out for emphasis. Much had changed in a short couple of weeks.

He saw Daphne seated comfortably in a chair near the desk, though notthe one he knew from experience to be ridiculously lower than the others.

“Your father has learned of your employment here,” the duke said without preamble.

“I haven’t exactly kept it a secret,” James said.

“I believe Techney rather wishes you had.” The duke leaned back casually in his chair. “Does the phrase ‘blot on the family name that is best forgotten’ sound familiar to you?”

“It is practically my second given name.”

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