Page 86 of Touched By a Traitor
“You see? Talk to him, Daisy. I’ll be right by your side if he reacts poorly or spouts any nonsense.” Charlotte gave the younger woman’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
Daisy reached out, clasping Charlotte’s hand tightly in both of her own. “Thank you, Charlotte. Your support means more to me than I can possibly express.”
“There’s no rush. We shall stay here until you gather enough courage to face your brother. And when you do, I will be with you every step of the way.”
*
Andrew reclined inhis chair, his head lolling back as he closed his eyes, savoring the smooth, potent taste of the brandy on his tongue. For weeks, he had been haunted by visions of Charlotte whenever he dared to rest his weary eyes—her sparkling gaze, her dimpled smile, and her clever, tempting mouth.
With her sleeping beneath his roof this night, he knew he would need to drain the entire bottle of brandy before he could hope to find even a moment’s respite. His greatest fear was that, in his inebriated state, he might unintentionally find his way to her bed, frightening her with his unwelcome presence.
A sharp rap at the door startled him from his musings, and he looked up, his eyes wide and alert. He had assumed that the women had long since retired for the evening, given the late hour. With a gruff shout, he bade them to enter, and to his surprise, both his wife and sister appeared in the doorway, clad in their housecoats.
Despite his best efforts, Andrew’s gaze lingered on Charlotte’s form, the casual attire evoking bittersweet memories of happier times. With a force of will, he tore his eyes away, focusing instead on the weariness that etched deep lines into Daisy’s face.
The two women settled themselves on the sofa across from him, their hands clasped tightly together. Andrew noticed the way Charlotte gave Daisy’s hand a reassuring squeeze. Daisy cleared her throat, her voice husky from the tears she had shed.
“Andrew,” she began, her tone hesitant and unsure. “I sabotaged my own wedding… because I… I do not feel drawn to men in the way that society expects.”
For a long moment, Andrew simply stared at his sister, his brow furrowed in confusion as he struggled to comprehend her words. As the realization of her meaning sank in, he inhaled sharply, his eyes widened in shock. Abruptly, he rose to his feet, strode to the bar, and poured himself a generous measure of brandy with trembling hands.
When at last he returned his attention to the women, he opened his mouth as if to speak, but the words seemed to stick in his throat, refusing to be given voice. He tilted his head, his expression one of bewilderment. “What are you saying, Daisy?”
Charlotte, her hand resting gently on Daisy’s shoulder, spoke slowly and carefully, as if to ensure that her words penetrated the fog of Andrew’s shock. “Daisy cut the stitches on her wedding gown with the sole purpose of exposing herself to theton,thereby publicly humiliating herself and ensuring no man would wish to marry her.”
Andrew’s gaze darted between the two women, his eyes wide and unblinking. Daisy had curled in on herself, hugging her knees to her chest in a posture of vulnerability and fear, a position he had not seen her adopt since she was a little girl. Charlotte met his gaze steadily, her expression one of gentle plea and warning as she allowed him time to process the revelation.
Rising to his feet once more, Andrew began to pace the room, his steps heavy and agitated as he tried to encourage circulation to his addled brain. Suddenly, he stopped, whirling to face the women, appearing profoundly disturbed.
“And the incident with Lord Byron? The rupture of your…” He trailed off, unable to give voice to the delicate matter.
Charlotte’s arm tightened on Daisy’s trembling form, her voice even as she replied, “She caused the injury herself to avoid the marriage.”
A look of horror passed over Andrew’s visage, his mouth falling open in a silent gasp as he ran a palm over his face. He muttered under his breath about the dangers of such an act. After a moment, he composed himself, his eyes seeking out his sister’s huddled form.
“Daisy,” he said gently, his voice filled with a tenderness that belied his shock. “Have you always been drawn to women?”
From her self-imposed cocoon, Daisy nodded, a single, jerky movement that spoke volumes of her fear and uncertainty. Andrew sank back into his chair, his mind wheeling as he tried to reconcile this new information.
For a long moment, silence reigned in the room, broken only by the crackling of the fire in the grate and the soft, hitching breaths of the three occupants. At last, Andrew leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he clasped his hands together, his gaze fixed on the floor.
“I can’t believe how blind I’ve been… I thought I knew what was best for you… To think that I’ve put you through such immense pain because of my views and actions…”
Andrew tousled his hair and rested his head in his palm, his eyes closed. After a while, he sat up and met his sister’s gaze.
“Daisy,” he said, his voice low and rough with emotion. “I cannot pretend to understand the depths of your struggles, the pain you must have endured in keeping this secret for so long. But I want you to know that no matter what, you are my sister, and I love you with all my heart. Nothing could ever change that.”
At his words, a soft, broken sob escaped Daisy’s lips, and she uncurled herself from her protective ball, throwing herself into her brother’s arms. Andrew held her close, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears as he stroked her hair, murmuring words of comfort and reassurance.
Gently resting his hand on Daisy’s shoulder while she blew her nose, Andrew fixed his sister with a probing gaze. “Do you have a special woman in your life now?”
Daisy nodded, her cheeks flushing as she avoided her brother’s eyes and whispered, “Susie.”
Andrew took a deep breath, shaking his head with a rueful smile.
“Are you very angry, Andrew?” Daisy asked.
“No, darling. We are all aware of the tragically foolish mistakes I’ve made in recent months. I’m hardly in a position to cast stones,” he huffed, catching a glimmer of amusement in Charlotte’s eyes that warmed his heart and eased the tension in his chest.
