Page 38 of The Duke I Wished For
Clarissa didn’t hesitate. “A brother or sister.”
A butterfly darted past and Clarissa ran off again with a happy squeal, leaving her parents to their admittedly foolish grins.
Blake leaned down and nuzzled her ear, making her shiver as she pressed closer into his arms. “Well, my love? What do you think?”
“Hmm…” Daffodil pretended to think it over as Blake trailed kisses over her cheeks and nose. “I think…Clarissa and I have the same wish.”
Blake pulled back to gaze down at her, his eyes warm with love and desire. “Well, perhaps if all three of us make the same one…”
Daffodil giggled, going up on tiptoe to meet him halfway. “Our wish is bound to come true,” she whispered against his lips.
His answer was to kiss her softly and slowly…and with all the love that was in his heart.
BONUS EPILOGUE
Jocelyn rested against the doorframe of Delilah’s room at Madame Bellafonte’s, her lips pursed in a pout as she waved her fan in a vain attempt to dispel the London heat.
It was already wretchedly hot, and to think, the summer had only just begun.
“First we must say farewell to Daffodil, and now you as well?” Jane said.
She too was pouting, and it seemed Jane’s attempt to fight the heat was to sprawl out on Delilah’s bed, arms and legs spread wide like she was in the midst of creating a snow angel.
Delilah gave them both a sweet smile. “I won’t be gone for long. I’ll likely be back in time for the fall…” Her nose crinkled. “Unless my mother’s made a match for me by then.”
Isabelle, who was sitting cross-legged on Delilah’s window seat, tipped her head to the side with a reassuring smile. “Daff won’t let your mother marry you off to some ogre. And neither will Hathshire.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Delilah’s strained smile belied her words.
Jocelyn straightened, and Jane sat up on the bed. “Lila, if your mother tries to force your hand you must tell us at once,” Jane started.
“And Daff, of course,” Jocelyn added, “between all of us, your mother won’t be able to?—”
“Oh no,” Delilah said quickly. “I know you’re right. Daff and Hathshire won’t allow her to force me into a match I do not want, it’s just…”
“What is it?” Isabelle asked when Delilah trailed off.
Delilah gave them all a smile so sweet it made Jocelyn worry on her behalf all over again. If anyone deserved to find the sort of sweet happily-ever-after that Daff had found, it was Delilah.
Heaven knew it wasn’t in the cards for Jocelyn.
And Jane wanted to find her Prince Charming as much as she wanted to don a too-tight bodice and attend high tea with the matrons of society. Which was to say…not at all.
Isabelle would find her happy ending, of this Jocelyn had no doubt. Her father was an earl and he doted on her. Surely he’d give her the freedom to choose her own husband.
But Delilah’s mother was as good as a wicked witch.
“Truly, there is no need to worry about me,” Delilah said.
Jocelyn glanced around to see that Jane and Isabelle were wearing matching looks of concern. Jocelyn supposed they were all thinking of just how underhanded and manipulative Daff and Delilah’s mother could be. And now that she’d been outranked by her eldest daughter and had lost any power she’d once had there… Jocelyn knew she wasn’t the only one worried about how their mother might treat Delilah.
Delilah sighed. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Isabelle brightened. “We’ll just miss you, that’s all.”
“It’s true,” Jane said. Turning to Isabelle, she added, “We’ll miss you, as well. When do you leave for your father’s country estate?”
“Not for another few days,” she said, a wistful smile on her pretty face. “I must admit, I’m looking forward to spending time in the country and with my father. Oh!” She sat up straight, her smile brilliant. “And Hathshire arranged for me to see his brother’s library. He has an estate near ours, and according to Hathshire, the library is not to be believed.”
