Page 24 of Daisy and the Duke
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because you were there.” He looked a bit sheepish. “I thought I should prove that I can endure a whole conversation without losing my temper or fleeing the scene.”
“Oh.” Daisy wasn’t sure what to say to that. “You might have started with a less challenging group, then.”
His face broke out into a smile, and he laughed, which made her laugh too. She shook her head. “Now I’m being rude.”
“No, just accurate.” After a moment, Tristan said, “I can see why Jack took such a liking to you. You must come back to chat with him. I’m terrible company most of the time. But you…any man would rise from the grave if you were expected to drop by. How about Thursday afternoon?”
“I should like to, your grace. But I do not have much time to myself. The running of Rutherford Grange keeps me busy.”
“Are you politely putting me off?”
“No! It’s just that the marketing must be done Thursday.”
Tristan said, “You will come to Lyondale for that afternoon. No excuses—Elaine and Jacob can do the marketing.” Somehow she wasn’t surprised he knew the names of her servants. Tristan Brooks seemed dedicated to making up for the time lost before he moved to Lyondale.
“In that case, I will be here at the appointed hour. I know better than to argue with a lord.” All at once, she giggled, thinking of the Duke of Lyon posting footmen as guards to keep the guests away.
“What’s so amusing?” he asked.
“You are. You can’t post guards to keep society out.”
He leaned forward, looking more serious. “Then what should I do?”
“Why ask me?”
“Because this is the world you’re from. You understand them. Whereas I grew up among commoners, and then lived among soldiers.”
She sighed. “It’s been some time since I’ve been part of that world. I’m neither fish nor fowl now. I have the name but not the wealth to be accepted among society. I don’t fit in among the village, because they’re afraid to insult me by treating me as if I’m not gentry. So you see, I’m not the one to seek advice from.”
He reached out impulsively, and took her hand. “Is that how it seems to you? You fit in perfectly back at Lyondale, during supper, as if you did that every week.”
Daisy swallowed nervously. Tristan was looking at her intensely, and it was hard to think when all she could notice was his eyes, the blue color all dark in the dim light of the carriage. “I would soon be unmasked if I had to do that every week, if only because I’ve just this gown for the occasion.”
He looked her over approvingly. “It suits you.”
“I hope so. I made it,” she added shyly.
“You look lovely.” He hadn’t let go of her hand, and she just noticed that he’d threaded her fingers with his. Definitelynotapproved etiquette, but she didn’t want him to stop. In the darkness of the carriage, it was a very intimate and interesting sensation.
“I have to ask for your forgiveness,” he said then. “What happened in the garden was very much my fault.”
“I cannot forgive you, because I enjoyed it,” Daisy whispered. “I’d be lying if I said otherwise.”
He looked surprised. “I thought I offended you.”
“I thought I offendedyou,” she admitted.
Suddenly, they both laughed. Tristan said, “Ever since…I got hurt, I assumed no woman would tolerate my interest.”
“A woman so shallow does not deserve your interest,” Daisy retorted.
Tristan looked quite surprised, then cautiously pleased. He seemed about to say something, then he simply raised her hand to his lips again. “May I?” he asked, his eyes locked on hers.
“Please,” Daisy whispered.
Tristan peeled the glove off before kissing her fingertips. It was even more sensual than before, and when he actually took one fingertip into his mouth and sucked, Daisy felt a reaction in her very core.
