Page 26 of Daisy and the Duke
It had been so long since those days. Daisy sighed, thinking of how happy she’d been at Wildwood Hall, and how much she missed her dear friends. It was good to be reminded…especially now.
A few days had passed since the dinner at the duke’s home. Daisy had been distracted for most of her waking hours, and by night her dreams had got quite out of hand. In them she walked at Tristan’s side while he presided over Lyondale during the days, and at night…well, Daisy awoke feeling hot and flustered, aware of new desires that she’d never been bothered by previously in her quiet life.
Yet no matter how she felt, work remained to be done.
One afternoon, Daisy had just walked into the parlor with a tray holding tea things and put it on the low table between Bella and the baroness, when a housemaid entered behind her, bearing another little tray. She carried this directly to Lady Rutherford.
“Just arrived, my lady,” the maid announced in a breathless tone. “It bears the duke’s seal!”
Hence the excitement, Daisy thought. Even the household servants were interested in the activities of this new duke. To be fair, this corner of England was not generally overwhelmed with news.
The maid stepped back, but hovered, clearly hoping to glean information about the contents of this letter. So did Daisy, for that matter.
Lady Rutherford broke the seal and read the paper. An expression of real joy spread across her face. “An invitation from the duke to join a riding party! How wonderful.”
“I don’t always like riding when the weather turns,” Bella said, with considerably less joy. “The ground gets so muddy.”
“Nonsense, dear. With your new riding outfit, you will look ravishing next to the duke.”
“He’s invited me particularly?” Bella asked, her eyebrows arching.
“No, the invitation is addressed to all the ladies of the house.” The baroness looked chagrined as she realized that included Daisy. Clearly, she’d not meant to reveal that in Daisy’s presence.
But Daisy had no intention of joining the party. She knew that she did not truly belong. “That was most polite of the duke to include me, but I could not join anyway. I’ve no outfit that would suit the occasion.” Daisy in fact hadn’t owned a riding habit since her school days, and she’d look like a ragamuffin in her country clothes, a laughingstock next to the aristocratic guests in their finery.
“Oh, you may borrow my spare habit,” Bella said, the offer surprising both Daisy and Lady Rutherford.
“Bella!” her mother chided.
“No, I couldn’t. Anyway, I’ve much to do here at the Grange that day,” Daisy added quickly, not wanting to incur the wrath of her stepmother by inserting herself into the event.
Bella ignored Daisy’s objection. “Mama, it would not do to appear thatanyof us are ungrateful for the invitation. Who refuses a duke? And Daisy will fit into my old brown habit. It was too loose on me.”
“The brown habit,” her mother mused, growing calm again. “Yes, that would be fine, I suppose.” She smiled, probably thinking of just how awkward and out of place Daisy would be at the event, even in better clothes. Daisy barely rode anymore. “I shall accept the invitation on behalf of us all.”
Daisy wasn’t sure why Bella offered the use of her old outfit, and she suspected it was out of pity. But as her stepsister noted, it was not the thing to refuse a duke. It looked like Daisy was going riding after all.
On the day of the ride, the trio of women arrived at Lyondale at the appointed hour. A small crowd of others had gathered—the duke’s riding party was evidently rather grand. Miss Wallis, looking very modish in a pale blue riding habit, greeted the guests with her usual grace.
Several grooms were present to lead the guests and point out obstacles, and to serve the inevitable requests that the guests would make. In addition to the grooms, there was a phalanx of younger boys, who were in charge of holding the guests’ horses and tending to their needs. Nearer the house, maids stood ready with various accoutrements—fresh water, cloths to wash off dirt, even sewing needles in case one of the female guests required assistance with her appearance.
So many people just to allow a few riders to enjoy the day, Daisy thought. Rutherford Grange was a great house too, but the difference between what went on there and what was needed for a duke’s lifestyle was remarkable. Tristan truly lived on another level, one far above Daisy’s.
The now-mounted group milled about in the meadow, waiting for the sign to begin riding. Daisy felt particularly mousy in her borrowed riding habit. How was it possible that Bella even had a riding habit of drab brown when she favored lighter, bolder colors? True, the habit was a rich velvet, delightfully warm on such a raw day. But Daisy glanced at Bella’s new habit in a cardinal red wool, which brought out the pink in her cheeks and made her skin glow, and knew that everyone would look at Bella today, not Daisy at all.
When two figures emerged from the stable area, Daisy straightened up in her saddle. Tristan looked as if he’d been born to ride. He wore a riding outfit crisp with newness—this was probably the first time it had been worn. Daisy remembered the more casual clothes he’d been wearing when he rode up to her in the woods that day. He looked so different now, so aloof and aristocratic. Her heart shrank a little even as she admired his magnificent appearance. As if Daisy needed a reminder that Tristan was far above her…
Next to Tristan, she was surprised to see Jackson Kemble. He appeared to be much healthier and stronger than the last time she’d spoken with him. But horseback riding? In the cold? She frowned, watching the two men converse.
“What are you pouting about, Daisy?” her stepmother asked, noticing her expression.
“I’m worried that Mr. Kemble is being too optimistic in attempting to join the group today. His health seemed so fragile.”
The baroness looked over at the approaching pair, a calculating gleam in her eyes. She said softly, “That is a very wise observation, Daisy.”
Daisy was surprised at this praise, but even more surprised when Lady Rutherford turned to her daughter and said, “Bella, you should stay close to Mr. Kemble today.”
Bella blinked in confusion. “You wish me to ride with Mr. Kemble? Not the duke?”
