Love made you insane. That was the only explanation. Or perhaps when you were in love you thought everyone else should be too, that they should all be equally as eager to rush to the altar as you were. That could be the only explanation for Florence’s bizarre statement.
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ Florence said. ‘Nate and I agree. You two are made for each other.’
The insanity had seemingly affected his usually level-headed friend as well. Had Nathaniel forgotten that Daisy was his little sister? Had he forgotten what sort of man his best friend was? This had to be insanity brought on by being in love. If Nathaniel had been in his right mind, he would never have considered Guy to be made for Daisy or for Daisy to be made for him.
Although, if he knew what Guy had done to his little sister out on the balcony, he would indeed be forcing Guy up the aisle, but it would have nothing to do with how right or wrong they were for each other.
‘We both noticed it,’ she said, causing Guy to cringe. He would have expected those two not to to notice anything, so obsessed were they with each other, but perhaps they had been aware that he and Daisy had been absent for an inordinate amount of time, and when a man like Guy was absent with a woman it could mean only one thing.
‘You couldn’t keep your eyes off each other the whole night,’ she continued and the tension in Guy’s shoulders released slightly. His cousin and Daisy’s brother had only noticed it had been his eyes that he couldn’t keep off Daisy, not any other body parts. Thank goodness for that.
‘You’re wrong. And if I was watching Lady Daisy it was to monitor who she was dancing with and that she was being treated respectfully.’
Florence raised her eyebrows as if she didn’t believe him.
‘And, of course, I was concerned about her ankle. I would not have liked her to over-exert herself.’
Florence’s eyebrows moved even further up her forehead.
‘It was all just brotherly concern,’ he said, his voice sounding as pathetic as his argument.
Florence stared at him, as if waiting until he had exhausted all his excuses, then adopted a school-mistress posture.
‘So, answer me this. Do you enjoy her company?’
‘Yes, Daisy is delightful company,’ he conceded. That was perhaps an understatement. They’d had such fun together while she’d been recuperating at his estate. He enjoyed being with her, loved talking with her, loved laughing with her, even enjoyed arguing with her, because she was never slow to give her opinion on anything. He couldn’t remember a time when he had taken so much pleasure in a woman’s company.
‘And it’s obvious you find her attractive.’
Guy didn’t answer, preferring to stare out of the dark window at the passing London streets.
‘Admit it, you find her attractive.’
‘Yes, I suppose she has grown into a rather pretty young woman.’ That too was down-playing the truth. She was simply beautiful, the most stunning woman he had ever seen. He mixed with actresses, and other society ladies considered to be the most beautiful women of their age, but they paled in comparison to Daisy. It was not just her looks. It was her spirit. That spark within her that lit up her eyes, made her skin glow, that seemed to affect the very air around her.
‘You’re smiling in rather a dopey manner, Guy. I think that says a lot more than words ever could.’
Guy stopped smiling. He wouldn’t have a so-called ‘dopey smile’ on his face. Expressions like that were for deranged lovers like Florence and Nathaniel.
‘Well?’ Florence asked.
‘Well, what?
‘Wouldn’t she make the perfect Duchess of Mandivale?’
‘No,’ he stated emphatically. ‘I admit she is attractive. And, yes, I enjoy her company. But that is all, Florence. I will not be marrying Daisy Springfeld.’ He hoped his stern tone would alert her to the fact that he did not wish to discuss the subject any further.
‘Why not? You plan to marry, so it makes sense to marry someone who makes you happy.’
‘I’m not denying she would make me happy.’ Memories of that kiss flooded into his mind and he coughed to drive them away. Daisy could make him more than happy. She could send him into a state that could only be described as euphoric.
‘Exactly. She’d make the perfect duchess for you.’
‘No. Well, yes, in many ways she would make a perfect duchess, but I wouldn’t do that to Daisy.’
Florence shook her head slowly to indicate she did not understand.
Guy huffed out a breath, unsure whether he should be having this conversation with his cousin, but she continued to stare at him, waiting for an answer. She was not going to let this go until he had made it clear why he would not be marrying Daisy Springfeld.
‘I plan to marry for one reason, and one reason only. I want an heir. I want to save the title and estate from ever falling into Horace’s hands.’
Florence nodded. ‘Yes, I know. But...’ She raised her hands palms upwards to indicate that she expected more of an explanation.
‘I don’t intend to change when I marry.’ He looked into her eyes to see whether she got the full meaning of his words. She continued to stare back at him, uncomprehending.
‘I want a wife who will accept me for who I am, who will let me continue to live my life exactly as I live it now—as if I am a single man.’ He watched as the realisation of what that meant dawned on her.
‘Oh!’ she squeaked.
‘Oh, exactly. I would not inflict such a life on Daisy. Daisy should be with a better man than me, a man who will love her and do what the marriage vows say: forsake all others. That is not in my nature, is it, Florence?’
Sadly, she shook her head.
‘I require a wife who is content with being a duchess and a mother but expects nothing more from me.’
Florence continued shaking her head, her brow furrowed, as if he were telling her a tale full of woe. Guy knew that he could also add that he wanted a wife who did not love him and whom he did not love. With Daisy Springfeld he knew he would have the first of these requirements but, despite what he had said to Florence, he was starting to fear he was in danger of failing to achieve the second.
The Springfeld household was always noisy and chaotic, but never more so than when another wedding was imminent. As soon as Nathaniel had informed everyone that he was soon to wed, Hazel and Iris rushed back to the family home bringing with them their husbands and, in Hazel’s case, her two children.
Iris also had her own good news to impart. She was pregnant with her first child, which caused the volume of raucous celebrations at the family home to increase exponentially.
Daisy was of course delighted for her brother. She adored Florence, was looking forward to having yet another sister and she couldn’t have been more pleased for Iris and her husband. But she couldn’t shake off a ridiculous melancholy that had descended on her since Lady Danton’s ball. She knew exactly what had caused it. It was that damn kiss that damn Guy had given her, leaving her with a taste of something heavenly, something which had then been taken away, something which she knew she would never experience again.
Within the chaos of having the entire family back at home, including Iris’s noisy, excitable pug dog and her husband’s rather large Irish wolfhound, Daisy’s mother was organising a dinner party for the two families. She was discussing her plans for the wedding with anyone in the family who would listen, including the busy servants, and making constant suggestions on what style of gown Florence should wear.
Daisy would have thought that such organisation would take all her mother’s time, but she had added getting another gown made for Daisy to her list of jobs to do. It was something Daisy could not understand. Surely she had enough gowns already hanging in her wardrobe? But her mother would not be persuaded otherwise.
‘For the engagement dinner, I want a gown that really brings out your beauty,’ her mother said as they rode in the carriage to the dressmaker for another round of selecting fabric, lace and all the other paraphernalia that went into such elaborate clothing. ‘Something that highlights the colour of your eyes, and your lovely chestnut hair.’
Daisy couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. This gown wasn’t for another ball, at which her mother was hoping to foist her onto a potential husband. It was for a dinner which only the family would attend, and they had all known for some time that she had blue eyes and brown hair.
Well, the family plus Florence, who would soon be part of the family, and Guy, who was almost family anyway. Daisy’s breath caught in her throat and she slowly turned to face her mother, who was chattering on about whether satin or silk would best flatter Daisy’s figure.
‘Mother!’ she said, her words coming out as a shocked gasp. ‘You’re not trying to match-make are you?’
Her mother looked at her with wide-eyed innocence. ‘Me? You know I’m not like other mothers who force their daughters onto unsuitable men just to get them married off. I’ve always said that, when my children marry, I want it to be for love and love alone. If not, then they can remain unmarried.’
‘You didn’t answer my question,’ Daisy said, still hardly able to breathe. ‘Are you trying to match me up...’ She swallowed, her hand on her fluttering stomach. ‘With Guy Parnell?’
Her mother gave a small laugh, which sounded false to Daisy. ‘Don’t be silly, my dear.’ She patted Daisy’s knee. ‘I just want you to look your best for the engagement dinner. And, if Guy happens to realise just how grown up you now are, and just how beautiful you have become, well there’s no harm in that, is there?’
Daisy didn’t know where to begin in enlightening her mother as to the full extent of the harm there would be in that. Guy was a rake—surely her mother knew that? Daisy certainly did, and now knew it not just through his reputation. Worse than that, he was a rake in search of a compliant wife who would sire him a son but let him continue in his rakish ways. That could not be the sort of husband her mother wanted for her.
‘Guy is wholly unsuitable as a husband.’
Her mother shrugged. ‘Well, I’ve always been very fond of him. Despite his childhood, he was a delightful boy, and he’s grown into such a handsome and charming young man.’
‘A bit too charming and handsome if you ask me,’ Daisy muttered.
‘There’s no such thing,’ her mother said in that familiar voice she adopted when she believed her opinions to be indisputable.
‘Mother,’ Daisy said, slowly enunciating her words. ‘Guy is too charming. He is a...well...he has had rather a lot of women in his life.’ She stared at her mother to assess whether she understood the full extent of what she meant by had.
Her mother gave what could only be described as a wicked smile. ‘And what woman doesn’t appreciate a man with a bit of experience? Why, before I married your father...’
‘Mother, no,’ Daisy cut in, her hands flying to cover her ears.
‘All I’m saying,’ her mother continued, pulling Daisy’s hands back down, ‘Is there’s nothing wrong with a man who knows what he’s doing, and a man can always change once he meets the right woman.’
‘I doubt that very much,’ Daisy said, crossing her arms firmly. ‘The man’s incorrigible. Do you know he’s planning to marry some unfortunate woman who will have to do her duty and provide him with an heir while giving him complete freedom to do as he pleases?’
Her mother tilted her head. ‘Oh, he’s thinking seriously about marriage, is he?’
Daisy glared back at her. ‘Didn’t you hear what I said? He wants a wife who will bear his children but let him do exactly as he wants. And I would never be such a wife.’
‘No, I know you wouldn’t, my dear,’ her mother said, as if that meant their future marriage was more, not less, likely.
‘Please, Mother, don’t try and match me with Guy. I couldn’t bear it.’
Her mother patted her arm. ‘I would never do anything to hurt you, Daisy, you know that.’
Daisy stared at her mother, trying to assess the meaning of her words. ‘Promise me you won’t match-make. Go on—say it.’
‘I promise. But there’s no harm in you having a new gown and looking your best, and there’s certainly no harm in letting nature take its course.’
‘Mother, do not—’
‘Oh, we’re here—good.’
The carriage pulled up in front of the dressmaker’s premises and Daisy reluctantly followed her mother into the work room where silks, satins, tulles and laces were once again thrown over her shoulder while her mother and the dressmaker discussed styles and textures.
Daisy played no active part in the process. She did not care what she looked like at the dinner and was dreading seeing Guy again. She knew he had no meaningful interest in her—he had made that plain.
Those words ran through her mind once more: I can’t resist any available young woman. And she had made herself available to him. She had exposed her own longings to him in such a blatant way—had let him know just how easy it would be for him to seduce her, had asked him, all but begged him, to do so. It was so mortifying, she could hardly bear it.
Like so many women before her she had succumbed to his charms and good looks, something about which her mother was so wrong. They were qualities of which a man most definitely could have too much.
And the last thing she wanted was her mother adding to her humiliation by actually trying to encourage Guy. What if he thought she had told her mother she was interested in him? What if he thought she was one of those women who were desperate to marry him? She was not like those women. She never had been and never would be.
Daisy was tempted to wear her cycling bloomers to the engagement dinner just to prove that she did not care one fig whether Guy thought she looked attractive or not, and to show him she had no intention of trying to attract his interest ever again. She had made one mistake. She would not be making another.
‘Oh, don’t look so churlish,’ her mother said as they finally climbed back into the carriage. ‘Don’t think of it as dressing up to impress Guy. Think of it as dressing up in honour of your brother and his new fiancée.’
Daisy’s lips became more pinched. ‘Mother, you promised.’
Her mother patted her knee again. ‘I know you, my dear. And I know that without my guidance you’re just as likely to turn up in those silly...in those rational bloomers of yours...but you mustn’t. It would take the attention away from Florence and Nathaniel, and you wouldn’t want to do that, would you?’ Her mother smiled at her in satisfaction. ‘So, you’re just going to have to wear that lovely blue gown I’ve chosen for you.’
Daisy merely huffed out her disapproval, refusing to discuss the subject any further. Fortunately, once they returned from the dressmaker, her mother’s attention was once more caught up in organising the dinner and discussing wedding arrangements, so no further mention was made of Guy Parnell. Hopefully, her mother would be true to her word and would just let nature take its course without any interference or attempt at match-making and, given her nature and Guy’s nature, that would mean they would most certainly not be marrying.
On the evening of the engagement dinner Daisy was uncharacteristically nervous. She dressed with studied care, telling herself that she was doing so out of respect for her brother and his fiancée. She even agreed to allow her lady’s maid to style her hair in the latest ornate fashion once again, telling herself it had nothing to do with what Annette said about the style being both flattering and feminine.
Observing her reflection in the full-length mirror, Daisy had to admit, despite her annoyance at her, her mother had chosen a gown that did flatter her figure and was rather becoming.
Once again, her mother had selected a soft fabric that clung to the body, ending with a train that gently swept around her feet. Delicate embroidery in silver thread contrasted with the deep-blue silk. As she twirled in front of the mirror, the fabric shimmered and the silver embroidery twinkled like stars in a dark blue sky.
Her mother really did have good taste in fashion, if not in men—or at least, in future husbands for her youngest daughter.
As with the gown she had worn to Lady Danton’s ball, this one was cut low, exposing her naked shoulders and her décolletage. A small shiver rippled through Daisy as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror.
Guy had told her he couldn’t resist her when he had seen her standing in the moonlight, and hadn’t been able to stop himself from kissing her. Rightly or wrongly, he had been attracted to her, and had wanted to kiss her—not just her lips, but all of her.
She gently placed her hands on the exposed swell of her breasts, remembering the touch of Guy’s hands, his lips kissing her breasts and his tongue caressing them, his lips nuzzling and sucking... She pulled her hands away, fire exploding on her cheeks. Now was not the time to think of such things. She had to get through this engagement dinner and celebrate her brother’s engagement, and she would not be able to relax and enjoy herself until she put all thoughts of Guy firmly out of her head.
She entered the drawing room where the family had assembled before dinner was to be served. Florence looked incandescent with happiness and Nathaniel seemed incapable of not smiling and constantly stared at his bride-to-be. There could be no doubt that they were in love. That was what love looked like, and it was not what Guy felt for her. He had gone from seeing her as a child, as little Daisy Chain, to seeing her as just another woman—an available woman with whom he could toy—and she wasn’t sure which was worse.
Her gaze moved over to Guy standing beside the mantelpiece. Damn him, he was looking his usual handsome self. Dressed in a formal black swallow-tailed suit, white shirt and tie and a silver waistcoat, he was far too attractive for his own good—or, rather, for her own good. He smiled at her and her heart did a disturbing flip inside her chest that was almost painful. The weakness of her legs as she walked across the room, the dull pain in her chest and the difficulty she was having breathing, made it obvious that putting all thoughts of Guy out of her head was going to be no easy task.
While Guy did not love her, there was no denying she felt something for him, but it could not be love. He made her feel uncomfortable, almost dizzy, and that was a stark contrast to the easy, loving manner between Florence and Nathaniel. That was love. She did not know what it was she felt for Guy, but it most certainly was not love.
She reached the family group and forced herself to greet Guy and Florence in a manner that gave away none of the agitation stirring inside her.
‘I see you’re continuing to dress in an irrational style,’ he said in that familiar teasing manner, while slowly looking her up and down.
If her mother had expected Guy to suddenly succumb to her beauty at the sight of her in yet another new gown, and throw himself down onto one knee and propose, she would be very disappointed. Despite the effort that she had taken, her clothing was having no effect on him at all, unless her mother considered teasing to be a desirable outcome. And, damn him, he was right—she was becoming less rational—and she didn’t just mean in her clothes. Since that kiss she seemed incapable of being at all rational over anything. But that was going to have to change. She needed to be rational if she was to stop herself from acting like even more of a fool than she already was.
‘Mother insisted that I dress appropriately. She said it would be disrespectful to Nathaniel and Florence not to do so for their engagement dinner,’ she said, unable to keep a huffing note out of her reply.
‘Well, you look beautiful, but I don’t think those two are capable of noticing what anyone else is wearing or doing,’
They both looked over at Nathaniel and Florence who were laughing together at some private joke while gently touching each other’s arms.
‘It’s good to see one member of the Parnell family is going to marry for the right reasons,’ Daisy said. ‘So, have you found the Duchess of Mandivale yet?’
‘No, not yet,’ he said with that infuriating smile. ‘No young lady has yet been singled out for that fate worse than death.’
Heat exploded onto Daisy’s cheeks. She did not want to think of the fate that awaited his bride. Why did he have to remind her that the main reason he needed a wife was to produce an heir? The fate of the future duchess was not something Daisy would consider worse than death, not if their time together on the balcony was anything to go by. The young lady he took as his duchess would no doubt walk around with the same satisfied smile on her face that she had seen on Lady Penrose, or would be giving him top billing the way Ruby Lovelace had.
‘I still think it’s morally wrong,’ she said with a disapproving sniff, unsure what she was really objecting to.
He shrugged. ‘Yes, but I’m not like you, Daisy. You’re lucky. You have choices.’
She glared up at him. Surely he didn’t really believe that? ‘Choices? What choices do I have?’ she all but spluttered. ‘No woman truly has choices. Unless you think the options of marrying and losing all freedom and rights, or remaining unmarried and being seen as some sort of social pariah, are choices? Whereas for you, even though you say you are being forced to marry and father an heir, it will change nothing. You will still have the same freedoms and maintain all the same rights and privileges as you do now. You can still live the life of a bachelor. No woman would ever be able to do that.’
‘Is that what you want? To marry but live your life as if you were still unmarried?’
‘Yes...well, no. I don’t know. All I know is it’s unfair and you have no right to say your situation is anything like mine. You won’t have to sacrifice anything when you get married. All you have to do is get some woman with child and then you can carry on just as you please.’
She could tell her voice was getting louder and she looked around, slightly embarrassed at losing her temper during a happy family occasion. But no one had noticed. They were all busy talking and laughing in their usual exuberant manner.
‘Neither of your sisters had to sacrifice anything when they married.’
They turned to look at Iris and Hazel, both holding onto the arms of their husbands, their laughter showing how happy they were with their married status.
‘Neither of them married just so they could sire an heir or save a title. Neither of them was used by the man they married for his own purposes.’
He looked suitably chastened by her outrage. As he should be.
‘I will be honest about what I’m offering the woman I eventually marry,’ he reminded her quietly.
She continued to scowl at him but was somewhat pleased he had the decency to look a bit shamefaced about it, although that was hardly suitable consolation.
‘And she will be using me as much as I am using her,’ he continued. ‘You saw the way those young women behaved at Lady Danton’s ball. They wanted the title of duchess and I doubt they would care who they married to get it.’
Daisy sniffed again, although she knew that for those aspirational young women his stunning good looks, masculine countenance and immeasurable charm would be an added incentive.
‘It’s still not right, and I still think marriage is a terrible institution and unfair to women.’
Daisy waited for his objections and prepared herself to give him a lecture on how women lost everything when they married—how they became almost the property of their husbands and how that was an intolerable situation that had to change.
But he merely shrugged and looked across the room at his cousin. ‘Despite what you say, the thought of marriage is making Florence happy. I’ve never seen her looking more beautiful and I couldn’t wish for a better husband for my cousin than your brother.’
She followed his gaze and looked at the happy couple. Her anger evaporated and she remembered that tonight was supposed to be a celebration. ‘I know. I’m so pleased for them, and everyone in the family simply adores Florence. Another sister. It’s just wonderful.’
Guy smiled at her and her irritation instantly returned. Damn him. Why did he have to have such a glorious smile? Why were his teeth so perfect? Why did the edges of those brown eyes have to crinkle up in that infuriatingly attractive manner? And why did a smile have to make her feel as if she were melting internally?
His smile faded but the effect on Daisy remained no less intense. His deep-brown eyes stared into hers, capturing her gaze and preventing her from looking away, as she knew she should. As if pulled by an invisible thread, she leaned closer to him, her body aching to feel his hands on her again. Her lips were tingling, desperate for his kisses.
The dinner gong resounded loudly in the room, causing Daisy to blink rapidly as she tried to drag herself back to reality. What on earth was she doing? Surely she wasn’t falling under Guy’s spell yet again, and so easily? The same spell that had captured all those other women he was rumoured to have had? Well, she would not succumb to a man who was too charming and too handsome by half. She would not succumb to Guy Parnell. Not tonight. Not ever.