A Duke She Can't Refuse by Gemma Blackwood

Author:Gemma Blackwood [Blackwood, Gemma]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2019-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

11

All Lady Peyton’s protestations were not enough to keep Daisy confined to the sofa the following day.

“I can rest just as well with my hands on the keys of a piano,” she declared, proving it by playing several scales. Ralph had departed that morning in a black mood, having received word that Mr Kettleburn had stopped by the house of a respectable gentleman for supper on the night of the fire. Either a High Court Judge was also involved in the intrigue, or Mr Kettleburn had managed to set a fire without ever setting foot inside Lord Peyton’s house.

Fortunately, two of Daisy’s suitcases had been left still packed in an anteroom, and had escaped any smoke damage. She would not be forced to endure too many days at the dressmaker’s – a place that always brought her mother’s extravagance to the fore – while she replaced what she had lost. All the same, when Lady Peyton announced that she was going to the haberdasher to look up new furnishings for the burnt shell of Lord Peyton’s house, Daisy was disappointed that she was not permitted to accompany her. The day was bright and inviting and it seemed a shame to play the invalid when she felt perfectly well.

“You stay here with me, my dear,” said Lord Peyton, patting her hand. “I have exerted myself far too much in these past days, and I must rest! I would be very grateful if you would play to me while I doze.”

In the face of Lord Peyton’s entreaties and her mother’s concern, Daisy could not help but submit. She sat at the piano and distracted herself from the sunny weather with a languorous waltz designed to soothe Lord Peyton into a slumber. Soon, his rolling snores made a counterpoint to the music.

When Mr Tyler came in to announce an unexpected visitor, Daisy pressed a finger to her lips.

“Poor Lord Peyton has suffered such a terrible blow,” she whispered. “I cannot bear to wake him!”

Tyler bowed and spoke in a stage whisper that would have immediately roused anyone less deaf than Daisy’s stepfather. “You have a gentleman caller, Miss Morton. He says his name is Mr Turner. Shall I show him in?”

Daisy frowned. She could not recall any acquaintance by the name of Turner. “I suppose you better had,” she said. With a glance to check that Lord Peyton was safely asleep, she arranged herself in a calm pose on the sofa as though she did nothing all day but await morning calls from gentlemen.

The man who came through the door was tall, fair-haired, and would have been handsome if he did not spend so much time peering about the room, apparently passing judgement based on exacting criteria that only he understood. Daisy nodded politely and allowed him to take her hand.

“Forgive my intrusion, Miss Morton.” His accent was a little rough, but he spoke like a perfect gentleman. “We have met once before, if you recall, at Lady Shrewsbury’s garden party last year.”

Now Daisy was completely confused.

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