Tempting Miss Daisy by Tammy Andresen

Author:Tammy Andresen
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-10-01T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

DAISY WALKED with a child on either side of her, painfully aware of the man who walked on Michael’s right side.

“How long have you had your horse?” Michael asked, looking at Cole.

Cole smiled down at the boy. “Just a few years.” He cleared his throat. “My horse before that was much older and not nearly as large.”

Michael nodded. “A man your size needs a big stallion.”

“Michael,” Daisy chastised softly. “We don’t mention such things.”

“No.” Lord Hartwell winked. “He’s right. My old stallion was terribly burdened with my weight, but it took a few years before I was able to purchase such an animal.”

Daisy crinkled her brow. “Children, see if you can find some holly branches for us to make a wreath.”

Both children raced off and she looked over at Lord Hartwell, wishing to ask questions like Michael just had, but not wishing to pry.

He looked over at her, even as he held out his elbow. “You’ve sent the children off once more. Confident I’ll be able to save them again?”

She laughed a little. “There’s no river here.” Then she cleared her throat. “I should be very glad you purchased a new horse. I don’t know if you would have saved Michael if you hadn’t.”

“Hercules made it easier,” he said. “But I would have saved him no matter what.”

“I sense that about you, Lord Hartwell.”

“Call me Cole, Daisy.” Then he stopped, turning toward her. “You should know that I also have a colorful past. Or at least my father did. He left me in a deep debt that I’ve spent the last several years climbing out of.”

Her heart ached. “A duke didn’t come to your rescue?”

He reached for her hand. “Don’t say it like that. I got the title. I’ve built a solid farming business. I can still marry and elevate my status.”

She winced as her heart skipped a beat. She’d started to hope, but of course he wanted to marry a woman of means and status. Sadness filled her chest. She had neither. “Will you marry a woman who elevates your position in society? Is that who you’re buying the mare for? A bride?”

She saw him hesitate. “Yes. Possibly.”

Her breath stalled as her chin dropped down. Somehow those words cut deep inside. She had begun to hope he’d want her but of course, she’d always known. He was a member of the peerage. Why would he marry a woman who was staff? Her father hadn’t even cared enough to provide a future for them. He’d left them to starve, or rot, or be married off to foul men who shopped for wives at an auction house.

He cleared his throat. “Her father has made a large fortune trading silk. I…” He stopped, grimacing.

But Daisy already knew the trade that her father, whoever she was, was bargaining. “You provide the title, she provides the fortune.”

She felt him tense under her hand. Her words had likely been crass. But she was having trouble holding back the wave of anger, and resentment, and loss that overwhelmed her.

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