The Duke I Wished For: Sweet Regency Romance (A Maypole in Mayfair Book 5) by Maggie Dallen & Katherine Ann Madison

Author:Maggie Dallen & Katherine Ann Madison [Dallen, Maggie & Madison, Katherine Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swift Romance Publishing Corp
Published: 2023-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

If May Day had been a sunny delight, the following two days were absolutely dismal. Daffodil could hear the rain pattering against the window panes as a fire crackled beside her in the school’s drawing room.

She supposed it was fitting weather for her least favorite task. Daffodil frowned down at the embroidery in her hands.

Jane hovered by the windows, peering out as if this incessant rain might miraculously stop if she stared hard enough. With a sigh, she said, “Riding lessons will be canceled again, I suppose.”

Jocelyn half turned in the settee to glance over at Jane. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re pining for this riding instructor of yours.”

Jane gave an unladylike snort. “You would never say such a thing if you’d ever seen my instructor.” She arched her brows as she added. “Or met his wife and their six grown children.”

Delilah giggled beside Daffodil, but Daffodil couldn’t even summon a smile. Truthfully, she hadn’t been able to smile at all since being dragged away from Hathshire—no, Blake.

I think you should call me Blake. I insist.

She bit her lip to hold back a sigh as the now-familiar swarm of butterflies took flight in her belly.

Had that really happened? It all still felt like a dream.

Except for the part where she’d stammered like a ninny about embroidering, and then let her mother sweep her away like she was some spineless nitwit.

There’d still been so much to say. She hadn’t explained herself well at all. The man she truly cared for had offered marriage and she’d made a mess of it.

The bright blue and green embroidered pattern in her lap blurred as her eyes filled with tears.

“Daff?” Delilah said gently. “Are you all right?”

Daffodil sniffed. She went to say, I’m fine, but all that escaped with an odd, unpleasant, squeaking sort of sound.

Delilah’s eyes widened in dismay. “Daff, what is it?”

Daffodil tried to swallow back a sob. For nearly two days now she’d been avoiding questions about her time alone with Blake, and she still wasn’t sure what to say. But now everyone had realized there was a problem and she was swarmed by well-meaning friends who were hugging her and patting her knee. Isabelle and Jane crouched at her feet while Jocelyn and Delilah crushed her from either side on the settee.

Delilah squeezed her hand so hard it hurt, but Daffodil was so grateful for the comfort she didn’t complain.

“What happened, dear?” Jocelyn’s tone was gentle.

Daffodil swallowed hard. “It’s…it’s the duke.”

“Hathshire?” Isabelle said.

Daffodil nodded.

“Did something transpire between you two at the May Day celebration? Was he inappropriate?” Jane’s brows knitted together. “If so, tell me and I’ll—”

“No, no,” Daffodil said quickly. “It’s nothing like that.”

Though she’d be interested to know what Jane thought she could do if he had been. While she might love riding and adventure, the girl was a petite little thing.

Daffodil tried to imagine little Jane confronting the big, formidable duke, and the thought was enough to make her lips quiver and the sound that escaped was as much a laugh as it was a sob.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.