A Duke for Daisy by Ellie St. Clair

Author:Ellie St. Clair
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-04-25T21:00:00+00:00

11

Nathaniel knew he was being ridiculous. But there was something about Daisy’s infectious spirit, of this place which seemed magical, in a strange way. He had never been one for the whimsical nor the emotional — he was a man who set a purpose and followed through. Though that had been his opinion of Daisy as well, and here she was, releasing all of her cares in a meadow full of blue flowers.

He could tell she was embarrassed about her own reaction, and so he had done what he could to ease her worry — by joining her. He stood now, feeling the coolness of the soft flowers on his toes, and he followed her lead in closing his eyes to experience the sensations. When he opened them, she stood with bare feet, her boots discarded beside her.

She ventured forward a few steps, and then, just as the sunlight broke through the trees, she flung her arms out and spun in a circle, tilting her face toward the warmth filtering through the branches above her, and Nathaniel could only stand and stare at her in awe.

Never, in his entire life, had he seen anything so beautiful as the sight currently before him. He had seen the tragedies and horrors of war, and he had also seen plenty of artificial beauty in the dyed gowns, painted faces, and exquisitely coiffed hair of women as they twirled about dance floors. Buildings constructed in a wide variety of materials, painted scenes to resemble the very nature that lay around them had been part of his everyday life.

Daisy, however, in this woodland, was what was true, what was real. This image in front of him spoke to his very soul in a way nothing ever had before.

And he knew, deep within him, that his yearning for her was something he could no longer deny. He took tentative steps toward her, though what he was planning to do once he reached her, he had no idea. She made the decision for him, however, extending her arms, taking his hands in hers.

“Dance with me?” she asked, her face open and vulnerable, her voice somewhat pleading, as though she was concerned that he would say no, that she would be left alone in her exhibition of joy.

Nathaniel refused to allow that to happen. He took her hands, smiled, and danced as though there was no pain holding him back, no immobility that would keep him from enjoying this day, this moment, this woman.

Interestingly enough, without his boot rubbing against the back of his calf, his leg felt better than it had since the injury. He let go of the thoughts of all that had happened, all he had experienced, all he was missing, to simply enjoy this dance. The music was born of the blackcaps and nightingales chirping in the air around them, the wind rustling through the tree leaves, and the faraway sound of the ocean waves in the distance.

Finally, at the same moment, they began

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