Daisy and the Duke by Elizabeth Cole

Author:Elizabeth Cole [Cole, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SkySpark Books
Published: 2021-09-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Tristan arrived back at Lyondale well after dark had fallen. No one asked where he’d been, no one questioned his decisions. That was his life now, so different from living the life of a soldier, where every aspect of the day was tightly regulated and there was always a superior officer ready to jump on your neck for a minor infraction.

Perhaps there were a few benefits to being a duke, he thought, recalling his encounter with Daisy. He’d never meant for it to go so far, but one thing had led to another, and Daisy’s innocent enthusiasm and her utterly bewitching lack of prudery led Tris much further than he’d intended. Before he could think twice, he was so deep into lust that he was absolutely ready to take her virginity, right there in the woods.

That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? she’d asked, not accusingly, but certainly with a clear-eyed realization that Tristan was taking advantage of her. It didn’t much matter that she wanted him to—if he’d listened to her and made love to her then, he’d still be a heel. Tristan could name a dozen soldiers in his regiment alone who had left young women ruined or pregnant, not through malice but sheer stupidity. Men did not exactly think straight when alone with a woman. This simple fact was undoubtably why the daughters of the gentry were kept under lock and key until they were engaged. If Daisy hadn’t lost her inheritance, Tristan wouldn’t have been allowed within a hundred feet of her without a chaperone.

He’d have to guard himself closer in the future, at least until he could figure out how to formally propose to Daisy without the whole shire going up in flames. Because Tristan was certain of one thing: if he wasn’t going to have Daisy, he wasn’t going to have any woman.

Tristan entered the parlor, drawn to the sound of music. Inside, candles glittered in crystal sconces while Miss Wallis played the pianoforte with admirable skill. Jack was there as well, sitting in a velvet upholstered chair, listening attentively, though a book lay facedown on his lap.

Tristan waited until the song ended before stepping through the doorway. “Good evening,” he said. “You play wonderfully, Miss Wallis.”

“Thank you,” she replied with a nod. “His grace bought this piano for me.” She stood up, tidying the loose sheets of music on the top of the pianoforte. “If you’ll excuse me, I do think it’s time to retire. Good night.”

Jack stood up as Miss Wallis left the room, and Tristan was glad his friend was feeling well enough to be able to observe the little niceties of etiquette again. Tris knew it killed Jack to be thought impolite, even though it was quite clear that his illness was the cause.

As Tris walked to the side table to pour himself a brandy, Jack sank back down to the chair. “You missed supper,” he noted. “I think Miss Wallis was worried that you’d fallen off your horse and snapped your neck somewhere.

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