Page 66 of Her Duke's Second Chance

She gave a faint smile. “Good morning Your Grace.”

He sat down and then looked to his right. “May I ask if you have seen your sister this morning? Is she on her way down?”

Daisy daintily speared a piece of sausage. “She left.”

Robert frowned. “Left? The house?”

“Yes.” She took a sip of tea, not looking at him.

He leaned toward her to meet her eyes. “Where did she go?”

She huffed in amusement, putting her teacup down in its saucer. “She went riding, I believe.”

“Riding?” Robert asked in disbelief. “Where?”

“Where else?” Daisy shrugged. “Hyde Park, of course.”

“Hmm…” His brow furrowed. “I was not aware she liked to ride.”

“I am certain there are a lot of things about her of which you are unaware.”

Robert stared at her in surprise. Were it anyone else, he might have mistaken her tone for insolence.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You leave her here alone to her own devices for a year, and then you are surprised that she has pastimes you know nothing about?” She shot him an incredulous glance.

He huffed, “If there is something in particular that you wish to say to me, I suggest you get to it. I am not one for subtleties.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and she sat up straighter in her chair. “Very well. You sought my sister out in marriage and then proceeded to ignore her for a year. Why?”

“What is it to you?”

“She is my sister!”

“Well, I am her husband and that means I am entitled to do as I please with her.”

“Do as you please? How dare…?”

He held up his hands placatingly. “All I meant was, that what happens within our union isourbusiness.”

She leaned closer, looking him in the eye. “Her happiness is stillmybusiness. I askrespectfullythat you treat her well, otherwise you will not enjoy what happens next.”

His eyes narrowed at her thinly veiled threat. For a small, quixotic woman, she was displaying a great deal of boldness. This was not the sister-in-law to which he had become accustomed. Then again, she resembled a certain fiery wife of his, and Robert reminded himself that Lady Daisy came from the same bloodline.

He nodded curtly, “I am a gentleman. I have no intention of mistreating your sister. I am sure she appreciates your concern, but I assure you it is unnecessary.”

She nodded, relaxing into her seat. “Good. I happen to like you, Your Grace. I would have hated to make you an enemy.”

Robert laughed. “I am relieved it has not come down to that. Now, if you will excuse me…” he got to his feet, “I think I shall take a ride.”

She nodded her head in acknowledgement and returned to her breakfast.

“Do you think that a man like the duke could ever love a woman like me?” Georgiana asked as she and Selina cantered along the cobbled pathways in the park.

Selina inclined her head in thought. “It is difficult to say. His Grace has always held himself apart, even before the tragedy of his fiancée’s death. Heavy is the crown and all that…He is a difficult man to know.”

“Yet…” Georgiana shook her head slowly, “Last night I saw another side to him. So sweet, Selina. We laughed together, we talked, we…” she sighed deeply.

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