Page 13 of Romancing Daphne

“If my calculations are correct, we have identified all but two of your brother-in-law’s henchmen.” His teasing tone fell just the slightest bit flat, as though he were earnestly attempting to find the situation humorous. “Perhaps one of them was hiding beneath Mrs. Bower’s bonnet.”

If she hadn’t been absolutely mortified, she likely would have laughed at the very amusing observation.

The remainder of the ride passed in relative silence. They stopped a small number of times, James making introductions and striking up quick, innocuous conversations with the people he knew. But between visits, he kept quiet. Daphne’s face never fully cooled.

They returned to Falstone House, an entire entourage of mounted groomsmen arriving at the same time they did. James assisted her from the carriage and walked with her to the door. His stiff posture and stoic silence starkly contrasted his earlier easy demeanor.

Adam and Persephone were both sitting in the drawing room when James escorted her there.“I have returned Miss Lancaster unharmed, as requested,” he said.

Adam’s gaze turned to Fanny standing just behind them. His look of inquiry received an“I’ve nothin’ to report, Your Grace” from the maid.

“You’re free to go,” Adam said, looking entirely unrepentant about receiving a report on James’s actions with him still in the room.

James bowed civilly.“Miss Lancaster, it has been a pleasure.”

She stood still, not moving from the spot. He no longer smiled at her. His manner had become distant, formal.

“Thank you.” Her words hardly broke a whisper.

James left with little beyond the barest words of farewell.

“Did you have a nice ride?” Persephone asked after he was gone.

The last thing she wanted was to rehash the disaster that had been her oneand only drive with a gentleman at the fashionable hour.“It began well.” Tooffer anything more positive than that would not have been entirely honest—quite dishonest, in fact.

“What did Tilburn do?” Adam’s lips pursed in the way they did whenever his cousin George came up in conversation. He thoroughly disliked his cousin. Apparently he felt similarly about Lord Tilburn.

“He was a perfect gentleman, and very tolerant, as I am certain yourarmy of spies will assure you once they make their various reports.”Daphnesat in a nearby chair, striking a very unladylike, slumpedposture. She’dimagined so many times driving out with James Tilburn, but never in all herimaginings had the outing ended so disappointingly.

“Spies?” Adam managed to sound almost as if he didn’t know what she was talking about.

“Over the course of the ride, we crossed paths with a veritable horde of staff from this house, all under instructions to follow Lord Tilburn’s carriage.”

Persephone turned to her husband.“You had them followed?”

“Merely precautionary.” Adam’s unshakable confidence seldom grated on Daphne the way it did in that moment.

“You do not trust Lord Tilburn?” Persephone asked.

“I did not say that.”

“Then you do not trustme,” Daphne surmised.

“I most certainly did not say that.”

Persephone seemed genuinely confused.“Then why the armed guard?”

“Only two of them were actually armed.”

Daphne dropped her head into her open palm. An armed guard. Was it not clear to him how slim her chances were of enjoying any degree of social success? A strikingly beautiful young lady or one who conversed easily or possessed obvious accomplishments might be worth enduring such treatment. The gentlemen of Society would never make such an effort for a plain, quiet girl who could claim little talent beyond a knowledge of homeremedies and the ability to go unnoticed for hours on end.

“Oh, my dear Adam.” A laugh touched Persephone’s words. How could she, Daphne’s own sister, find this amusing?“Were you attempting to test his mettle?”

“Only offering a friendly warning.”

“Friendly?” That brought Persephone’s laugh entirely to the surface.

Daphne didn’t find the conversation funny in the least, though it did explain something she’d wondered about.“You meant for Lord Tilburn to realize the extent of your ability to keep an eye on him?”

---