Page 5 of Romancing Daphne

But what could he have done? His connections were not only mostly political but mostlymale, though he did receive invitations to a good number of balls and soirees, being an unmarried heir to a title with a small but respectable fortune awaiting him. Enough of the matchmaking mamas inTown viewed him as a relatively good prospect for their daughters, provided someone of greater significance didn’t come around. But he didn’t think he was enough in demand to warrantinvitationsbeing extended to his mother for teas and ladies’ entertainments.

You haven’t the ability to unlock those doors.

“The duke has given you the opportunity to help your mother, to give her a taste of Society, a friend or two. In London, she could receive a doctor’s care. You might improve her entire life, and yet you refuse because it would be uncomfortable.” Father’s reprimand hit its mark. “Are you truly so unfeeling?”

With something of a sinking feeling, James realized his father was more right than he’d thought. Here was an opportunity to do something for his family, and he was refusing. Surely he could undertake something so simple as being a friend to a young lady. The duke had suggested a courtship but did not appear to be actually requiring one.

“Must I pretend I am calling of my own volition?” The hint of dishonesty was the only part of the arrangement that truly bothered him. He would be very circumspect in his attentions so no one seeing him would believe him truly courting her. But to feign a connection between them when none existed was not precisely aboveboard.

“You cannot arrive at their home declaring you have come only becausethe duke forced you to do so.” Father shook his head, a scold clear in thegesture.“While that may be the truth, it is hardly a gentlemanly sentimentto throw at a young lady.”

James allowed a smile. Though the conversation hadn’t truly been a friendly one—they never were—it had been an improvement over most.“I don’t know that I would have explained things in quite those words.”

“I should hope not.” Father absentmindedly tipped his empty glass back and forth.“You needn’t pretend the two of you are the very closest of friends. Find a happy compromise.”

For a moment, his determination wavered. But then he thought of Mother, alone in Lancashire. Not even Bennett, James’s younger brother, remained at home to keep her company, having his own admittedly dilapidated estate. With the right connections, Mother might one day come to Town rather than remain behind on her own. She might at last regain her health.

“If I am careful, I could likely manage to walk that line,” James said.

Father began spinning his signet ring once more. He dropped a firm hand on James’s shoulder.“A wise course, Tilburn. Kielder’s sister-in-lawwill benefit from your assistance. You’ll have a fine set of new acquaintances.Your mother may even, in time, benefit from these efforts you are making.”

James nodded. Spending a little time with someone he hardly knew wasn’t much to ask, really. And if the duke and his sister-in-law both knew the reason for James’s attention, then he wasn’t deceiving them.

This will work out fine. Just fine.

He hoped.

Chapter Three

Daphne sat at her dressingtable eyeing her formidable brother-in-law in themirror.“I fully intend to petition the House of Lords and have this particular form of torture outlawed.”

Adam merely shrugged.“Most of them would not comprehend a word you said.”

She smiled in spite of herself. Adam had on more than one occasion denounced the Upper House as“a collection of molded jellies piled atop one another without so much as a thought between them all.”

“I will speak in short, simple sentences,” she said.“That should increase their chances of grasping the issue at hand.”

“Your sister was so eager for a Season she resorted to underhanded schemes and the employment of diversionary tactics.” Adam looked no more happy about that bit of history than he had six years earlier when it had originally played out.

“Circumstances were different for Athena.”Daphne’s gaze drifted back to her own reflection—her plain, short, unexceptional reflection.“For onething, she was older than I am. Further, she takes great enjoyment in thesocial whirl. Also, she had Harry.”

“She did not know she had Harry,” Adam countered.

“She did not know she had Harry in the way she had Harry, but she still had him.”

“Splitting hairs will do you no good, Daphne.” Adam came and stood beside her mirror, looking at her directly rather than reflection to reflection. Though she did not think his badly scarred face truly bothered him, she had noticed he seldom looked in mirrors.“Like it or not, you are to have a Season.”

“But I do not wish to have one.” She preferred the quiet of home and the company of those who understood her reticence and accepted her as she was.“I have made my bows. Can we not declare that sufficient pain and suffering and return to Falstone Castle?”

“This is Society. No amount of pain and suffering will everprove sufficient.”

“How comforting.” She turned in her chair and looked directly at him. “You know I hate these things every bit as much as you do. I am doomed to end my debut in failure.”

“If Society doesn’t take to you, Daphne, it will be no failure on your part.You are well-spoken and intelligent and—”

“When was the last time a gentleman at your club slapped his crony on the shoulder and said ‘Perchance, have you met London’s newest diamond? Every gentleman in Town is clamoring to win her regard because she is sowell-spoken and intelligent.’” Daphne ended in a withering tone.

“I doubt 90 percent of the gentlemen in London could spell the wordperchance,let alone use it correctly in a sentence.”

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