Page 70 of Romancing Daphne

“Find where you are needed.” She repeated her own advice.

But where was she needed? With Persephone consulting physicians without even a word of input from Daphne, something that in the pasthad generally always been done, her apothecary abilities didn’t seem likely to give her purpose amongst them, at least not to the extent they once had.

Her afternoons with Adam had seemed helpful to him, giving himsomeone with whom he could discuss ideas and philosophies and issues of the day. She was needed in that respect. In time, the child he and Persephone were now anticipating would likely take her place in that. Adam would havehis own child to raise and care for.

Her happiness for her sister and brother-in-law came with an unexpectedsurge of something very like mourning. Their own family was expanding, and she would not truly be part of it.

A maiden aunt could be appreciated and enjoyed, but she would not really beneeded. She would be unessential again, just as she’d been when shewas a child. Evander would not be there to make certain she was noticed. Adam would be occupied with more personal concerns. Persephone, whohad taken on the role of mother to Artemis when she was an infant, wouldtake up that duty once more with her own child.

Daphne would have no place. She had learned as a child that usefulness went a long way to extending one’s welcome. Perhaps a more in-depth studyof her herbs would make her an asset to the community around FalstoneCastle. If the local families and the vicar and even the staff at the castle benefited from her knowledge and skills, then she would serve a purpose among them. And she would stay busy. Endless occupation left a person with far lesstime for focusing on regrets.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Father was in a raretaking. He summoned James to the library the morning after the disastrous picnic. Only the obvious tension in Father’s jaw belied his composed demeanor. James remained standing as he waited for the lecture. He knew precisely what Father would say and did not intend to drag out the interview.

“I understand Miss Lancaster left in quite a hurry yesterday,” Father said.

“She and her sister chose to return to their London residence before the picnic began.”

Father’s gaze narrowed.“When do you intend to call on her again?”

“I do not, Father.” James borrowed a page from Father’s book, keepinghis own expression confident and unruffled.“It seems we would not suitafter all.”

“You have ended your courtship?” Father gave him the look that alwaysindicated his doubt in James’s intelligence.

“No.”

The slightest hint of relief entered Father’s expression.

James kept his tone bland.“Sheended the courtship. Quite unequivocally, in fact.”

Father’s gaze hardened.“What have you done?”

A question James had asked himself multiple times. He would notallow his father to see how upset he truly was over the previous day’s events.“It seems you underestimated Miss Lancaster’s intelligence—we both did. She discovered the true nature of this courtship and decided she deserved better.”

Father remained silent, his expression frozen in a look of contemplation. He, no doubt, was composing some new plan or another. He would suggesta new strategy, an attempt to convince Daphne to trust him again. James wanted no part of it.

He spoke before his father could.“My conduct these past weeks does not bear scrutiny. I look back on the decisions I have made and the course I have taken, and I am—” He pushed out a tense breath. His self-evaluation had not been pleasant.“I am entirely ashamed of myself.”

“Ashamed?” Father’s scoffing tone left little doubt as to the state ofhisconscience.

“I acted dishonorably. Though the duke was the one to suggest the possibility of a courtship between Miss Lancaster and I, he would never have approved of me doing so insincerely. He watched me with such suspicion that I am relatively certain he had begun to see through the masquerade. And I, for my own well-being, simply tried that much harder to be convincing. I misled him and the duchess by word and deed. And my deliberately deceptive courtship of Miss Lancaster was absolutely inexcusable.” James straightened his shoulders.“It is time I regained my hold on my own integrity.”

“You intend to simply let her walk away?” Tension entered Father’s tone. He so seldom allowed any emotion to color his words. James knew the interview would grow worse before he was permitted to leave.

“I intend to not impose upon her further.”

Father leaned forward, pressing his forearms against his desk and meeting James’s eyes with a look of warning.“You know the consequences offailure.”

“I think, Father, you and I definefailurea little differently.”

Father didn’t so much as flinch.“You will no longer receive your incomefrom the estate. Neither will your brother.”

“He is resilient.” James knew the loss would be a burden to Ben, and he would do all he could to help.

“That is rather coldhearted for you, Tilburn.” The comment was obviously meant as a mockery, an attempt to ruffle him.

“A trait, one could argue, I come by rightly.”

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