Page 79 of Romancing Daphne

“But if I am not your brother, I cannot in all propriety purchase you a bonnet.” He tsked and shook a finger at Artemis, his voice pitched precisely at the level a scolding dowager would use with a recalcitrant young lady.“A proper young lady would never allow a gentleman to purchase something so very personal for her unless he is a relative. Shameful, I say. Absolutely shameful! I shall simply have to toss it to the wolves.”

“You are impossible.” Artemis turned back to the mirror, obviously still deciding just how much she liked her brother’s offering.

“I daresay you don’t know a thing about bonnets.” Artemis clearly intended the observation to be a sore slight on her brother’s intelligence.

Linus chuckled lightly, earning a momentary glare from Artemis.“I am afraid I missed most of the bonnet classes onboard ship these past few years. I chose embroidery instead. Marvelous pastime.”

“What do you think, Daphne?” Artemis turned to face her.

“I am not particularly fond of embroidery, myself.” Daphne sat in a nearby chair.“Though Linus may very well be enamored of it.”

“I meant the bonnet.” Artemis shook her head.“This is far more enjoyable when Athena is here. She has absolutely impeccable taste.”

Linus gave her a stern look, something he didn’t often do.“Athena’s taste in headgear may be second to none, but my manners are generally considered beyond reproach, and I will tell you that debating the merits of a bonnet your brother has given you out of the goodness of his heart while that brother is standing next to you, no less, is horribly rude.”

Daphne could have predicted with remarkable accuracy what happened next. Artemis’s lip began to quiver. Tears formed immediately. Her feelings had ever been easily wounded.

“Time to begin a very careful dance, brother,” Daphne warned.“Artemis will be inconsolable otherwise.”

Linus patted Artemis’s hand.“I know you take bonnets very seriously,so I will take no offense at your very thorough evaluation of my offering.”

Artemis sniffled but nodded what was likely meant to be an indication of forgiveness. Still, she glided toward the windows and settled herself in a posture of suffering and sorrow.

“Inconsolable over a scolding?” Linus shook his head.“Artemis weeps forbeing gently corrected, and you have not shed a single tear even though—”

“Did you not bring me a frilly present?” Daphne would not listen to yet another retelling of her dashed hopes and blighted future. Her spirits were low enough already.“I should have my opportunity to primp and preen in front of a looking glass as well.”

Linus was undeterred.“Persephone said—”

“Only Artemis receives gifts now?” Daphne managed a sigh her sister would have been proud of.“You are a cruel brother indeed.”

Linus studied her a moment, wearing the same expression she’d seen on all her family’s faces again and again since she had fully retreated from thesocial whirl. Worry mingled with a sad kind of pity. Oh, how she wantedthings back the way they had been. No one had expected her to be a ragingsuccess, but no one had seen her as an utter failure either.

“Your present is not frilly.” Linus, it seemed, meant to not press the issue. He pulled a small box from the pocket of his coat and gave it to her.“I think you will like it just the same.”

She couldn’t begin to guess what it might be. The box was too small to hold a book. The only other thing she might have hoped for was herbs. But no one ever thought to give her that.

Daphne opened the package, curiosity displacing her momentary resurgence of heartache. In time, she hoped she would not need such constant distraction.

“Oh, Linus. It is lovely.” She pulled a dainty hair comb from the box. The thin tines and body of the comb were made of a dark, lacquered wood. Ornamental leaves carved of a deep-green stone adorned the comb. She knew the leaves on sight.“Laurel.”

“I know you have not always been fond of laurels, yet I can’t help but think of you anytime I see them.” He looked almost apologetic.“Father’s love of mythology rubbed off on me, I daresay.”

Daphne ran her thumb over the smooth stone leaves. Her namesake’s myth had ever seemed a tragic one to her: an innocent girl pursued by one whose affections were not entirely honest transformed into a laurel tree to save her from her insincere suitor. What had once struck her as merely sad now seemed painfully fitting. Heavens, she was living her own myth.

“You don’t like it.” Linus’s disappointment pricked her heart.

“I love it,” she insisted.“It is so beautiful and unlike anything I’ve seen.Where did you find it? I’ve not come across anything like it in London.”

Relief touched his features.“I saw it in a market in Africa.”

“Africa?” That brought her gaze back to the comb.

“Yes, but the stone is jade, which comes from the Orient. The laurel motif, however, suggests it was carved in the Mediterranean.”

She looked up at him once more.“Quite the world traveler, isn’t it?”

He nodded and smiled at her.“The leaves made me think of you, but more than that even, I thought the bold colors would look very fine in your dark hair. Neither Artemis nor Athena could do justice to it.”

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