Page 81 of Romancing Daphne

Persephone turned her head toward the windows.“Artemis, go put your bonnet away.”

Artemis’s mouth dropped open, her eyes wide with shocked horror.“Go put my bonnet away? Why can I not stay for your monumental confession? I want to know what the crisis is.”

“There is no crisis,” Persephone said. Then, cutting off the objections so clear on Artemis’s face, Persephone added,“And neither is there anything to discuss that has the slightest bit to do with you. So, please, go put your bonnet away.”

Artemis stood, jutting her chin out ominously, and pouted her way out of the room.

“Best of luck with that one, Adam,” Linus muttered.

“I plan to auction her off at Tattersall’s.” His eyes hadn’t left Persephone.“You, on the other hand, have me worried.”

She brushed her fingertips along the deep scars on his face.“Iam perfectly well. My health is fine.” She lowered her a voice a bit.“This child seems perfectly fine as well.”

Adam kissed her fingers.“Then tell me what has upset you.”

“I had a very interesting visit with the Duchess of Hartley.”

“She upset you?”

Daphne didn’t believe that for a moment. The two duchesses got along famously.

“No,” Persephone said. “And, before you ask, the duke is also not the reason I am upset. At least not directly.” She took a breath, then squared a look at Adam.“His Grace has acquired a new secretary.”

That earned her confused looks all around. Why did the duke’s employeewarrant such obvious displeasure on Persephone’s part?

“I will move forward on the assumption there is more,” Adam said.

“This new secretary just so happens to be a member of the aristocracy, one who by lucky chance met up with His Grace at their club yesterday afternoon.” Persephone gave Adam a very pointed look. That look was exchanged by Adam and Linus next. It seemed everyone knew precisely who this mysterious gentleman was but Daphne.“He struck up a conversation with the young lordling, and upon hearing he is in need of an income, His Grace hired him on. Their Graces even went so far as to invite him to stay with them, owing to his current state of pennilessness. It seems he is quite the hardest working, least complaining, most grateful person Their Graces have ever encountered.”

“Sounds . . . ideal,” Adam muttered.

Persephone hmphed.“It was all I could do not to demand to know his reason for coming within fifty yards of this family. Milworth House is but two doors down from here, you know. And he is now living there.”

Suddenly it all grew clear. James Tilburn was at the Duke of Hartley’s London home. They might easily run into one another without even meaning to. Daphne slowly, mindlessly lowered herself into a nearby chair. Confusion jumbled her every thought.

“I fully intend to storm Milworth House,” Persephone said in tones ofutmost sincerity.“Broadswords, battle axes, crossbows, whichever weapon isnearest at hand. There will be bloodshed, Adam, and I will enjoy it.”

“I have never been more attracted to you than I am in this moment.” Adam’s eyes fairly danced with excitement. “Nevertheless, I will not have you going on a holy crusade in your condition.” Adam turned his attention to Linus.“Seems we underestimated the little termite.”

Despite all James had done to her, hearing him belittled and mocked that way upset her. Daphne hated that he yet had such a hold on her sensibilities.

Linus’s shoulders set in the determined and capable posture of a career navy man.“I will stand as your second, Adam, if that is what you mean to do.”

Daphnefound her voice on the instant.“You promised me, Adam. You promised no challenges would be issued.” She’d pulled that promise from him within hours of her disappointment.

Adam assumed his ducal air.“I promised not to seek him out anddemand satisfaction. He has come here, within sight of my home and myfamily. I made no promises on that score.”

She ought to have encouraged the idea. Having James suffer even a fraction of what she had should have been cathartic. Yet the thought of anyone hurting James brought her no satisfaction.“I only wish the entire ordeal forgotten. The two of you breaking down the doors of the Duke of Hartley’s home will be whispered all about Town. It would only further fuel the gossip and whispers.”

“Really?” Linus sounded disappointed. “I’ve seen enough floggings during my career to know how to administer one.”

Daphne had heard of the severity of floggings, of the horrific paininflicted that way. She shook her head.“No floggings, no challenges. Both of you, please, just let it be.”

She rose, making certain they saw in her determined expression that the subject was closed for discussion. No one objected until she’d reached the doorway.

“Can’t we at least have a few of the Falstone wolves brought here to nibble on him a little?” Linus asked.

For that she could give him a small smile.“I will take it into consideration.”

---