Page 29 of The Duke I Wished For
At least she hoped she’d find a way to speak to Blake in private at this soiree.
Her hopes faltered when they drove up to the townhome and found a crowd already waiting at the door.
It would be difficult to find him at all in this crush, let alone speak to him alone.
“…and as for the Duke of Hathshire,” her mother’s voice said, jarring Daffodil out of her thoughts. “I do think you might have a chance there. I saw the way he was looking at you the other day…” Her mother’s voice was sly and calculating. It was a tone that set Daffodil’s nerves on edge, and she cast a quick glance at her father.
But he was already watching her mother with suspicion.
Her mother didn’t notice. She was adjusting her gloves, a smug smile on her lips. “If we play our cards right, we might just be able to arrange for the two of you to be caught alone together.”
Daffodil’s lips parted on an inhale. She wanted nothing more than to find a moment alone with Blake, but was her mother actually suggesting…
“It wouldn’t take much persuasion from you, Daffodil, to steal him away from the others,” her mother continued. “And all I’d have to do is come upon the two of you and demand?—”
“Mother!”
But Daffodil’s father’s voice drowned her out. “Harriet!”
The countess blinked in surprise at her husband, who never spoke sharply to her. “Oh, don’t look so horrified. You know a duke would never choose Daffodil for a bride when he could have anyone.” The way her mother said her name made her insides fall. “I’m merely thinking of her best interests.”
Sadness swept over Daffodil, more than hurt or anger. She ached for the little girl she’d been, for the loving mother she’d never have, and the doubts that she’d likely never be entirely rid of thanks to her mother’s callousness.
But Blake’s proposal had helped her to realize one thing…she wasn’t a child any longer, and she was no weak, helpless ninny. After all, a strong, powerful lord not only saw her as a potential partner, but trusted her to be a mother to his precious child.
She straightened in her seat, her sadness giving way to resolve. Her mother didn’t have to hold power over her any longer.
Her parents were still bickering over the countess’s wicked plan to trap a duke into marriage, when Daffodil interrupted. “I’m not going to trap anyone, Mother.” She surprised herself by the steadiness of her voice when she said the words.
“But Daffodil, I’m only trying to help?—”
“No, Mother.” Her voice hardened. “From here on out, I do not need your help.”
“But—”
“I don’t need you to choose my gowns or to introduce me to any more eligible men. And I certainly do not need your assistance in any matters that involve His Grace.”
“Daffodil!” Her mother turned wide, shocked eyes to her husband. “Are you going to just sit there and let her talk to her mother like that?”
Daffodil’s father shrugged, but when his gaze met hers, his eyes fairly sparkled with pride…and amusement. “She has a point, my dear. Daffodil is a grown woman now. And besides, the duke is not a man to be manipulated…” He winked at Daffodil. “I have it on good authority that he’s a man of excellent taste, and I have no doubt he’ll choose a kind and caring wife.”
Daffodil gave her father a small grateful smile.
He’d support her tonight, that much she knew. No matter how this conversation went, her father would be there for her. It meant more to her than he could know.
He arched a brow. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. She was as ready as she could be.
For what was supposed to be a dinner party, the townhome was much too crowded. And if Daffodil wasn’t mistaken, the party was entirely made up of young, beautiful, eligible women.
All right, fine, perhaps there were men and married couples as well. But when she finally spotted the duke, she was only aware of the eligible young ladies.
There were many. And they were all crowded around Blake.
She pinched her lips together as she watched one perfectly coiffed lady after another smile prettily or laugh at whatever he said.
Jealousy caught her unawares when a blonde she was not acquainted with touched his arm and said something that made him smile.
