Although she had agreed to be his wife, they hadn’t set a date for a wedding. He supposed he should see about obtaining a marriage license.
A costermonger selling cut flowers caught his attention. Just about to hail a hackney, Teddy instead stopped and purchased a bouquet of daisies from the young woman. Armed with the white and yellows blooms, he made his way to the finishing school and thought to surprise Daisy with the namesake flowers.
He was the one who was surprised, though, when he discovered Daisy wasn’t alone in her office.
James, Duke of Ariley, bearing a pasteboard box and a few roses, stood in front of her desk.
Although she had spent the night in her own bed, Daisy still felt a thrum throughout her body. She had forgotten how the sensations of a newly awakened body felt. How it buzzed with excitement. How it yearned for more.
She had spent most of the night and day before in Teddy’s bed, sure the man had touched every inch of her body. She had probably done the same with him, although he still wasn’t comfortable with her insistence at exploring his injured arm. I never knew you with it, she reminded him, just before her lips traced the skin from under his arm to where it ended abruptly. Despite his initial protests, Teddy gave in and simply allowed her to do with him as she pleased. It was as if they had been two parched souls finally discovering water and then nearly drowning in it.
When they came up for air, they simply held one another. While a light drizzle fell from gray skies, they made slow, quiet love. Sometimes they dozed, and sometimes they spoke of anything and everything in quiet murmurs.
The valet brought up a late breakfast, which they fed one another as they discussed their favorite flavors of ices at Gunther’s and what kind of biscuits to have on hand for tea.
At five o’clock, the rain finally ceased, and so they dressed. Wearing the gown she had with her from the tea the day before, Daisy joined Teddy on a long walk to the park. Behind a hedgerow, he kissed her and formally proposed marriage. She accepted, but on the proviso she not have to give up her position.
At least until she was with child and about to give birth.
“I wish to tell Bostwick when I next meet him for a match,” Teddy said as they made their way back to his townhouse. “If that’s acceptable with you. And then I plan to best him quite thoroughly.”
“Of course,” she replied with a chuckle, retrieving her valise before joining him in a hackney for the trip to Warwick’s.
As she reviewed the pages of estimates of the work to be done at Warwick’s, Daisy transferred the numbers into a new ledger sheet. She was considering how she might use the figures in her arithmetic class when she was suddenly aware she wasn’t alone.
Daisy looked up with a start to discover her father standing just inside her office door, roses in one hand and a pasteboard box in the other. “How long have you been standing there?” she asked as she quickly stood and dipped a curtsy.
“Long enough to realize I should employ you to do my books instead of the clerk who does them now,” James, Duke of Ariley, stated before he stepped completely into the office. “Should you ever wish to oversee one of my properties...”
Daisy allowed a grin and gave a shake of her head. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the time to give it the attention it deserves,” she murmured with a grin.
“Forgive the interruption. I just—”
“Oh, you’re forgiven, of course,” Daisy said as she walked around from behind the desk and stood before him. Standing up on tiptoes, she kissed her father on his cheek and was about to take the proffered roses when Teddy appeared behind the duke. Stunned at how her body reacted—a frisson skittered through her abdomen—she allowed a brilliant smile and said, “Mr. Streater!”
But the bank clerk wasn’t looking in her direction, but rather in the duke’s, and his expression suggested he was not at all pleased to see the aristocrat. “Miss Albright,” Teddy acknowledged with a curt nod. With another glance in the duke’s direction and then a glance at the flowers he held in his gloved hand, he said, “It seems I’ve come at an inconvenient time.” He gave a short bow, tossed the flowers in the nearby waste container, and disappeared.
Daisy furrowed a brow, rather startled Teddy would take his leave so quickly. She ran over to the waste container and fished the bouquet of daisies from it, rather heartened Teddy would bring her flowers. She turned her attention back to her father. “Well, that was rather odd,” she said, her gaze going to the roses her father held. Her eyes widened when it dawned on her what Teddy had seen just then.
She had been kissing her father on his cheek.
What he must have thought.
Oh, no.
He had paid witness to the duke leaving the Bostwick’s box the night before last. She had been able to explain his presence easily enough then, telling him that Ariley expected to find Viscount Bostwick.
But now? No wonder he seemed so sure she was someone’s mistress!
James glanced back at the office door and angled his head as he watched Daisy’s growing worry age her features—and noticed the only ring she wore on the hand that clutched the daisies.
“Isn’t he your... employer?” he asked carefully, his head nodding toward her hand.
Daisy sighed. “And my betrothed,” she admitted. “As of yesterday,” she added, wanting to avoid the scolding he would give her for not having informed him of the fact earlier. “I was about to tell you...”
The duke arched a brow. “Then I believe there’s been a misunderstanding,” he offered.
“Oh!” Daisy replied, her eyes widening. She headed toward the door, intending to go after Teddy, but her father stopped her with an outstretched arm.
“Here. These are for you,” he said as he pressed the roses into her free hand. She was forced to take the box between both hands. “I’ll see to this.”
“Father, he doesn’t know—”
“For once, Daisy, please trust me,” James said with a sigh. “Something very similar to this happened only a month ago,” he interrupted, referring to the morning his other illegitimate daughter, Diana, was to be married to Adam Comber, Viscount Breckinridge. Diana hadn’t told Adam she was the daughter of a duke, either, which made for a rather awkward discussion with his son-in-law-to-be at the church. “I took care of it then, and I shall see to it now.” Without waiting for a reply, he hurried out the door.
Daisy followed, the roses and box still clutched in her hands. Teddy had obviously left the building, and so had her father, given there was no one else in the hallway leading to the front door.
She hurried to that door, managing to get it open by using her elbow against the handle. But she paused when she saw that the duke and Teddy were facing one another at the edge of the pavement. There was no sign of the ducal coach, which meant Ariley had his driver park it farther down the street or around the corner. There was also no sign of a hackney or other conveyance for Teddy, which was probably the only reason he was still in front of Omega House.
Deciding to trust her father to make things right, Daisy sighed and simply stood and watched the two gentlemen as they engaged in their discussion.
“Sir, a moment of your time, please,” James said as he chased after Teddy.
Allowing an exaggerated sigh, Teddy finally slowed his steps and turned to regard the Duke of Ariley. He managed a bow before saying, “I cannot begin to compete against a duke, so I shall simply step aside and allow you—”
“Nonsense, Streater. I’ve seen you on the pisté. You would beat me every time,” James interrupted, moving to face Teddy.
“I meant for her affections, of course,” Teddy stated, not feeling the least bit of pride at hearing Ariley’s assessment of his skills as a fencer. “I saw the way you looked at her. You obviously... love her,” he managed to get out, despite the lump in his throat. Despite how his heart clenched in his chest. Despite how he just wanted to die at that moment.
James straightened, as if he’d been slapped in the
face. “Indeed. I do love her. I suppose I looked like that the very first time I laid eyes on her,” he agreed.
Teddy struggled to swallow, and couldn’t manage a response before the duke added, “A few minutes after she was born. When the midwife put her into my arms, in fact.”
Furrowing his brows, Teddy was about to say something about robbing the cradle, but instead simply stared at the duke, his confusion apparent.
“She’s my daughter,” James said quietly. “Illegitimate, yes, but I love her just as much or more as I would if she were legitimate. Her sister, too,” he added with an arched eyebrow. “Her late mother was the love of my life.”
Teddy blinked. “Wh... what?”
James was about to repeat himself, but instead said, “Sir, I find I must commend you, for you have managed to do what no other man on this planet has managed to do.”
Still a bit confused—the duke was claiming he was Daisy’s father!—Teddy gave a shake of his head. “And what might that be?”
“Get my daughter to agree to matrimony,” the duke replied with a huge grin. “I saw that ring. Rather impressive bauble, I might add,” he said with some awe. “It’s obviously not paste.”
Teddy shook his head. “It is not.”
“Truth be told, I never thought I’d see the day my Daisy would agree to be a man’s wife. She’s been far too independent. Won’t use her dowry, even though I saw to it she could have it when she was five-and-twenty.”
“Dowry?” Teddy repeated, still a bit discombobulated over learning Daisy’s father was the Duke of Ariley. A second later, and he remembered the bank draft she had given him after the tea. She had the funds because of her inheritance. He had just deposited the bank draft into the school’s account before paying a call on Andrew S. Barton, Esquire, to draw up the papers for their partnership.
James allowed a chuckle. “Not that you need it, given you’re the owner of this fine school, but I should like it very much if you lay claim to it on your wedding day.”
Suddenly aware they were being watched, Teddy turned his attention to the open door where Daisy stood holding handfuls of flowers and a box, tears streaming down her face. “Oh, damn it, I think I’ve made her cry,” he murmured.
James dared a glance in her direction before saying, “You’re probably the first one to manage that, too.”
Giving him a quelling glance, Teddy regarded the duke for a moment. “I would like to request permission to marry your daughter, Your Grace.”
A rather indecorous guffaw sounded from the duke. “You don’t need it. And trust me when I tell you this. She will respect you far more if you don’t mention you asked,” James responded as he turned his gaze on his oldest daughter. “It’s very good to meet you,” he said as he gave a nod. He was about to offer his right hand when he seemed to think better of it, and then reached out with his left instead.
Teddy shook it with his left hand, his gaze going from the duke’s hand to his face. “You as well, Your Grace.”
“I will leave you to it,” James said with a wink before he gave Teddy a nod, turned to wave at Daisy, and then headed off down the street.
Teddy stood and stared at his betrothed for several seconds before he finally made his way to her. He thought to simply gather her into his arm and pull her close, but with her hands full, he knew it would be awkward. Instead, he gave a bow. “My apologies, my lady,” he said as he approached her. “It seems I’ve been a jealous fool for no reason.”
Daisy sniffled. “I should have t...t...told you. I almost did that night at the th..theatre. But I didn’t want to lose...” Her words were stopped when Teddy’s lips came down onto hers, his kiss short but sweet. He seemed oblivious to passersby who stared in alarm, or to the group of young ladies about to go into one of the classroom buildings. Just the moment before, their attention had been on the departing duke, their hands moving up to their mouths to hide them as they whispered to one another.
When he ended the kiss, Teddy regarded Daisy with a sigh. “I’ll never tire of doing that, my lady,” he murmured. “And I don’t care who knows it.”
Daisy blinked, her eyes darting left and right. She had half a mind to slap him, for there were witnesses to what he had done. When she noticed the students, eyes agog and some with their hands over their mouths, she managed a nod, not sure what else to do. Her hands were full, tears stained her cheeks, and she desperately wanted to fish her hanky from her pocket. “You might when you discover what I’ve done,” she replied between sniffles.
Angling his head to one side, Teddy wondered at her words. He pulled a handkerchief from his topcoat pocket and dabbed at her cheeks. “Now, now. There’s no need to cry. Let’s go inside,” he suggested. “May I help with something?” he added, as if he just then noticed her hands were full. He held up his gloved hand.
“Could you take the box?”
Teddy extracted the small box from her tenuous grip between her fists of flowers and offered his arm. A moment later, they were back in the office regarding one another.
“I’ll just find a vase for these,” she said as she moved to her bedchamber door. Although she expected Teddy to stay in the office, he followed her into her apartment.
“On the one hand, I rather wish you had mentioned your relationship to Ariley,” Teddy said as he made his way past her beautiful four-poster bed and the japanned dressing table and into her parlor.
When he didn’t continue, Daisy turned. “And on the other?” she prompted.
Teddy shook his head. “I don’t have one, you see.” His words were said in such a deadpan voice, Daisy gave a start. Then, when she noticed his slight grin, she gave a sigh of relief.
“If I had told you—and I’m not sure when it would have been appropriate to even mention it, would it have made a difference? To your offering me the position of headmistress, I mean?” Daisy clarified as she placed the three roses into a small vase on a side table.
“Not then, of course,” Teddy said as he once again surveyed the room that looked entirely different from when his mother had occupied the apartment. Despite the position of the doors to the building’s main hallway, the bedchamber, and the small kitchen not having changed, he could hardly recognize anything else given the elegance of the furnishings and walls.
He watched as she took a seat and arranged the daisies he had brought into a glass vase on the low table in front of the settee. When she finished, she lowered her face to the blooms and inhaled, a smile forcing a dimple in one cheek before she finally turned to regard him. “And now?” she prompted, one of her hands patting the space next to her on the settee.
Teddy moved to sit with her, rather heartened at the invitation. He settled next to her, finally wrapping his left arm around her shoulders when she rested her head in the small of his shoulder. The pasteboard box still dangled from his fingers. “Perhaps it’s best I didn’t know, for I would have been honor-bound to ask his grace if I had his blessing to ask for your hand before I did so,” he explained, remembering the duke’s words of warning. When Daisy stiffened in his hold, he added, “And I have since learned I would have lost your respect had I done so.”
Daisy gave her head a shake. “That’s not exactly true,” she hedged, about to claim her age exempted her from such consideration.
“How long have you been estranged from him?”
The question, completely unexpected, had Daisy straightening on the settee. “Estranged is a bit strong. But if you’re asking how long it’s been since I’ve lived under his roof, then, yes, it’s been a long time. Eight years. I’ve since made my peace with him, though,” she replied.
“But, why? As the daughter of a duke—”
“Illegitimate daughter,” Daisy interrupted. “I was born to his mistress. Long before he ever married Helen Harrington, of course.”
“Still, you could have lived a life of privilege.”
“I did,” she countered. “Until I was two-and-twenty.” She didn’t add that she was
now thirty.
“You could have an aristocrat for a husband—”
“The very last kind of man I wish to marry,” she claimed. At Teddy’s look of disbelief, she added, “To have to welcome a man into my bed knowing he employs a mistress? Despite his wedding vows?”
Teddy was about to defend George Bennett-Jones, for he knew the viscount hadn’t employed a mistress since his marriage to Lady Bostwick, but Daisy continued her tirade before he had a chance.
“To know he has no comprehension of what it is like for those who must work for a living? No knowledge of how the laws he passes affect those who must abide by them, since he won’t be expected to follow them? To know that to him, I am merely property? A womb from which his heir and spare are to be birthed, probably while he’s with his mistress?”
Frowning at her, Teddy gave a shake of his head. “Is that what Ariley did?”
Daisy blinked, realizing just then how her words might have Teddy coming to that conclusion. “No,” she replied with a shake of her head. “He doesn’t employ a mistress now. He... he hasn’t since my mother died,” she acknowledged. “He mourned her for years before he even looked at another woman.” She allowed a watery grin. “He loves his duchess.”
“And he wasn’t married when he employed your mother?”
“No,” Daisy acknowledged.
“So your poor opinion of aristocrats isn’t based on your father’s behavior?”
Shaking her head, Daisy said, “No. Merely on the actions of others, I suppose.” She didn’t add that her mother had helped to shape those opinions. Her father wasn’t Lily Albright’s first protector. There had been two others before a pre-university Lord James, still two decades from inheriting the Ariley dukedom, had decided he wished for Lily to be his one and only mistress. They were together for sixteen years before Lily died.
The Conundrum of a Clerk Page 30
