Dominic agreed next, his voice steady, like the hunter he was. “Elizabeth is right. Listen to her.”
Her gaze flicked to Daniel where he stood by the hearth. His fists clenched and unclenched, betraying the fury he otherwise kept controlled. It was not only Victoria who burned with anger.
“I will protect you, no matter what, Daphne,” Daniel declared, his voice low but fierce. “I had been gone long enough, leaving you all here with Father while I escaped his wrath. I am not going to be that coward anymore.”
Daphne could see the burning guilt and anger blending in her brother’s eyes.
Still, she felt a rush of gratitude, tinged with terror. She wanted to leap forward and embrace them all, to tell them how much she needed their protection, but she stayed still, letting the storm of their indignation and resolve settle around her. The violence of their passions gave her strength, yet it also reminded her just how dangerous Briarwood truly was.
“Daniel,” she murmured his name gently, feeling sad that their family still had to deal with more conflicts, even with their father gone.
He looked at her with a fierce determination he had never shown before. Briarwood was wrong. Her brother was not weak.
“Do not be afraid, Daphne. He will not harm you. Not while I’m still breathing.”
A hush fell in the room. They all knew the gravity of the situation and the weight of such a promise.
“You are not alone in this, Daniel,” Marianne murmured. “Each one of us here can help keep Daphne safe.”
A chorus of agreement ensued, punctuated by Dominic’s nod, Alasdair’s assent, his Scottish brogue thickening, and Gerard’s vow. The sisters exchanged glances, their way of swearing allegiance to one another and the family anew. Determination was etched on their faces.
Even with her whole family rallying behind her, Daphne’s stomach twisted. She felt like something was going to happen, anyway.
Something terrible.
“What if he does what he promised? What if he comes every day? What if thetonbelieves his delusion that I belong to him?” she asked, her voice breaking. “I don’t want to drag everyone into ruin. Perhaps that is all that my refusal can do.”
“No!” Daniel bellowed, making Daphne flinch. “You will not marry Briarwood. Not for me or anyone in the family. You will marry the man you want, sister. Nobody else.”
“While I agree that Daphne should not marry someone she does not like, especially a man as terrible as Briarwood,” Dominic said, “we should consider the fact that the man is on a hunt and Daphne… well, he won’t rest until he catches her.”
“I won’t be caught,” Daphne insisted. “I am not any man’s conquest. Since this is a game to him, it would be better if we made it harder for the hunter. I can remove my presence from his influence.”
She had never been this defiant before, but she could not help it. The man made her skin crawl. Her declaration, however, had quite an effect on her family. Each member remaining in the drawing room stared at her.
“You want to leave London,” Daniel said.
It wasn’t a question, but a comment. An acknowledgement.
“Perhaps if I am far enough from his reach, I won’t be of much value. If I leave town, and go somewhere else, I will be out of his line of sight. And If I am gone…” She lifted her hand and delicately waved it. “The Earl will not want what he cannot see. Therefore, I’ll be no longer interesting. Then, Briarwood will be stymied. While he tries to figure out what to do, hopefully another more willing debutante will catch his attention. He would then realize what a waste it would be to keep looking for me.”
“Do you think that will work? I am afraid a more willing debutante may not have the same appeal to a hunter,” Daniel said, his brows furrowed, as he paced back and forth so close to the fire in the hearth.
“Hmm. That’s actually a fairly good idea,” Wilhelmina commented, a finger rubbing her chin.
“Do ye think so?” Alasdair asked, frowning. “Lass, tis runnin’ away. We’d be giving Briarwood the upper hand.”
“Alasdair, darling, think about it,” Elizabeth soothed. “The man may fancy himself a predator. Do you think he will waste his lifetime trying to catch stubborn prey when there are so many others to distract him? There are women practically falling over his feet, despite his age and the rumors surrounding the sources of his income.”
Marianne, who was seated close to Daphne, reached out for her younger sister’s hand and clasped it within her own.
“The farther you are from the man, the better. He can’t touch and harm you if he does not know where you are.”
Victoria’s eyes were suddenly frenzied with excitement. Her earlier turbulent emotions had calmed down, and renewed hope seemed to emanate from her.
“Distance is safety. Yours is the best idea, Daphne.”
“What about Scotland then?” Alasdair suggested. “If we are talking about distance, anyway, then consider one of my more secluded estates. I can have you hidden and guarded there.”
