Witnessing the disarray might have been pointless, but for the desk pushed in the far corner of the room.
“I suppose we’d better start there,” Burke said, pointing at the desk.
“I don’t suppose we would start anywhere else,” Charles said.
“What’s put you more out of sorts than usual?” Burke asked. “Please tell me it is not because the housekeeper has bested Bellamy.”
“Youare far more ridiculous than my old butler,” Charles said, rummaging through the desk and pulling out papers. “That whole,I don’t mind reading papersbusiness. She won’t marry you, you know.”
Burke had gone a deep shade of pink and Charles knew he’d hit the mark. Burke was not inclined to embarrassment, but just now he looked as if he’d gone to a ball and suddenly realized he’d forgot to wear pants. Miss Minkerton had been correct, Burkewasmooning over Miss Danworth.
“I am well aware of my own situation, thank you,” Burke said.
“Then why do you hang around?” Charles said.
“Never mind whatIchoose to do,” Burke said sharply. “Look to yourself for once. If you are not serious in your pursuit you ought not to appear so. Especially not to a lady so innocent.”
“I am not in any pursuit!” Charles said.
Though, Burke’s words did give him pause. Had his fondness for Miss Danworth been noted? If it had, that would be a mistake. Yes, he admired the lady, but that was only because she was so much elevated above the rest. Nothing more.
But why would Burke make such a point of Miss Danworth being so innocent, as if she were a newborn fawn? Miss Danworth was proper in every way, but she was no foolish ingenue.
Of course, the fellow was in love with her and so he viewed her through his own particular lens. This was precisely why Burke was not the man for Miss Danworth. He did not even understand her.
“Let’s just get on with it,” Burke said.
“Yes,” Charles said, shoving a stack of letters into his hands.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This was Daisy’s first time walking the pier. Though it was the usual place for a promenade, her father had never allowed it. He was of the opinion that all sorts might be met at such a place, and Daisy was only to go to places where one might be sure of who was in attendance. Balls and such in London were perfectly fine, the hostess would keep out the undesirables, but a public pier was altogether different. Daisy had always been perfectly aware that these edicts were not meant to protect her, they were to make sure that her father could suitably crow over a lofty connection gained through her marriage.
Every summer, Daisy and Mrs. Jellops were mostly confined to their own garden, with occasional outings for sea bathing, surrounded by a bevy of footmen. It had taken Daisy some time to realize her father suspected everyone of having the same preference for low company that he did himself. She was also certain the only reason he would ever be opposed to her making a disastrous match was that men of rank would laugh at him.
She had donned a light gray silk day dress and once more found appreciation for Mrs. Belle’s clever designs. The lady had written that this one was particularly meant for walking about on windy days and she had sewn light weights into the hem so that there was no danger of exposing a leg in a sudden gust.
It was a clear day, and Daisy could see the outlines of the coast of France in the distance, and the towns of Deal and Sandwich to the south.
Daisy walked along with Miss Minkerton at her side, while Mrs. Jellops and Mrs. Broadbent had fallen behind. The two older ladies had been talking since the excursion began and Daisy thought they were both enlivened by a conversation with a lady close to their own age.
“It must gratify you, Miss Danworth, to have Lord Dalton investigating the break in. He seems very competent.”
Daisy supposed it should be no surprise that Miss Minkerton wished to direct the conversation to Lord Dalton. Really, she would never have guessed they would have been suited. She would have thought the lord would go for a more worldly and experienced lady, if he ever went for anybody at all. Nevertheless, it was impossible to ignore that something was between them.
She could not deny that the idea still irked. Daisy had been sure that Lord Dalton admired her own sort of temperament, and Miss Minkerton was so entirely different.
“Competent?” she said. “Yes, I suppose he is that. I expect you’ll see quite a lot of him in the upcoming season.”
“Shall I?” Miss Minkerton asked.
Daisy did not know if the lady were being coy. It seemed strange, as Miss Minkerton had not struck her as a lady prone to those sorts of arts.
“Oh yes,” she said. “He will turn up at balls and put himself on your card for supper.”
To Daisy’s surprise, Miss Minkerton appeared a bit distressed over this idea. “I suppose you will come for the season after all,” Miss Minkerton said, “and have a great deal of suppers with Lord Burke.”
“I have dined with Lord Burke in the past,” Daisy said. “Though I would not claim it had ever been agreat dealof the time. In any case, I shall sit out this season and dine with nobody. You shall have them both to yourself, your friend and your…whatever he is to be.”
