Page 46 of Love and the Shameless Lady

But no, this was more than comfort. It was heat and desire, so pleasurable that she wallowed in it. There was a good reason she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t bring it to mind, not when it felt so perfectly right.

She woke abruptly to the sound of tapping on her door. Daisy longed to remain within the dream, but now that she was awake, she knew why she must not. She couldn’t control her dreams, but she must certainly avoid lustful thoughts while awake, at least until she got rid of Sir Julian Kerr.

She pushed the coverlet away and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Who is it?” She must have dropped off the instant her head touched the pillow.

The door opened. “May we come in? Rebecca wants to meet you.” Lady Garrison stepped through the doorway, holding the hand of a young girl with red-gold curls. A black and white terrier dashed past them into the room and barked once.

“Virtuoso, behave yourself or I shall put you out,” Lady Garrison said. “Daisy, this is Rebecca. Dearest, this is your cousin Daisy.”

Daisy swung her legs off the side of the bed, running her fingers through her hair, trying to gather her thoughts. Neither her mind nor her body wanted to shed the remnants of that dream. To postpone having to speak, she put out her hand to the little dog. Lady Garrison sucked in a breath, but the dog merely sniffed Daisy and trotted away to explore the room.

“Thank heavens for that,” Lady Garrison said. “He doesn’t usually dislike females, but one never knows.”

The little girl curtsied solemnly. “Good afternoon, Cousin Daisy.” She gazed up at her, a crease between her brows. “You are rather untidy, but you don’t look as if you have gone to the devil.”

“Rebecca!” her stepmother protested.

“But she is untidy, Mama! Her gown is crumpled, and she needs to comb her hair.”

“Because she just woke up. Have you been speaking to Aunt Gloriana again?”

“No, but I heard her talking to Papa.”

“I see. You really must stop repeating everything Aunt Gloriana says.”

“Very well, Mama, but I can’t help hearing her. Cousin Daisy is not the only one she says has gone to the devil.”

“Who else?”

“Sir Ronald Henderson, because his eyes are red and he smells horrid.”

Lady Garrison grimaced. “Because he drinks a great deal and washes far too seldom.”

Daisy chuckled. By now she had recovered her common sense and remembered how she felt about men, particularly attractive ones.

“You met his wife and daughter today, Daisy,” Lady Garrison said.

“And if it’s James the footman, it’s when he is caught kissing one of the maids,” Rebecca went on.

“Tsk,” Lady Garrison said. “That’s the problem with handsome footmen, always leading the maids astray. I should ask Miles to hire some uglier ones.”

Rebecca scowled. “I like James.”

“I’m sure you do,” her stepmother said cynically.

Daisy stood and pulled all the pins out of her hair. Her brush and comb had already been laid out on the dressing table by the maid who had unpacked her clothing. She set to with vigorous strokes of the brush. “Ugly or handsome, men are all the same at heart.”

“Even Sir Julian?” asked Lady Garrison.

Oh, dear. She should really try to remember to play her part. “Perhaps not,” Daisy admitted, almost believing it. “I haven’t known him long.” Pause. “And he did ask me to marry him.” Which was true, even if he hadn’t meant it.

“I’m sure he will make you happy,” Lady Garrison said.

“Did you know him well in London?”

“I danced and conversed with him several times over the course of a few seasons. He has a sense of humor, an attribute too many people lack. They’re so deadly serious about themselves, their clothing, their status, and so on. Sir Julian is quietly amused by it all.”

Yes, Daisy had already witnessed that sense of humor, although she had the feeling some of it was directed at her.