Page 50 of Love and the Shameless Lady

“I’m so sorry. I should leave.” She didn’t move.

He managed not to grin. “You’ll have to excuse my state of undress for a few short moments.” He chose a cravat and turned away from her to face the mirror.

“I shouldn’t have come to your room,” she said, and he watched her watching his reflection. “But I need to talk to you. I don’t know what to do.”

“About what?” He gave the cravat two swift turns and began to tie a simple knot.

“About where I am to sleep. I can’t stay in the family wing.” He raised his brows, and hurriedly she continued. “Because of Melinda and the baby.”

So Lady Garrison was Melinda to her now. Good.

“Melinda has the baby with her at night. What if the murderer comes for me and finds their room instead? Or what if Melinda just happens to be in his way?”

“I expect Lord Garrison can defend them ably enough.”

“I don’t want him to be hurt, either,” she said.

How fascinating. His brash, angry Daisy was turning out to be exceptionally softhearted. “If you move to this wing, there will be a great deal of talk. The guests, even the servants . . .”

“Everyone will assume I’m spending my nights with you.” She eyed him. “You’re frowning.”

“You’re not the only one whose reputation is at stake. Garrison just accused me of fortune hunting. He may think I’m trying to get you with child so you can’t change your mind.”

She flushed a fiery red. “He will be proven wrong.” She scowled back at him. “It wasn’t so bad being shunned for something I had done. It will be far worse when I’ve done nothing at all.”

“That’s easily remedied,” he quipped.

The blush faded to ghastly pale. She wrapped her arms around herself and turned away, shivering.

“Good God, girl, it was merely a jest! I didn’t mean it. You know that.” He scrutinized her pale face. “Daisy, what upsets you so much about the mention of bed sport?”