Page 69 of Love and the Shameless Lady

Chapter 10

For a stunned instant, Julian couldn’t believe his ears. His wife?

Next to him, Daisy stiffened, but the earl was already nodding. “Ah, yes, Sir Julian and I are acquainted. My felicitations, Sir Julian. I had not heard of your marriage. Pleased to meet you, Lady Kerr.” His haughty gaze moved from them to the doorway, where Lord and Lady Garrison had just emerged, followed by the Marquis de Bellechasse.

Judging by their expressions, all three had witnessed this exchange. A fraught silence hung in the air, during which time Julian, with difficulty, controlled himself. He didn’t give a damn about the pleading expression in Gloriana’s eyes, but he couldn’t possibly contradict her. The choice to do so, or not, was Daisy’s.

But Daisy said nothing, and the tense moment passed. Lord Garrison descended the stairs to shake the earl’s hand. Lady Garrison welcomed him, chattering cheerfully, and soon everyone trooped indoors.

Julian and Daisy took up the rear but hung back by common consent.

“Why the devil did she introduce us that way?” he whispered.

Daisy swallowed, and he watched the uneasy movement of her throat. His heart twisted. When had he fallen in love with her? Almost at first sight with regard to her beauty, but soon followed by her courage, intelligence, forthrightness, and kindness. It had happened bit by bit, but now he was far beyond the point of no return.

“Why take such a risk?” he said. “She could have lost all hope of marrying him at a word from you.”

“She knew I wouldn’t contradict her.”

“Because you’re unfailingly kind,” Julian said.

“You know that’s not true. I’ve made a point of being horribly rude.”

“But underneath you’re sweet and soft-hearted.” Before she could open her mouth to disagree, he added, “I’ll wager that as a child, you rescued stray kittens, puppies, and even spiders.”

“And a ferret,” she admitted.

“In fact, any creature in distress, and she knows that.”

Daisy nodded glumly. “I’m sure it’s because she hopes that if I am known as Lady Kerr, rather than as a Warren, the earl won’t realize that I am her notorious cousin.” She bit her lip. “I’m so sorry, Julian. I should have known she had something horrid up her sleeve.”

“I wouldn’t call it horrid.” Helpless in the face of her distress, he ran a finger down her cheek. She sucked in a breath, but didn’t flinch as before. “In fact, it was quite a propos.”

“Of what? It couldn’t be worse. Now you’ll feel forced to marry me. But you needn’t, I swear.”

It seemed he would have to take the plunge now, too soon, thanks to that damned Gloriana. “No force is necessary, sweetheart.” He tucked a stray strand behind her ear. “I want to marry you.”

She broke away, turning aside. “Don’t be a fool.” Her voice shook. “Even if I believed your words, your expression tells me otherwise.”

“What expression?” He took her gently by the arm and turned her to face him. “Look at me: besotted, with more than a touch of anxiety.”

She kept her gaze lowered. “I meant earlier, when she introduced us. You looked as if you wanted to kill her.”

“Oh, I would gladly strangle her, but not because she was forcing my hand.”

Now she raised her eyes, frowning. “Then why?”

“Because she scotched my well-laid plans.” He paused, trying to phrase it correctly. “I was going to suggest that we marry, but I thought it best to wait until we’d found out who is threatening to kill you. I thought you needed time, both to feel safe again and to adjust to the idea of marriage. Daisy, I’m in love with you and have been since almost the moment we met, but now I’ll have the devil of a time making you believe me.”

The ensuing silence grew and hung between them. Daisy wanted to believe him. She wished she could, but of course she did not.

Which was a good thing, as she recalled what marriage would entail. She might manage to put up with the bedding process, but his disdain afterward would kill her.

She summoned her habitually crisp manner. “You’re right, I don’t believe you.”

“I thought not,” he said. “I’ll just have to try harder.”

“You’re taking chivalry too far, Sir Julian, and it won’t work, for I shall never marry.”