Page 49 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

“Then cry on my shoulder if you need to. I’ll always be here for you,” he promised.

“You know, I usually only cry when I lose people I love, so I expect you’ll not give me a reason to cry for a good long while.”

“It will never be intentional if you need to cry over me,” he swore, and bent down to seal his promise with a public kiss that made the crowd around them howl with outrage as well as encouragement.

Max no longer cared what society thought about him or Daisy. He was loved, and loved completely. It was all he needed. But every man knew that his worrying days were far from over when they tied the knot. Daisy, the minx, would be forever in his thoughts now.

Epilogue

Daisy folded her hands in her lap, covering up a book she never planned to read. She raised her face to the sun and smiled to herself. She was a wife, and that caused her heart to sing because it was Max she had married that morning.

There were still scandalous experiences left to enjoy, but her husband was the first and foremost on her mind now.

She could not wait to get her hands on him again. To entice, to tease, to kiss him at her leisure. The man was an addiction. A scoundrel who tried to be good. The more of him she got to know, the more about him she craved to discover.

A throat cleared, and Daisy opened her eyes.

“Ah, Miss Dawes,” she murmured, smiling despite the perilous nature of her errand. “A pleasure to see you again.”

Justine regarded her warily and then glanced around the square. “Miss Ellis. What are you doing so far from home?”

Daisy uncovered the book hiding under her hands. “Would you care to join me for a moment? It’s such a beautiful morning for reading.”

Justine’s eyes fell to the book on her lap, which now bore a fresh cover of soft blue, courtesy of Throsby’s talented valet. Justine, however, only frowned until Daisy flipped open the book to display Justine’s handwriting within.

She sat down at her side very quickly. “I do often sit here in the morning.”

Daisy closed the book again. “Yes, I remembered you telling me that, which is why I’ve come today. Throsby sent me here on his behalf.” She set the book on the bench beside her but left her hand sitting atop it for a moment. “He assured me the book has not been read by anyone.”

Justine turned, and her gulp was audible. “Have you read it?”

Daisy lifted her hand. “I did not.”

Justine snatched the book from the bench and held it tight against her chest with a small but audible gasp of relief. “Thank you.”

“I can only assume by your reaction that the contents of the journal are scandalous,” Daisy suggested with one brow raised.

Justine did not respond.

“It would not have bothered me that you might have written horrible things about me or Gabby in there.”

“It is not about either of you,” Justine said firmly.

Daisy was relieved but also intrigued. “But it is scandalous?”

“Many would be shocked,” Justine admitted slowly, gulping.

“Well, well, well, how interesting,” Daisy said. “A shame I never knew this side of you before.”

Justine fell silent again.

Daisy gave up the subject of the journal to speak of what she had come to talk to Justine about. “Miss Dawes, you might have some misgivings about my character, given a recent event you witnessed. Lord Throsby and I have formed a sincere attachment and we married today. No doubt you will believe your earlier suspicions about us were correct, but it was unexpected by both of us. However, our marriage is an event we’ve begun with great eagerness. I should not like gossip to mar what is most certainly a match made because we love each other deeply.”

“I am happy for you both,” Justine whispered. “He is a fine man, and you will never hear that I suggested entrapment.”

“Good. He is indeed a fine man and overly concerned about my reputation in the face of what might seem to others as a hasty marriage. In a few days, we will be taking a trip into the country to visit his family.” Daisy dug in her reticule and produced a key that she slid across the bench seat toward Justine. “When we are gone, and I think it should be for at least a month, should you ever need refuge or a moment to yourself, you are welcome to avail yourself of my townhouse.”

Justine glanced at the key. “Why would I need⁠—”