Page 50 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

Daisy quickly cut her off. “It is clear to me that all is not well with you. I want to help.”

“I don’t need help,” Justine said, and then stood. “Besides, there’s nothing that can be done.”

“Lord Brookes was never the man for you,” Daisy promised, while wondering if that was the only cause of Justine’s distress. “You deserve someone better than him. Someone who will stand by you, no matter the difficulty.”

“There’s no need to concern yourself with my future, such that it is,” Justine whispered and then fled, headed back toward Lord Brookes and her sister’s home, where she lived now, journal clutched to her chest. As furtive as every encounter of theirs had been in recent weeks.

Daisy looked down for the key—and discovered Justine had taken it after all.

She smiled to herself. Justine was a sly one indeed, and fast. She would not admit she needed help, but she would avail herself of it if need be.

Daisy sat a moment but decided that her coming here had achieved her goal. It must be awkward living with a newly married couple who did not like each other. She hoped Justine did not still harbor feelings for Lord Brookes. That would be too awful to bear.

If refuge was all the help Daisy could offer, then so be it. Perhaps Justine would have a chance to write more in her journal while there.

Daisy stood and headed toward the Throsby carriage, which was parked a short distance away. It was a relief to slip inside and be surrounded by a familiar conveyance.

She headed home, knowing Max would be waiting impatiently for her return so he could make love to her again.

Her staff, their staff, had gone above and beyond to prepare for their wedding day. As she’d suspected, they were all delighted by the news that she and Max would make a match.

When the carriage stopped, Max was waiting for her on the pavement. He entered the carriage scowling, though, instead of helping her out.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. But there’s been a change of plan that I had nothing to do with,” he said.

Max gave the driver instructions to head for Hanover Square. That was where his town house was, but not where they were planning to spend tonight.

“Explain,” Daisy demanded.

“It was decided by your servants after the ceremony we should live in a viscount’s home. They sprung the decision on me only after you left, I’m afraid.”

Daisy gaped. “The nerve.”

“Yes, I said the same, and much worse. However, they were determined. They removed all your possessions while you were gone, and all the food too, and took care to inform the Duke and Duchess of Mamble and Abelton of the change of address for the celebration, as well. They even took the vicar with them! So there was nothing I could do by that point.”

“Do they remember who they work for?”

Max caught up her hand and kissed the back of it. “A future duchess. They are determined you begin your new life in a certain style.”

“Well,” she said, huffing, and then kissed the back of Max’s hand, as well. “We’ll have to do something about them.”

He snorted. “We’ll probably increase their wages and give them all an extra day off.”

She smiled at Max, and then laughed. “I’m glad.”

“Ah, here we are. Hanover Square and Throsby House.”

The carriage stopped, and Max leaped out. He turned back, his hand outstretched toward her. She gladly put her hand in his and allowed him to help her out of the carriage.

“I assume by your good spirits your meeting went well,” he asked, threading her arm through his and leading her up the stairs, as was his right and her pleasure.

“As expected,” she answered. “Justine has the key now, but I don’t know if she’ll use it while we are away.”

“Well, if she does, it is a comfort to know she’d be the last person to arrange an assignation in your old bed.”

“Or yours,” Daisy countered. “There was something scandalous in that journal, I think.”