Page 78

“Nonsense, I shall chaperone Livie, and she will chaperone me,” Daisy said, marching directly to the drawing room door.

Just outside, she turned and caught Livie’s hand. “He’s here for you,” she whispered. “He loves you. You don’t have to ask him to put aside his honor. He decided you matter more.”

Livie managed a crooked smile. She had guessed that Joshua would change his mind and admit that he had spoken rashly. He may have been angered, but after calming down, he would realize she hadn’t asked him to do something as nefarious as bribe his father.

But at the same time, Joshua didn’t know who she was. Who she really was. He had no idea of the damage she would do to him by becoming his wife.

Captain Sir Tyron would inform the major of her birth, warning him away from marrying her. And Joshua would marry her anyway, even knowing that the revelation of her illegitimacy would destroy his career.

“Major FitzRoy, good morning,” Daisy said, trotting into the drawing room and dropping a curtsy.

Livie murmured a greeting as her knees bent in the familiar gesture. The sight of Joshua seared her heart like a flame. Of course, he was handsome, but it was his somber, loving expression that drew her to him.

In direct opposition to the way he last regarded her, now Joshua was looking at her as if she were perfect.

Not flawed, not deficient, not immoral, but precious.

Yet he didn’t know the truth.

He bowed and kissed both of their hands, his lips lingering on the back of Livie’s as he flashed her a look from under his thick lashes. She knew what he was thinking. In fact, if they’d been lucky enough to marry, she would probably have always known what he was thinking.

He wanted her. Needed her, even.

Daisy bounced over to a chair. “Sit down,” she commanded. “We’ll discuss Bernadette, and then I’ll leave the two of you alone.”

Livie looked up to find Joshua’s lips quirking in a wry smile.

“Is your cousin always this blunt?”

“Almost always.” She realized that he was still holding her hand and tried to tug it free, but Joshua drew her over to the sofa and sat, pulling her close so that their legs were touching.

“Improper!” Daisy chortled. “But I suppose it’s to be expected.”

Livie pulled her hand away and edged to the side.

“We need you to pay a call on Lady Regina,” Daisy told Joshua, without preamble.

He frowned. “I’d rather not.”

“You have to seduce her!” Daisy said enthusiastically.

A look of deep disgust crossed his face. “Absolutely not.”

Livie intervened before Daisy could issue any more commands. “Major FitzRoy, I must explain that coded letters were sent from my father on his vessel to me, here in London. We think they were sent by Captain Sir Tyron’s first mate, Mr. Cassio.”

“I am aware,” Joshua replied. “Frederick and I paid a visit to Cassio’s chambers, but the man denies responsibility for the ink blots and added sentences.”

“We should accost him!” Daisy burst out. “Cassio couldn’t lie to you, Livie!”

“Actually, Cassio is presently in custody,” Joshua said.

Livie leaned back against the couch, relief flooding her body. “Oh, thank goodness! The letters proved strong enough evidence without his confession?”

Daisy clapped her hands. “Of course! They were in his handwriting, after all.”

Joshua shook his head. “He is in custody on the charge of stealing the captain’s seal.” He held up his hand when Livie’s mouth fell open. “While he may well have done that crime, after we determined that he could not be allowed to flee, my butler planted the seal, and we arrested him on the grounds of its theft. In fact, the seal in question belonged to my father, not to the captain.”

“What a fantastic idea!” Daisy cried. “I like the sound of your butler.”