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The card room door was open, and she could smell the liquor on the air. Fearing for her own reputation as well as what might occur should an inebriated gentleman find her, Daisy pushed aside her fears and practically ran past the door, wondering why Lord Templeton had decided that the alcove beyond the card room had been a good place for them to meet. There were plenty of spaces in the ballroom itself where she might have had a quiet word with him, although, then again, she did not know precisely what it was he intended to speak to her about.
Having received a note from Lord Templeton earlier that day, Daisy had been all of a flutter in anticipation for this evening. Lord Fitzherbert and Lord Stevenson would be present, of course, and in the last three days, she had managed to dance with Lord Fitzherbert on two separate occasions and Lord Stevenson only the once. Lord Stevenson did not show any particular inclination towards her, however, for he appeared to be a rather somber sort of gentleman, who did not care much for company and dancing or the like. Lord Fitzherbert, on the other hand, was gregarious and outgoing, seeking her out and crying wonders over her evident beauty—to the point that Daisy was left feeling quite embarrassed at times. He did so not only to her, however, but to any of the young ladies that granted him a dance or two, which was something of a relief to Daisy. It meant that there were no whispers as regarded herself and Lord Fitzherbert, which she was glad of.
The note had said that Lord Templeton wished to speak to her that evening about matters as regarded the task at hand. She would, at the very least, be able to tell him that she had struck up an acquaintance with each of the two gentlemen, just as he had asked. Besides that, she was not sure what else she was expected to do and certainly had no thought as to how she might then be able to find out which of the gentlemen – if either of them – had taken her father’s life. Perhaps, she mused, finding the dark, quiet alcove and coming to stand within it, Lord Templeton was about to impart some particular knowledge to her which would aid her further. Mayhap it was something he could not say in public, for fear that he might be overheard.
Pressing her hands tightly together in front of her, Daisy carefully sat down on what appeared to be a small bench set inside the alcove. It was quite large indeed, she considered, although difficult to see clearly, given that there was only a single candle on the other side of the hallway. There was a vase with some flowers in it just to her right, and a book or two stacked beside it. If there had been a door, then it might have made a perfect little room to hide away within, she considered, a faint smile touching her lips. Perhaps that was just what Lord Templeton needed.
The sound of footsteps caught her ears, making her whole body tense with a sudden expectation. She did not know whether to stand or to remain seated, feeling quite ill at ease all of a sudden. Her heart was beginning to pound with fright, realizing that this might not be Lord Templeton at all but perhaps someone entirely unexpected, who had no reason to be present than to mayhap seek out a quiet place for a future liaison. The footsteps were much too quick, much too firm to be that of Lord Templeton’s! Who was it approaching and what was it she was to do?
Closing her eyes tightly, Daisy pressed herself back against the alcove wall as though she might disappear into it by sheer force of will. The footsteps began to slow, her heartbeat began to quicken into a furious pace and, having no other choice but to do so, she opened her eyes and looked up at the figure.
Her breath left her all at once such was her shock, and she began to cough and splutter, dragging in air and feeling it rattle about her lungs.
It was Lord Watt.
“Good gracious!” he exclaimed, taking a step closer and grasping her shoulder gently. “Are you all right?”
She waved a hand, coughing again and leaning forward in an attempt to catch her breath. Lord Watt said nothing more, although his hand began to rub small circles across her back as she tried to breathe normally. Finally, when she had stopped coughing, she dared another look up at him, utterly astonished to see him there.
A fresh wave of anxiety swamped her as she wondered what he was doing coming in her direction. Had he been seeking a quiet space to think? Or did he have any plans to meet with someone here? Heat climbed into her face, and she turned her head away, just as Lord Watt cleared his throat furiously.
“I am sorry,” she rasped, although she did not truly know what she was apologizing for. “I did not mean to startle you.” She did not turn her face back to his, still too embarrassed to look at him. “I-I needed to have few moments to think, that is all.”
Lord Watt’s chest rumbled for a moment, but he said nothing.
“I-I do intend to stay,” she continued, a trifle hesitantly. “I do not think that I can return to the ballroom as yet.” She did not want to leave, not before Lord Templeton appeared, for to disappear now would be to miss her chance to speak with Lord Templeton and discover what it was that he had needed to tell her. Somehow, she had to get Lord Watt to return to the ballroom.
Lord Watt cleared his throat for the third time. He put his hands behind his back and shifted from side to side, clearly a little confused and embarrassed. “I-I was to meet with someone,” he said quietly, sending a flare of mortification through Daisy. “I apologize for—”
“You must meet your lady elsewhere,” Daisy interrupted, an anger in her voice that she had not expected to be there, “for I do not intend to depart from this place.” She glared at Lord Watt, seeing how his eyes dropped to the floor, his stance evidencing his own shame. She was both upset and confused, not wanting to know who precisely he intended to meet and feeling the urge to move away from him at once but knowing full well she could not. “You must leave, Lord Watt,” she told him firmly, looking away from him again. “As I have said, I do not intend to return to the ballroom yet.”
Lord Watt did not move. Nor did he speak. Instead, there came an uncomfortable, tense silence that seemed to fill the air all about Daisy and made it difficult for her to breathe. Wrapping her arms about herself, she lifted her chin and steadfastly stared at the wall on the opposite side of the alcove, silently willing him to depart.
But he did not.
“I-I fear that I must be very rude indeed and insist that you return to your sister,” she heard him say eventually. “The person I am to meet here is not as you might think, but the meeting is of the greatest importance, Miss Williams. I would not be so rude and ungentlemanlike if it were not so.”
Utterly astonished by this, Daisy rose to her feet and turned towards Lord Watt, feeling her anger begin to bubble. She did not believe a word of what he had said, quite certain in her own mind that he was to meet a lady here, but that he did not want to admit as much to her. A desperation began to wrap itself all through her mind, making a slight shudder run through her. Lord Templeton would be here in moments, perhaps, and she could not be seen to be talking to Lord Watt, else Lord Templeton would not have the freedom to talk to her about whatever it was that was required. She had to find out what it was, so that she could further matters as regarded Lord Fitzherbert and Lord Stevenson.
“You must think me a very great fool indeed,” she told him softly, “if you think that I am to believe such a statement. A gentleman does not meet another gentleman in an alcove such as this.” Her chin lifted again, even though the thought of him meeting with another lady sent chills running through her. “You may tell me the truth, Lord Watt, if you wish, but I will not remove myself from here.” A sudden thought occurred to her and, despite the horror that came with her speaking such words, she forced herself to say them. “I might also be meeting with someone here, Lord Watt, and as such, I cannot do as you ask.” She saw the way the shadows flickered about his face; she saw the darkness that swelled in his eyes as he took in what she had said – and she felt nothing but shame. Shame that she had suggested something that was patently false and had done so simply to force him to depart.
“Lord Fitzherbert, perhaps?”
The
way he spoke that name sent a stab of wrath into her heart. Lord Watt practically spat the name at her, as though she ought to be ashamed of herself for drawing close to such a gentleman, when he had no right to even consider which sort of gentlemen she ought to surround herself with. Her jaw clenched, and she forced herself to breathe before she retorted in as cruel a way as she wished.
“Forgive me.”
Lord Watt blew out a long breath, shaking his head and running one hand through his hair, clearly ashamed of himself – and as he did so, the anger that had flared within Daisy began to shrink back all over again.
“I have no right to question you,” Lord Watt continued, his tone now one of sorrow and regret. “But I speak the truth when I say I am to meet no lady here, Miss Williams. I have been asked to come here by Lord Templeton, who is a friend of mine. I am to meet someone at his behest, that is all.” He gave her a small smile, as though this would smooth matters somewhat. “Might you give me the opportunity to do as I have been requested?”
For what was the second time in quick succession, Daisy felt all of her breath being pulled from her as astonishment and understanding twined together to overwhelm her completely. She stared at Lord Watt in horror, seeing how he looked back at her in confusion, as though he could not understand her silence.
“You?” she rasped, reaching out one hand to point at him, hardly able to believe that this was whom she was to meet instead of Lord Templeton. “Lord Templeton sent you?”
Lord Watt blinked rapidly, looking at her again with a strangeness in his expression that told her of his multiplying emotions and his fracturing thoughts that were not yet bringing him the understanding she had so recently acquired. She waited, silently, her hands now pressed together against her heart, finding that there was nothing else for her to say. The silence stretched further, her eyes searching his as she fought to keep her breath steady, until, finally, he understood what she meant.
