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“Please just humor me.”
“As you wish,” she replied, “but only because I am hungry and don’t wish to argue with you about this.”
Her grandmother smiled. “Thank you.”
As she descended the stairs, Daphne could hear the muffled sound of a woman giggling. She followed the noise to a closet just off the main stairs and opened the door.
To her surprise, she saw the back of her cousin, his arms wrapped around a young maid.
“Phineas!” she exclaimed. “What on earth are you doing?”
Phineas dropped his arms and turned around. “What do you think I am doing, Cousin?” he growled. “Do you mind?”
“Do I mind?” she repeated. “I believe Sarah has more important things to be doing than cavorting with you.”
Sarah adjusted her uniform and slipped past Phineas. She mumbled her apologies before she hurried down the hall.
Daphne arched an eyebrow, but she didn’t say anything.
Phineas tucked his shirt back into his trousers. “I didn’t take you for such a prude.”
“And I didn’t take you for such a scoundrel,” she countered.
“I suppose you can’t wait to tell Grandmother about this.”
Daphne shook her head. “You are an arse, Phineas.”
Phineas looked at her with mock outrage. “I didn’t think a lady of your genteel breeding was capable of having such a filthy mouth.”
“Do you think you can make it to your bedchamber without trying to seduce another maid, or should I send a footman along to accompany you?”
“I was just having some fun.”
“Well, have fun at your own house,” she said. “I care about the people who work here.”
“I care about that maid…” His voice trailed off and then he snapped his fingers. “Sophia. Her name was Sophia.”
Daphne sighed. “You are wrong,” she replied. “Her name is Sarah, and you are a rake.”
“There is nothing wrong with my behavior, and I could use a little less judgment from you, if you don’t mind.”
“Go sleep it off.”
“I will, but I might see if I can find another to warm my bed.”
“So help me, Phineas—”
“I am just teasing, Cousin,” he said, putting his hand up. “You need to learn how to take a joke.”
“And you need to not be drunk at nine in the morning.”
He smirked. “I had a late night at the pub.”
Realizing this conversation was going in circles, Daphne spun on her heel and headed into the parlor. As she stepped up to the buffet table, a footman handed her a plate, and she put two pieces of toast onto it. She had just sat down when her cousin stormed into the room.
“What do you want now?” she asked.
“I wanted to finish our conversation from earlier.”
