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Agnes, surprised at her daughter’s knowledge, clutched her hand to her chest and feigned shock. “How dare you speak to me in such a manner! I would do no such thing.”
“Agnes, what is she talking about?” the duke demanded, his voice turning cold. “Where is my daughter, and what involvement do you have in it?”
Agnes shook her head, quickly thinking of how she might spin what she did know of Daisy’s disappearance, but Bertha beat her to it. “Daisy was devastated that Mr Radcliffe left Oxford without a word. You see, he had promised to come to you. She told me he wished to ask for her hand, but he was called away to care for his sick father.”
“Daisy did not receive that message because my mother has been reaching the mail first and hiding the letters,” Bertha paused only a second to take a breath before continuing, “I know this because last night I decided to do some digging of my own, and I found all the letters that were addressed to Daisy, unopened and in your vanity table draw, Mama!”
I knew I should have burned them!Agnes thought, barely able to stop herself from yelling the words aloud.
“Is this true?” the duke asked. He turned to her with such a sad expression that he clearly already believed he knew.
“I merely thought I was doing what was best for our girls,” Agnes admitted. Clearly, unhappy with her, the duke said nothing and turned back to Bertha and Thomas.
“Where is Daisy now? Do you know?”
“I rode with her to the edge of Oxfordshire, but then she ordered me back here,” Thomas admitted, looking quite ashamed of himself. “She insisted upon going after Mr Radcliffe alone. I tried to talk her out of it but…”
“But my daughter is headstrong and would likely have gone on no matter what you said.” The duke sighed deeply and lowered his head in thought. The moments passed on in silence, and Agnes’ anxiety only grew until she could take it no longer.
“What will we do, George?”
“Iwill send men to look for her, though I suspect we will not find her until she is ready to be found,” George snapped, turning his angry gaze on her, “youshall do nothing more. You have already done enough.”
Agnes’ heart sank, and she fought the urge to argue.
Chapter 31
Daisy and Philip were deliriously happy. Having married in a quiet ceremony at Gretna Green, surrounded by practical strangers who were all too willing to share in their happiness, they had spent two beautiful days secluded in a small cottage, barely leaving their bed.
The ceremony itself had been small and private, yet Philip had still insisted she have a proper gown and all the small things that usually mattered to brides. Daisy was just happy to be there with him, standing at the altar before him and knowing she would soon be Mrs Radcliffe.
Upon the third day, at the request of the coachman, who was growing increasingly anxious at their circumstances, the newly married couple had decided that he was right. It was time to return to Oxford and face the music.
They were well on the way, a gentle drizzle pattering on the carriage roof, making Daisy feel quite sleepy and cosy beside her husband when he turned in his seat beside her and placed his fingers beneath her chin to make her look up at him.
“Is something the matter?” she asked, and he shook his head.
“I merely wish to do something before we reach Oxford,” he announced, and before she could ask him what he might mean, he kissed her. The intention in his kiss was plain as day, and Daisy felt her insides beginning to tingle with delight.
Though she was still sore from their last love-making session before they had left the bed that morning in the cottage, she was more than willing to give him exactly what he wanted. The unspoken knowledge between them that when they arrived in Oxford, they might not have the opportunity to make love for a while, urged her on, and she instinctively started to lift the hem of her skirts.
The new gown that Philip had brought her as a wedding present was made of the softest silk she had ever experienced, and she moved it easily out of the way, offering him access with her legs spread wide. Untying his breeches, Philip dropped down onto his knees before her and spread her legs just a little wider.
“Be gentle with me, husband. I am still quite sore from this morning’s ravishing,” she admitted, and Philip gripped hold of her face, kissing her gently before he slipped the tip of his manhood inside her. He hovered there, rubbing the most sensitive part of her sex just above the entrance until she felt herself growing slick for him. She gasped when he slipped deeper inside her, and the pleasure began to build as it always did deep inside her.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, all she could do was clutch hold of him tightly, at his mercy as he thrust deep inside her. They moaned and groaned together, Daisy biting the inside of her lip to stop herself from screaming every time her climax exploded, sending her reeling. The added bounce of the carriage as it continued down the country lanes only enhanced the pleasure, and soon she felt Philip spilling his seed deep inside her once more.
Just as she always did when he climaxed, she couldn’t help thinking,I am yours, and you are mine.
He continued to hover inside her for a few minutes afterwards, kissing her between moments of trying to catch their breath, as if he were debating whether to try for a second round.
Having grown sorer between her thighs than ever before, she was relieved when he relented, pulling himself from her and pulling his handkerchief from his breast pocket to clean her up as the gentleman he was.
When he caught her looking down at him with quiet amusement, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Any excuse to continue touching you, my love.”
Before she could respond, he leaned up and pressed his lips to her forehead, sending a thrill rushing through her entire body.
Their love-making had been short and sweet but would remain with her for a long time. She held onto the memory tightly as they cleaned themselves up quickly and returned to sitting side by side, Daisy with her head upon her husband’s shoulder, both too frightened to admit that when they returned to Oxford, everything would change again.
