Secrets of a Proper Lady

by Victoria Alexander

  Daniel said the first thing that came to mind. “This is Harold Sinclair you’re speaking of?”

  “Indeed it is.” Daisy laughed. “I don’t expect that you would see him the way I do. I know the two of you have not been especially close in recent years.”

  Daniel snorted. “Not especially, no.”

  “Which is why I’m somewhat surprised to see you here,” Daisy said slowly. “Pleased but surprised.”

  “As am I,” Daniel murmured. Still, facing his father might not be as much of an ordeal as he had anticipated. His stepmother had certainly come as an unexpected, and most welcome, surprise. “He might not feel the same.”

  “Nonsense.” Daisy beamed at him. “He’ll be delighted. He’s quite proud of you, you know.”

  “He is?” Here was yet another surprise.

  “Of course he is.” Daisy’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe you didn’t know that.”

  “I wasn’t aware—”

  “Well, you should be.” Indignation rang in Daisy’s voice. “He’s told me all about you. How you’ve refused his help, financially and in every other way ever since you finished your studies. How you’ve used a small inheritance from your mother’s family to fund your ventures. How you have gone off on your own to build your own fortune, find your own success, rather than wait to inherit his. He’s said more than once how your ambition reminds him of his own at your age and he feels you come by it naturally. Indeed, he thinks you’re exactly like he was.”

  “Am I?” Daniel said weakly. He’d never for so much as a moment considered he might be the least bit like his father.

  She nodded. “He thinks your scheme of purchasing small railroads with an eye toward consolidation is nothing short of brilliant. In fact, I have heard him compare you to Vanderbilt.”

  “Really? How…unexpected.” Not merely his father’s pride but the extent of his knowledge about Daniel’s business pursuits. “How does he know all this?”

  “Goodness, Daniel. Your father is a captain of industry. He makes it his business to know such things. And, I daresay, when it comes to the world of business, especially anything having to do with the transport of goods or people, he probably knows everything worth knowing.” Daisy leaned toward him and rested her hand on his. “My dear boy, you needn’t be concerned as to what your father has told me about your business. While I have no idea whether or not your activities require secrecy, I can assure you your father would not say anything to anyone that might compromise your success.”

  He stared. “I didn’t think—”

  “No, you certainly did not.” She removed her hand and straightened in her chair. “I know full well your father can be extremely stubborn and he rarely, if ever, admits when he is wrong. I have no doubt you take after him in that respect.”

  Ursula choked back a laugh. Her sister glared at her. Ursula coughed, then tried and failed to look entirely innocent of anything beyond a tickle in the throat.

  “There have been any number of occasions when I have admitted that I might have been wrong.” Daniel couldn’t quite hide the defensive note in his voice although he had nothing to be defensive about.

  “You must understand something about me, Daniel. When I said I have always wanted to be a mother that was entirely accurate but only as far as it went. Ursula and I have been quite alone in the world, aside from whatever husband she happened to have at the moment, for a very long time. I have wanted to be part of a family again for as long as I can remember. Your father is now my family, as are you.” She narrowed her eyes. “And I will not permit dissension in my family.”

  “You won’t?” he said cautiously. He really had no idea what else to say. “You do understand that I am an adult. I am not a child.”

  “Then stop behaving like one,” Daisy said sharply. “You and your father both. Daniel.” Her tone softened and she met his gaze. “You’re over thirty, your father is past fifty. There will come a time when he will no longer be here. You—both of you—have the opportunity now to make peace with one another. Before it’s too late.”

  The truth of her comment struck him with an unexpected clarity. Hadn’t he just seen exactly what she was talking about? Nigel Cavendish had lost his father barely more than a month ago. Cavendish had long thought his father saw him as something of a disappointment. It was only recently that he had learned otherwise. But he and his father had had the opportunity to grow close in the final months before the older man’s death. Cavendish had mentioned on more than one occasion how grateful he was for that.

  Daniel had never before considered that the time he and his father had was finite. Certainly he was well aware of the inevitability of death, but he had never thought about it in terms of his relationship with his father. If truth were told he’d been far too busy resenting his father’s interference for far too long to consider the consequences of that resentment.

  “Daniel,” her voice was soft but intense. “You might not be given another chance. If you miss this opportunity, mark my words, one day you will regret it.”

  Hadn’t Cavendish said much the same thing? That if he had not reconciled his differences with his father, he would have regretted it for the rest of his life?

  Were Harold Sinclair’s crimes against his son so heinous they could not be forgiven? Of course not. The worst was the elder Sinclair’s determination to see Daniel in an advantageous marriage. Still, if Daniel looked at his father’s actions with a rational eye, with the eye of an adult, he might well see that the older man had always simply wanted what was best for his son. That he thought he knew what that was could be forgiven. Wouldn’t Daniel some day want only the best for his own son? And wouldn’t he think he knew better than his son what that was?

  Was that the real problem between them then? That as much as Daniel was a grown man, he had never quite stopped seeing his father from the point of view of a rebellious youth? Had never stopped responding to him the same way he had as a child? That it took an observer who recognized the value of family, the value of what the Sinclairs might have, and more, what they might lose, to make him realize it was past time to reconcile their differences would have been somewhat discomforting had it not been for the nature of the observer herself. Daisy might well be the smartest move his father had ever made. For himself and for his son.

  “You’re right.” Daniel blew a long breath.

  Daisy favored him with a brilliant smile. “I know.”

  “You’re very lucky to have her,” Ursula murmured.

  Daniel grinned. “I’m convinced of it.” He paused. “You do realize, this might not be easy.”

  Daisy waved off his comment. “Undoubtedly. But your father and I have discussed it, and he has promised to make an effort.”

  “Then I can do no less. Still—”

  A key sounded in the lock and Daniel got to his feet. A strange mix of apprehension and anticipation gripped him. He had no idea what to expect. He glanced at Daisy and she smiled in an encouraging manner.

  The door opened and Harold Sinclair strode into the room.

  “Daniel!” A wide grin broke over his father’s face. He started toward his son then hesitated.

  “Father.” Daniel stepped toward him. “It’s…it’s good to see you.” Even as he said the words he knew they were true.

  His father’s grin widened if possible. He moved to his son and took one of Daniel’s hands in both of his. “It’s good to see you too, son.”

  The oddest sense of relief and well-being swept through Daniel as he gazed down at his father. As if he was once again a small boy looking at the one man in the whole world he could trust to be there for him always. Of course, in those days his father wasn’t the portly, balding gentlemen nearly half a foot shorter than Daniel that stood before him now.

  Daniel smiled a genuine smile. “You look ten years younger, Father.”

  His father chuckled. “That’s what the love of a good woman will do for you, son. It won’t restore your hair but oth
er than that…“He leaned toward his son and lowered his voice. “She makes me feel young. Wish I’d met her years ago.”

  “She is a prize.”

  “Indeed she is.” The elder Sinclair straightened and studied his son. “You, however, look ten years older. I suspect you’ve been working entirely too hard.”

  “I feel ten years older,” Daniel said wryly. “You’re right, I have been working hard.”

  “If you want my advice—”

  “Harold.” A warning note sounded in Daisy’s voice.

  “My apologies, my dear.” He squared his shoulders and looked up at his son. “Daniel, we need to talk. If that’s amenable to you?”

  “I would like that,” Daniel said firmly.

  Daisy rose to her feet. “I believe Ursula and I have some errands—”

  “Oh no, this is your doing, Daisy, and I will not permit you to avoid the end result of it now. Besides,” Harold cast a private sort of smile at his wife and Daniel realized this was very much a love match. Ironic, as the older man had never given love any consideration when trying to marry off Daniel. Perhaps it wasn’t as much ironic as it was fitting. “This is not merely between father and son, it’s a family matter and you are a part of this family.”

  “Yes of course. Still, it does seem rather personal and perhaps Ursula…” She glanced pointedly at her sister. “If you don’t leave now, Ursula, you shall miss your appointment.”

  “Canceled,” Ursula said with a ring in her voice and a blithe wave of her hand.

  Daisy narrowed her eyes. “Surely you do have somewhere you have to be?”

  “No, no, not at all.” Ursula cast them a brilliant smile. “Nowhere to go, nothing to do. Not a thing.”

  “Even so, I’m certain—”

  “If your new husband, an arrogant beast of a father, is about to reconcile with your new son, his ungrateful, if handsome, offspring, I can’t think of anywhere else I should rather be. Unless”—Ursula’s eyes widened in disbelief—“I am not considered part of your newfound family? Your own sister? If you are tossing me aside like so much discarded rubbish—”

  “For goodness sakes, Ursula, you needn’t be so dramatic.” Daisy sighed and glanced at her husband.

  “She can stay,” Father said and added in a low tone. “Part and parcel of for-better-or-worse, I suppose.”

  Daniel bit back a grin.

  Ursula beamed. “I shall just sit over here in the corner quiet as a little mouse. Why, you won’t even know I’m here.”

  “Impossible,” the elder Sinclair said under his breath. He settled on the sofa and gestured for Daniel to join him. Daisy retook her seat. “You should know, Daniel, that Daisy and I have had several conversations on this subject. She has some very definite opinions about family.”

  “So I’ve heard.” Daniel smiled at his stepmother.

  “She is aware this rift between us has weighed heavily on my mind—”

  “On your heart,” Daisy corrected.

  “On my heart.” Father sighed. “Furthermore she thinks it is, for the most part, entirely my fault.”

  Daniel’s eyes widened in surprise. “She does?”

  “Indeed she does.” Father nodded. “So I have a proposition of sorts for you. I have promised Daisy, and I will now promise you, that I will no longer offer unsolicited advice. I will refrain as well from expressing my belief that my opinions are more valid than yours. And I will resist the urge, should the opportunity ever again present itself, to arrange a marriage for you.”

  Daniel stared. “You will?”

  His father hesitated, glanced at Daisy, then smiled weakly. “I will. You should know that it will take a great deal of effort on my part, but I will. My intent has always been to make your life easier and better. To help you avoid the mistakes I have made. Daisy has helped me to see that I may never have accepted that you are now an intelligent adult and more than capable of handling your own affairs. But I have always viewed my actions as being those of a concerned, loving parent.”

  Daisy cleared her throat.

  “Although I have come to realize that perhaps they might have been construed as…” He rolled his gaze toward the ceiling. “As somewhat overbearing and heavy-handed and domineering.”

  “You have?” Daniel said slowly. He wasn’t sure what he had expected but this admission certainly wasn’t it.

  “So my proposition is that I will endeavor to change.” He winced. “I will change.”

  Daniel stared.

  “I wish to be part of your life and to accomplish that I need to resist my more annoying tendencies. Oh, I will always be available should you need advice or funding or merely to talk. Or anything else, but it will be entirely up to you.”

  “I see.” Daniel drew a deep breath. “What I’d like is a favor.”

  “A favor?” His father considered him for a moment. Daniel had never asked him for anything, let alone a favor. “Name it.”

  “I need you to get me out of this marriage.”

  “This marriage?” His father’s forehead furrowed in confusion, then his expression cleared. “Oh, you’re talking about the arrangement with Lord Marsham?”

  Daniel drew his brows together. “Is there another arrangement?”

  “Absolutely not,” his father said staunchly. “Just this one.”

  “Then do something about this one.”

  “Daniel, I would if I could but…”

  “But?” Daniel’s voice rose.

  “But, I gave my word.” He shook his head in a regretful manner. “I can’t renege on it now.”

  “I’m not asking you to. I’m simply asking you to change the rules.”

  “Change the rules,” his father said cautiously. “I don’t understand.”

  “How good is this deal with Lord Marsham?”

  “Very good. If he wasn’t in a bit of a financial bind at the moment, he’d never consider it. His company is otherwise sound.”

  “Then if he didn’t have a marriageable daughter, you’d still be interested?”

  “Yes.” Father drew the word out slowly.

  “Lord Marsham will not force his daughter to marry me if she doesn’t wish to.”

  “And?”

  “She feels compelled to marry me to save her family’s fortune.”

  “Go on.”

  “If you withdraw that stipulation to the deal, it will alleviate any pressure she may feel to agree to a marriage.”

  His father considered the idea for a moment. “I suspect you’ve given this a great deal of thought. Precisely how do you propose I do that?”

  “You simply tell Lord Marsham, while you still think an alliance with his family is an excellent idea, you have realized that business matters should not be contingent on personal issues.” Daniel grinned in triumph. “Therefore, while you are still eager to merge his interests with yours, a marriage between your children is no longer a condition of the deal.”

  His father narrowed his eyes. “And I have come to that realization because?…”

  “Because…” Daniel searched for an answer.

  “Because,” Ursula leaned forward eagerly, “you have recently found happiness in a marriage with a wife of your own choosing therefore you have realized you cannot deny your son the same opportunity.”

  Three pairs of eyes stared at Ursula in surprise.

  “Brava, Ursula,” Daisy murmured. “Well said.”

  Ursula shrugged and settled back in her chair. “I thought it was obvious.”

  “Obvious perhaps, but it might not be as easy as that,” his father said. “The suggestion as to a match between you and Lady—what was her name?”

  “Cordelia,” Daniel said.

  “That’s it. Lady Cordelia. The proposal was Lord Marsham’s, not mine.” Reluctance sounded in his father’s voice. “Although I did think it was a splendid idea.”

  “Because he had not yet come to his senses,” Daisy said firmly. “Indeed, it was when I learned of this arrangement
that he and I had our most serious talk about you and he.”

  “That’s something at any rate.” Daniel got to his feet and paced the room. “But it still doesn’t get me out of this.”

  Daisy wrinkled her nose. “It sounds to me as if the man is eager to get the girl off his hands.”

  “Of course he is.” Daniel huffed. “The woman is twenty-five, a stout and sturdy sort of Amazon if you will, and she’s writing a book.”

  “We would hate to have a woman of undue intelligence in the family,” Ursula said under her breath.

  Daniel glared at his new aunt. “I have no difficulties with her intelligence. Indeed, my intentions have always been to marry a woman with a good mind. I just want to find her on my own rather than having her thrust upon me.”

  “That’s completely understandable, Daniel,” Daisy said in a soothing manner. “So you’ve met Lady Cordelia then?”

  “Not exactly,” Daniel muttered.

  His father frowned. “How do you not exactly meet someone?”

  Daniel shrugged. “We’ve been corresponding. But I have met her companion, a distant cousin by marriage. Miss Palmer. Sarah Palmer. She’s a lovely woman.” He pinned Ursula with a firm look. “With an exceptionally fine mind.”

  His father and stepmother traded glances. Daisy chose her words with care. “I gather you like this Miss Palmer?”

  “Indeed I do. I like her a great deal. In fact…”

  In fact what? He had impulsively told Sarah he would like to call on her and when he’d said it, he’d meant it. At that moment, he’d paid no heed at all to the consequences of such an act. And then she had kissed him and he’d been able to think of very little else since then, but the feel of her lips beneath his and her supple body pressed against his and the growing conviction that, regardless of his wish to avoid marriage, this might well be the one woman in the world for him. Even her request the morning that he left Brighton that he not call on her did little to dampen his growing feelings. In truth, he simply thought her all the more honorable for choosing her responsibilities to Lady Cordelia and her family over her own desires.