The Duke Meets His Matchmaker (The Duke Hunters Club, #5)
Page 17
“I forbid it.” Mr. Holloway paced the foyer. His shoes clinked against the marble and echoed through the large-ceilinged room.
“I’m not giving Daisy up,” Reggie vowed.
“But all the things...” Mrs. Holloway shook her head. “It will be difficult.” She glanced at her husband. “And we don’t have a dowry.”
“All I want in my life is to be with her,” Reggie said.
“And you promise you’ll take care of her,” Daisy’s father asked.
Reggie nodded somberly. “Most certainly.”
Mr. Holloway nibbled on his bottom lip. “I’m not happy about it.”
“You should be,” Daisy said sternly. “I’m happy.”
“You don’t understand life,” Mr. Holloway said.
“I do,” Daisy said, keeping her voice icy and firm. “Your protection only hurt me.”
Mr. Holloway flinched.
“I almost lost a chance at happiness with the duke because of you,” Daisy said.
“I don’t want you to become unhappy,” Mr. Holloway said, but his shoulders slumped, and Reggie thought Daisy’s father might understand what he’d done.
Alistair cleared his throat. “Tea and sweets are in the drawing room to celebrate the betrothal.”
“Oh.” Mrs. Holloway’s eyes rounded, and Reggie nodded gratefully at Alistair.
“Shall we?” Reggie swung his arm toward the drawing room.
Mrs. Holloway glanced at her husband hopefully.
Mr. Holloway gave a rigid nod. “It seems we have something to celebrate.”
Daisy’s parents strode into the drawing room.
Reggie bent down to Daisy. “I think everything will be just fine. Just give them time.”
“I believe you’re right,” Daisy said, and she beamed.
Butterflies fluttered through Reggie’s chest, and he pushed her into the drawing room, toward their new, shared life.
HAPPINESS FLITTED THROUGH Daisy. The servants carried more treats into the room. Evidently, Alistair had urged them to bring everything from their larders. Sweets piled the table, glistening delightfully. The housekeeper lit the candles, perhaps mindful of the waning afternoon light. The flames danced around them.
She glanced at Reggie, half-expecting him to disappear, half-expecting this all to be some pleasant dream as the carriage moved from Bath. Reggie was still here, though. He would always be here. He would be her husband.
“What will you do after the wedding?” Mama asked Reggie.
He shifted in his seat.
“Mama,” Daisy said. “We haven’t even discussed that.”
“Well, then you must,” Mama said.
“I meant in private,” Daisy said, though the happiness that bounded through her made it impossible for her to be too upset.
“No doubt they want to stay in Bath.” Papa glanced at Reggie. “Isn’t that so, Your Grace?”
“Perhaps sometimes,” Reggie said.
“I forgot about your boxing schedule.” Papa scrunched his lips, as if he’d bitten into something sour, and not the cook’s tasty scones. “You can’t expect to haul Daisy across the country like some trunk.”
“I don’t plan to,” Reggie said calmly.
Daisy straightened. “I don’t want to be separated.”
“I have no intention of that either,” Reggie said.
“What did you intend?” Papa asked.
“Daisy always speaks highly of London. I assume we can find some doctors there for her. I would like to settle there.”
“Truly?” Daisy blinked.
“Yes.” Reggie picked up a scone and slathered it in clotted cream and jam. “I think that would be nice.”
“I think that would be nice, too,” Daisy said softly.
“Then I suppose it’s all settled,” Papa said, his eyes wide.
“Indeed.” Reggie bit into his scone and grinned.
Mama glanced at him. “Perhaps it would be useful to tell the servants not to take our luggage to France.”
Papa bounded up. “Good—er—point.”
“Since there will be a wedding to plan,” Mama said gaily.
“And I require my attire.” Papa hurried from the door and glanced at Daisy. “You’re coming with us.”
“But!”
“You’re not married yet, sweetheart.” Mama’s eyes danced, and she pushed Daisy from the room.
“One thing before you leave,” Reggie said.
“Oh?” Daisy stared at him.
“Yes.” He nodded solemnly as he narrowed the distance between them. Then he cupped Daisy’s face with his hands and kissed her. Deeply.
“Oh, my,” Papa said.
“Heavens.” Mama stretched a hand over her heart.
The duke grinned. “I’m going to call on you tomorrow.”
Daisy nodded happily, then Mama pushed her from the room.
EPILOGUE
Reggie rushed through Bath, past the Royal Crescent, and toward Daisy’s street.
A few people stared at him, but it didn’t matter. He could let them stare.
Happiness flitted through him, and once he reached Daisy’s townhouse, he pounded on the door.
Mrs. Powell answered it. “Your Grace?”
“Where’s Daisy?”
“In her room.”
Reggie beamed and bounded up the steps, tackling two at each time. Happiness surged through him. Next week Daisy and he would marry. Daisy had sent invitations to their friends, and Reggie looked forward to spending the rest of their lives together.
But first, he had news for Daisy.
Brilliant news.
Reggie rounded the corner and strode over the upstairs corridor. Then he knocked on the door, waiting until he heard Daisy answer.
Reggie opened the door, rushed toward Daisy, and knelt at her feet. “I have something to tell you.”
She glanced at his bent knee. “I hope you haven’t forgotten that you’ve already proposed.”
“Are you saying you wouldn’t want an encore?”
“Well.” Daisy’s cheeks pinkened. “Perhaps.” She looked around, then leaned toward him, immersing him in that delightful rose scent. “Especially if we include the last part of the proposal.”
“Ah.” Reggie nodded gravely. “That was an excellent part.”
“Quite,” Daisy said in a dignified manner, but her eyes danced.
Reggie grinned, conscious his betrothed was most wicked.
“Actually, I wanted to inform you that Mr. Thompson bought the castle,” Reggie said. “He didn’t mind all the armaments at all. The more, the better he said. And the castle is very much on the more side.”
“Dearest!” Daisy exclaimed. “You’re free.”
“All my bills are paid off.” Reggie leaned toward her. “And there’s plenty extra.”
“I’m happy for you,” Daisy said.
“For us,” Reggie said.
Daisy tilted her head. “And you truly won’t miss your estate?”
“I’ll have some fond memories,” Reggie said. “Though unfortunately, I have fresher, not nearly so fond memories. There’s much to the castle that needs to be fixed.”
“Well, Mr. Thompson certainly has the funds to do so. Now, what do we do now?”
“We plan a wedding.”
“I’ll plan the wedding,” Daisy said sternly.
Reggie nodded. “That’s a better idea. But first, we can go to London to look for some rooms.”
“I thought you already had a townhouse.”
“I want a place on a single floor.”
“Indeed?” Daisy’s eyes sparkled.
“I want you to feel you can go everywhere,” he said. “I want you to be comfortable in your own home.”
“No carpets?”
“Absolutely none.” Reggie frowned. “Perhaps some on the walls.”
Daisy smiled. “I’ll allow it.” She stared at him. “You are the most darling man.”
And then there was much k
issing.
Thank you for reading The Duke Meets His Matchmaker. I hope you enjoyed Daisy’s and Reggie’s story. The next book in the Duke Hunters Club series is The Truth about Princesses and Dukes.
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MORE BOOKS BY BIANCA BLYTHE
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DO YOU KNOW THAT BIANCA also writes cozy historical mysteries as Camilla Blythe? Click below to check them out.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Born in Texas, Bianca Blythe spent four years in England. She worked in a fifteenth-century castle, though sadly that didn’t actually involve spotting dukes and earls strutting about in Hessians.
She credits British weather for forcing her into a library, where she discovered her first Julia Quinn novel. Thank goodness for blustery downpours.
Bianca now lives in California with her husband.
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