Page 61 of The Wedding Challenge

“But what about Rochford? What about Lady Calandra?”

“I have ended that,” he said, standing up and crossing the room to the fireplace. He picked up the poker and pushed the logs about a bit, staring broodingly into the flames.

“I had heard that you were no longer pursuing his sister,” Daphne said. “But I did not think that was the end of the matter.”

He stuck the poker back in its place and turned to face her. “The duke did not come to confront me, and I saw no point in continuing.”

“No point!” Daphne burst out, rising to her feet. “I thought you were going to avenge what he did to me!”

“What would you have me do, Daphne?” he asked.

“Something more than cause that girl a little public ridicule!” she shot back.

“Isn’t that enough to do to an innocent woman?” he retorted.

“No!” Daphne cried fiercely. “It’s not! It is not enough to pay for what her brother did to me!”

“I cannot change what happened to you,” Bromwell told her earnestly. “I wish to God that I could. I would do anything to take that pain from you, to erase it from your mind and heart. But I cannot. And hurting Callie further cannot make you happy.”

“I want you to ruin her!” Daphne seethed, her lovely face contorting with rage.

Bromwell stared at his sister, shocked by her words. “Daphne! You cannot mean that. Your hurt and bitterness over what the duke did to you are keeping you from thinking clearly. You would not really wish me to inflict damage on an innocent young woman’s reputation. I thought when we talked the other night that you realized as much yourself. That you would not want me to be the sort of man who would do such a thing.”

Daphne drew a long breath, then smiled at her brother a little shakily. “No, of course, you are right. I would not want any harm to come to the girl. Not really. I just—I could see that you wanted her, and…” She turned away from him, reaching down to reposition a pillow on the sofa.

“Still,” she went on, picking up another pillow and fluffing it, playing with the fringe along its edges. “I hate that you are leaving. I have seen you so little the last few years. I had looked forward to our having this Season in London together.”

“I know. But I have duties at the estate that need seeing to. And there is little for me to do here beyond corresponding with my steward and my business agent.”

“Oh, such dull stuff. You need to have fun. Not work so much. You are a gentleman.”

“I am a gentleman who needs something to do,” he responded.

“I know!” Daphne brightened. “Why don’t you go to Lord Swithington’s hunting lodge? You can rest there for a few days before you return to the estate.”

He smiled, glad to see that she had gotten over her disappointment. He hated to see the way the past had embittered her, her desire for vengeance eating away at her once-happy nature. “But, Daphne,” he pointed out, “it is not even hunting season. There is nothing to do there.”

“But that is entirely the point, is it not?” she responded brightly. “You can tramp about the countryside. Read by the fire in the evenings.”

“I can do all those things at home.”

“Yes, but that is so far away. At the cottage you will not be so far from London. I could drive up there in a few days and join you. As soon as the Wentwhistle ball is over. I must be here for that. I promised Mrs. Wentwhistle only yesterday that I would not fail her. But that is only a few days away. The day after the ball, I will drive up there, and we can spend some time together. Wouldn’t that be fun? Just the two of us, like when we were children. We can talk and talk…about everything. Since we have been here, I have been thinking how much I have missed you all these years.”

He chuckled. “Daphne, we visited one another two or three times a year ever since you married Lord Swithington.”

“Yes, I know, and no doubt you think it silly of me,” she told him, pursing her lips in a little moue. “But it has been so nice the past few weeks, living close to you. And I do not want it to end just yet. Please, do say you will, or I shall be certain that you are still displeased with me about our trip to Vauxhall.”

He smiled at her. “All right. I know that you are accustomed to having your way. I will only end up saying yes eventually.”

“Of course you will,” she agreed with a charming laugh, coming forward to tuck her hand in his arm. “It will be such fun. You’ll see. Now, I shall just write a note and tell the caretaker to expect you the day after tomorrow. How is that?”

“Fine,” he answered. “It will be fine. It will take a day to get my affairs in order, anyway.”

“Wonderful,” Daphne purred. “You will see. You shan’t be sorry.”

THE FOLLOWING MORNING Francesca announced that Callie had done quite enough maintaining face for the present.

“I think that you should stay home for a while,” she told her as they sat at the breakfast table.