“A long engagement?” Her shoulders relaxed. “Get to know one another?”
“That’s right.” He brushed back her hair. “As long as it’s just me and ye, there’s no rush.”
That made her smile. “There will never be anyone else.”
His heart swelled and he turned back to Colin. “Ye heard the woman. When she’s ready, we’ll marry.”
Colin gave his sister-in-law a gentle look. “Well, that all seems reasonable to me.” Then he raised a brow. “But how about we join the group?”
“Absolutely,” he said, then held her waist as they made their way back inside.
Dinner was a lovely affair, though neither she, nor Blake, nor Colin mentioned the engagement. She’d share with her family, of course, but somehow, she wanted to keep the information to herself a bit longer. She had only just realized why she’d been so distant with her suitors and she wasn’t quite ready to share all of her reasons why.
But Rose gave her and Blake several long looks with her eyebrows raised up high on her forehead and Daisy was certain that her sister understood something had happened.
The festivities continued and Blake remained close to her side. Something inside her was shifting with their quiet togetherness. It was as though strength filled her. No, that wasn’t right. It had always been there. And it often showed itself in her sassy behavior, but when it had come to love, she’d been hiding and suddenly, she didn’t want to hide anymore.
Blake effortlessly made her feel safe. Even just a few hours since his proposal, she stole a glance at him and wondered why she’d hesitated at all. The way he touched her would only lift her up.
Finally, after midnight, the men retreated to have cigars and Rose shoved her off to bed. “You need your rest,” she’d insisted. “You can see everyone again tomorrow.”
Nodding, she’d trailed behind the men as they made their way up to the third floor. She could hear their deep voices, the baritone tenor of their laughter and that feeling of contentment made her feet slow. What a lovely evening it had been.
“Daisy,” a voice hissed from the shadows. She stopped, then instantly realized that was the wrong decision, the men turned a corner, leaving her in the hall alone. Spinning, she started to retreat but her arm was terribly sore and it twinged as she tried to shift her weight.
A hand shot out to grab her elbow. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
She blinked, looking over at Lord Price. “You frightened me, calling from the shadows like that.”
“Apologies,” he answered, his face twisted into a frown. “I needed to speak with you when no one could interrupt.”
She shook her head. The last thing she wished for was a private conversation with Price. “That isn’t proper, and besides, there is nothing to say.”
“I’m in love with you,” he blurted, moving closer and putting his other hand at her waist. It was far too intimate and she tried to pull away, but he held her firm.
“You are not.” She tugged again. “And in any regard, I’m not in love with you. Unhand me.”
“No,” he said as he dragged her closer. “You will listen to me. I’ve thought of you constantly over the last three years. I shall die if I can’t have you as my own.”
Daisy barely had a moment to contemplate how ridiculous the words were. Though she’d once hoped to hear them, they rang with falsehood. He hadn’t even recognized her. Then again, she’d been covered in mud.
He began to lower his head toward hers and with sickening dread, she realized he was about to steal a kiss. She knew what this situation looked like, she’d seen her sister being forced, but she’d been afraid of what that might feel like for all these years. But in this moment, she wasn’t afraid, rather rage surged in his stomach.
Daisy wrenched back and knocked into a table situated on the wall of the hall. She heard a loud thump and knew some object on the surface had fallen. Reaching back with her hand, she searched around as his cold, wet lips, pressed to hers. It was disgusting and vulgar. Nothing like Blake’s touch.
She wrapped her hand around thin, hard iron. Maybe a candelabra? Whatever it was, she gripped it tightly and swung at his head with every ounce of energy she had.
* * *
Blake looked back over his shoulder, searching the hall for Daisy. She’d been following them, her lips parted in a grin. But suddenly she wasn’t there. He drew his brows together. Her room was on the floor above. “Is the music room on this floor?” he asked wondering where she might have gone?
Colin looked over at him, stopping. “No. Why?”
“Daisy was following us. I assumed she was going to her room. But she just disappeared. Where might she have gone?”
Colin blinked. “There’s nothing of consequence in these halls. Guest rooms, a study.” Colin scratched his head. “I’m not sure where she would have gone.”
Blake pivoted on his feet. “Do ye mind if we go back and look?”
Tom gave an overly dramatic sigh. “Ah. New love. So endearing, so consuming.”
Blake looked at the ceiling and then started back down the hall. It wasn’t just his constant need to be near the woman. His gut clenched. Something seemed off. As if to underscore his fear, a loud thump sounded from around the corner they’d just turned, and Blake broke into a run. He skidded around the corner and then stopped dead in his tracks.
There, before him, was a repeat of his worst nightmare. Daisy stood locked in Price’s arms as he devoured her mouth in a kiss.
Jealous anger and rage welled inside him. Blood throbbed in his veins. He should have known this would happen again. How could he have been such a fool?
He opened his mouth to let out a roar as Colin skidded into his back. “What the…” Colin started but never finished.
In a flash of dim movement, Blake saw her hand and a dark object,
