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D aphne climbed into the Lytton’s carriage the next morning to find Selina brimming with emotion, but she couldn’t tell whether it was with excitement or dismay.

“What is it?” She reached out a hand, and Selina took it eagerly.

“I have reason to believe,” she said, her voice pitching high with eagerness, “that I’ll receive a proposal today.”

So it was excitement then. Selina’s eyes glowed with emotion. She’d already had one proposal from an elderly nobleman who she’d refused. Her family had abided by that decision because the man was a baron, and they dearly wanted to catch a duke for their daughter.

Whoever Selina believed would offer for her seemed to be much more appealing.

“Is it Lord Windham?” Daphne hated the way her heartbeat sped. It was ridiculous to be afraid to hear Selina’s answer. She had no claim on him.

“No.” For a moment Selina’s exuberance seemed to ebb. “I used to enjoy his attention, but he’s been odd since he returned. Distracted. Less jovial. I don’t think he ever would have offered for me.”

Daphne frowned. “I thought you favored him, and he seemed to feel the same.”

“Does he?” Selina shrugged. “He left for so long, and there are gentlemen who’ve been more consistently kind and attentive.”

Daphne could think of at least three, though Selina had drawn the notice of many gentlemen since the start of the Season.

“It’s Strathmere.” Selina squeezed Daphne’s hand as she said the nobleman’s name. “He’s handsome, most attentive, and well-connected.”

And he was a marquess set to inherit a dukedom. Her parents would be thrilled.

“Do you love him?” Daphne may no longer trust herself to give her own heart wisely, but she still believed in a love match, and she knew Selina did too. Her friend deserved that.

“I think so.” Selina smiled. “I can easily imagine myself spending all the rest of my days with him.”

Daphne grinned. “That sounds like a promising start.”

“Oh, Daphne. I hope the rumor is true. It would be the end of all the false compliments, the fawning, and the fear that I might fail my parents.”

“Who told you he plans to propose?”

“Lady Beatrice Beckham, and she would know, wouldn’t she?”

“I would think so.” Daphne had met Lady Beatrice a few times and knew she was the cousin of Lord Strathmere. “When is it to happen?”

Selina drew in a deep breath. “I think, if Lady Beatrice is correct, it will happen today. At Kew Gardens.”

“Did Lord Knowles invite him too?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps Matthew plans to be there since I told Lady Beatrice that’s where I would be.”

The way she’d said his name, all breathy and reverent, told Daphne all she needed to know about Selina’s feelings. Though her friend was a bit shy, she possessed a warm, expressive nature, yet she’d never called any gentleman she’d met during the Season by their given name.

Daphne hadn’t heard even a whisper of scandal or gossip about Strathmere. Indeed, he was known for his charitable endeavors and championing progressive legislation in the House of Lords.

“Oh heavens, I can’t believe it’s going to happen.” Selina fiddled with the lace at the edge of her sleeve. “What if Lady Beatrice was wrong?”

“Just wait and see what unfolds. She doesn’t at all seem the sort to make such a thing up out of whole cloth. There must be truth in it.”

Selina’s eyes widened. “Wouldn’t Mama or Papa have said something if Lord Strathmere had approached them to ask for my hand?”

Daphne nibbled her lower lip. “I don’t know. I think some gentlemen prefer to gauge a lady’s interest before speaking to her parents.”

Her brother-in-law, the Duke of Edgerton, had sought no one’s permission prior to offering for her sister.

“I wish this would happen for you too,” Selina said softly.

Daphne scoffed. “I have no interest in a proposal from any man.”

Selina reached over and laid her hand on Daphne’s arm. “Perhaps in time, you will.”

Daphne smiled. “It will be a very long time. And by then, I’ll be a spinster, fully set in my ways.” Over the last few weeks, she’d imagined such a future, telling herself that it would at least save her from ever being heartbroken again.

“Well,” Selina said as she settled back against the squabs, “I shall continue hoping some ideal gentleman will come along and surprise you.”

Maybe there would be some honorable, trustworthy gentleman who came along and slipped past her defenses, but Daphne wouldn’t count on it. That blithely hopeful part of herself was too bruised.

“Goodness, is that our party?” Selina had pulled back the curtain over the carriage window and stared out at a gathering of a dozen well-dressed gentleman and fashionable ladies. “I had no idea Lord Knowles had invited so many.”

Daphne bent to survey the group too and spotted a tall, broad-shouldered figure with tousled dark hair.

Her stomach plummeted to her kid boots. She had caused the large group to increase by one man last evening. After leaving Lord Windham in the library, she’d spoken to Lord Knowles, who promised he’d invite Windham.

Now his presence would be for naught, except to allow him a firsthand view of disappointment, especially if Strathmere intended some grand, romantic proposal.

Perhaps she should warn him.

“Goodness, is that Windham?” Selina leaned a bit farther toward the window. “Perhaps he does intend to pursue me in earnest?”

“Would that persuade you to decline Strathmere’s offer?”

Selina pressed her gloved hands to her elegant silk skirt and nibbled her lower lip.

“I don’t think so.” She lifted her gaze to Daphne.

“The thought of never kissing Matthew again…” She lowered her lashes at that admission.

“I can’t bear to think of never spending time with him again, whereas Windham disappeared for two weeks and I hardly missed him. ”

“Yet now he’s back.” Daphne looked out at him again, then she surveyed the group as their carriage finally moved up among the queuing vehicles. “I don’t see Strathmere.”

“Not yet, but I have a feeling Lady Beatrice was right.” Suddenly, Selina didn’t sound worried. She sounded hopeful.

Lord Knowles stepped forward to hand them each down from the Lytton carriage. Then he offered his arm for Selina to take, and the group proceeded toward the ornate ironwork entrance gate of the gardens.

Daphne stepped aside and let her gaze wander to the dark-haired nobleman near the back of the assembled group. He returned her look as if he’d been waiting for her to notice him and immediately strode over to offer her his arm.

“How are you?” he asked.

The warmth in his voice wrapped around her, as comforting as it was enticing. For a moment, she could almost imagine he’d come here for her. For a moment, Daphne forgot that a gentleman pursuing her wasn’t what she wanted at all.

“I’m well, my lord.” Daphne glanced up at him. His attention was still on her. Intently. “And I thank you again.”

“He won’t trouble you again.”

“What did you do?” A wave of apprehension slowed her steps.

Windham slowed too, and they stepped off the gravel path together while the rest of the group proceeded toward the Palm House, a vast glass-domed structure with plants visibly arching against the inside of the glass.

“I merely spoke to him before he left the ball last evening and made it clear what would befall him if he attempted to bother you ever again.”

Daphne swallowed hard. “Then I thank you once more.”

“Trust me, Miss Bridewell. It was my pleasure to assist you.” His green eyes glowed in the morning sun, and he looked at her as if she was far more interesting than any of the natural beauty around them.

Then he smiled, and Daphne’s pulse sped despite her insistence that she needed to cease feeling…anything for him.

“And I must thank you,” he said in a lighter tone, “for getting Knowles to invite me today.” He glanced toward the group as they drew closer to the Palm House. “Lady Selina seems in high spirits.”

Daphne pressed a hand to her middle. She had to get ahold of herself—her reactions, her thoughts where this man was concerned.

And she had to figure out how to break it to Lord Windham that the lady he wanted so much that he’d asked for her help to win Selina would soon accept another man’s proposal.

As he and Miss Bridewell caught up with the others, Cassian told himself that he should be showing Lady Selina a bit of attention, as this was the last time he’d ever encounter her on Julian’s behalf.

Yet, as happened every time he was near her, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Daphne Bridewell.

Today, the bright day seemed to gild the golden strands in her hair and lightened her eyes to a shade akin to the summer sky over their heads.

He noticed a beauty mark near her upper lip and another at the edge of her cheek, and he barely resisted the urge to reach out and draw a line between them across her skin.

Though, as also tended to happen when they were in the company of others, she seemed to be attempting to avoid paying him excessive notice.

Then again, she also seemed genuinely interested in the plant life around them.

At each new species of palm, she stopped to study it, making little appreciate sounds as she took in the fronds and then bent to read the metal plaques that listed the species’ Latin names and region of origin. Sometimes the donor was noted too.

Cassian studied them as well, out of curiosity, but the chance to keep close to Miss Bridewell was appealing too.

As he read one plaque, he recognized the name of the donor. “Good grief, I had no idea Carruthers had donated to Kew.”

Miss Bridewell scanned the plaque and then shot him a quizzical look. “You’re acquainted with Lieutenant Commander Carruthers of HMS Endeavor ?”

Damn and blast .

“I am.” Surely Julian had met all sorts during his time in London.

Miss Bridewell straightened and turned to him. “Your brother a navy man, isn’t he? I just recalled that you mentioned it once.”