Page 36 of Road Trip With a Rogue (Her Majesty’s Rebels #3)

The journey back toward London was very different from the one they’d taken north. Finch drove one carriage, containing Daisy and Jenny, while a second coachman drove Perry, Violet, and the small mountain of hat boxes, trunks, shoe boxes, and suitcases that made up Violet’s luggage.

If that was Violet’s idea of packing light, Daisy snorted to herself, she dreaded to think how much the girl would take when she went away for more than a week. Napoleon and his armies had probably traveled with less.

Vaughan, mercifully, elected to ride, and despite Jenny having altered a very fine riding habit for Daisy, she declined to join him outside.

Being near him was both pleasure and pain, since she spent every moment vacillating between being certain she was making the right decision to refuse him, and the niggling feeling that she was being a complete and utter fool.

Vaughan might not love her, but was her insistence on such a thing truly realistic?

Could a woman in her position expect the man they married to love them, heart and soul?

Tess and Ellie were almost certainly the exceptions in the ton .

Perhaps Daisy should just be grateful for the fact that Vaughan desired her, and abandon herself to the passion—however fleeting it turned out to be.

She seemed to change her mind with every rotation of the carriage wheels.

When they reached the White Horse at Doncaster, Vaughan joined Perry and Violet in the public dining room to eat, but Daisy took her evening meal alone in her room. It was not the same one she’d shared with Vaughan, thank God, but she was still plagued by memories of him.

She hoped Tess and Ellie would be able to meet her at Wansford Hall. She’d never been more in need of their support and advice.

The following morning, Vaughan sent Jenny up to ask if Daisy was going to “hide in the carriage all day,” and despite knowing he’d made the taunt deliberately to goad her, she told Jenny to unpack the riding habit.

Avoiding him simply betrayed the fact that he had the power to affect her, and she refused to admit to such a thing.

The knowing curl to his lips as she stormed to the mounting block was irritating, but Daisy’s heart beat hard in her chest at his proximity.

Their horses fell into step some way behind the carriages to avoid the dust kicked up by the wheels.

“Not tempted to sit in with Perry and Violet?” he teased, keeping his expression impassive.

“And play gooseberry? No thank you.”

“You’re the one who supports marrying for love. That’s what you get. Kissing and crooning and holding hands.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not always. Tess and Justin aren’t like that. Nor are Ellie and Harry.”

“Exceptions.”

“I thought of another option last night,” she said. “What if you deny everything? Say Letty made the whole thing up. You’re a duke. She’s a known gossip. Your word will carry more weight than hers.”

“Letty Richardson’s obnoxious, no doubt about it, but painting her as an out-and-out liar seems a bit harsh. She did see us. Besides, people are bound to ask why she’d concoct something so extraordinary—especially about me. In case you weren’t aware, I have a reptation as a man unwise to cross.”

“I’m well aware of your reputation,” she said primly.

“Well, then. Even if I deny it, they’ll say there’s no smoke without fire.”

Daisy suppressed a frustrated groan. She’d have no qualms about ruining Letty’s reputation to salvage her own. The woman didn’t deserve her mercy, but he was right. There would still be endless gossip and innuendo.

Her spirits rose when the warm sandstone walls of Wansford Hall finally came into view. She spurred her mount forward, galloping down the long drive and leaving Vaughan and the carriages behind.

Tess must have been watching for her arrival, because she hurried out onto the front steps as Daisy slid from her mount. She took one look at her face and enfolded her in a hug, just as Ellie appeared behind her.

“We came as soon as I got your letter,” Tess said breathlessly. “What on earth have you been up to? London’s awash with all sorts of ridiculous rumors.”

There goes the faint hope that Letty had decided to keep her mouth shut.

“Long story,” Daisy panted, conscious of Vaughan and the others drawing closer. “I’ll tell you everything as soon as we’re alone. Are you here on your own?”

Ellie gave a wry laugh. “Hardly. Harry and Justin insisted on coming with us to find out about the drama firsthand. They said they might be useful , if you can imagine such a thing.”

Daisy managed a smile. “More likely neither of them trusted you not to get into trouble without them.”

The carriages were almost upon them, so Tess turned to welcome her guests. Daisy hadn’t actually told them who she was traveling with, and she heard Tess’s shocked gasp as she and Ellie caught sight of Vaughan’s unmistakable figure.

They both dropped into welcoming curtseys.

“Your Grace! Welcome.” Tess said smoothly.

“A pleasure.” Vaughan nodded and made the extra introductions. “My nephew, Peregrine Hughes, and his new wife Violet, lately Brand.”

Tess sent the couple a wide smile. “Congratulations. And welcome to Wansford Hall. I wouldn’t dream of having you all stay at an inn, not when we have so many spare bedrooms. Please, come in and get settled. Mrs. Jennings will take you.”

Violet and Perry were ushered inside, and Daisy glanced back at Vaughan, trying to gauge his mood.

“Justin is inside, Your Grace,” Tess said easily. “Playing billiards, I believe, with Ellie’s husband, Harry, Earl of Cobham. Would you prefer to be shown to your room, or be taken straight to them?”

“I’ll go and see them first, thank you.”

“Simmons will show you the way. Dinner will be at eight.”

Vaughan nodded again. “Very good.”

He strode into the house after the footman, and Daisy let out a soft breath. She felt tense every time he was near. Every part of her body tingled with awareness.

Ellie linked their arms, her eyes sparkling with good humor behind her glasses. “Dorothea Hamilton, I have a feeling this is going to be your best adventure yet. Come in and tell us everything .”

Daisy allowed her two friends to sweep her up to the bedroom she used whenever she was a guest. As soon as they were inside, Tess seated herself in one of the armchairs beside the fireplace and Ellie threw herself onto the end of the bed, exactly as she’d done when they were girls.

Their twin expressions of anticipation made Daisy grin, and she deliberately turned and washed her hands and face, using the pitcher and bowl on the washstand, simply to make them wait some more.

“You are a dreadful tease,” Ellie scolded with a laugh. “That note you sent to Tess was a masterclass in mystery. All you said was, ‘ Disaster. The hermit may have been right. Meet me at Wansford as soon as you can. Expect additional guests. D.’ ”

Daisy suppressed a snort. She’d known the oblique message would bring the two of them quicker than a full explanation. There was nothing they enjoyed more than a mystery, except maybe a challenge.

Tess frowned. “I assume the hermit you were referring to is the one we visited in Vauxhall Gardens a few years ago? The one who said your ideal match would be with a highwayman?”

“I think the actual wording on her scroll was that she’d ‘meet her true match on a dark highway,’” Ellie said. “But what has that to do with anything? Why is London abuzz with rumors about you and the Duke of Cranford—the man currently playing billiards downstairs with our husbands?”

“The man who looked at you as if he couldn’t decide whether to strangle you or drag you off into the nearest dark corner and ravish you,” Tess added gleefully. “And believe me, I’m familiar with the look. It’s one my husband employs on an almost daily basis.”

“Mine too,” Ellie chuckled. “Come on, out with it!”