Page 43 of Road Trip With a Rogue (Her Majesty’s Rebels #3)

“It’s true,” Vaughan said, apparently unperturbed by Brand’s ire.

“And believe me, Mr. Brand, your concern that my nephew lacks any kind of stable profession is something I have lamented myself, on numerous occasions.” He sent Perry a sardonic look.

“That said, until I have sons of my own, Perry here is my heir presumptive, and as such he’ll benefit from an allowance of a thousand pounds per year now that he is wed. ”

Brand’s expression relaxed a little. “Well, Your Grace, that’s extremely generous of you. I must admit that my objection to young Peregrine has nothing to do with him personally, but more an abundance of caution where my precious little girl is concerned.”

“Perfectly understandable.” Vaughan nodded. “There are scores of unscrupulous ‘gentlemen’ who would take advantage of an innocent young lady like Violet, especially if she came with the alluring prospect of a sizable dowry.”

“Quite so,” Brand said. “Peregrine, I understand your father is currently abroad with your mother?”

Perry nodded. “Yes, sir. I believe they’re somewhere near Naples at the moment.”

“Well then, I suppose I’ll have to wait until they return before we negotiate the settlements.”

Violet’s face broke into a relieved smile as she took this concession as proof of her father’s acceptance. “You’re not cutting me off?”

“Of course not,” Brand said gruffly. “You’re my only child. You’ll have a dowry of twenty thousand pounds. I’ll not have people calling me a miser.”

Violet beamed. “Thank you, Papa. I promise we’ll manage it extremely well, won’t we, Perry?”

Brand snorted in clear disbelief, and Daisy bit back her own smile at his cynicism. Perry and Violet reminded her of the characters Jane and Bingley, in the novel Pride and Prejudice —both so amiable that they would doubtless be cheated by their servants and always exceed their income.

Brand turned back to Daisy. “Did anyone see them on the way to Gretna? The last thing I want is unseemly gossip floating about town.”

“I don’t believe so,” Daisy said. Brand seemed to appreciate straight-talking, so she decided to give her unvarnished opinion.

“But I’ll be completely honest with you, sir.

Even if word doesn’t get out about their elopement, there will still be talk if you simply announce their marriage.

People will ask why they didn’t wait the usual three weeks to have the banns read in church, or have a have a big, public wedding. ”

Brand’s expression darkened again. “What do you suggest? You know the ways of the ton far better than a cit like myself.”

Daisy racked her brains, desperate to salvage something from this disaster.

“Well, you’re known to be a doting father, so I think people would believe it if we say you indulged Violet’s youthful impatience and agreed to a common license.”

“What else?”

“You should have a big celebration, to show everyone that Violet and Perry have your blessing. If there are rumors about the swiftness of the wedding, or any hint that they acted without your permission, such a public display of unity will go a long way to dispelling them.”

Violet almost leapt out of her seat. “Oh, yes! A party would be lovely! Say yes, Papa!”

Daisy tried not to groan. The parallels to her own situation were all too obvious, and the irony that Violet’s marriage should have remained a secret, while gossip about her own non -marriage to Vaughan was apparently all over town, thanks to Letty Richardson, was hard to swallow.

She and Vaughan needed to do something similarly overt and announce either their engagement, or their supposed wedding, but the thought of it made Daisy feel oddly despondent.

She’d played hundreds of different roles while undercover for King & Co.

: an exhausted servant, a belligerent fishwife, an expensive courtesan.

But pretending to be engaged or secretly married to Lucien might just be the hardest of all.

The thought of him gazing into her eyes and pretending to be in love with her, knowing it was only for show, would hurt. She would have to keep reminding herself that he was acting—however convincing he might appear.

“Miss Hamilton.”

Daisy blinked as the pressure of Vaughan’s knee against her own and Brand’s voice jolted her out of her dismal thoughts.

“Yes?”

“I have very little experience in organizing any sort of large party, especially at short notice, and I have no wife to act as hostess. You and your colleagues at King and Company, however, are accustomed to both hosting and attending such social events. Especially your friend, the Duchess of Wansford.”

Brand’s expression was decidedly calculating. “Considering your failure to stop the wedding is partly the reason I’m having to host—”

Daisy hid her wince, even as she silently congratulated Brand on his excellent use of both logic and guilt to pressure her into agreeing.

“—perhaps you and your colleagues could organize the ball to announce Violet and Perry’s marriage? It will give you, Miss Hamilton, another chance to earn that five hundred pounds, and put King and Company back in my good graces.”

“It’s not that easy to—”

Brand’s mouth pursed as he sensed her hesitation. “Like you, poor Violet doesn’t have a mother to help her with such things.”

Daisy ground her teeth. Oh, Brand was a master at manipulation. He and Vaughan should compare notes.

“I’ll pay for everything, of course,” Brand continued. “No expense spared. Whatever you ladies think would be appropriate.”

Damn it all. She couldn’t refuse an offer like that.

Daisy forced a smile. “Of course we’d be delighted to help. Did you have any preference for the day?”

“As soon as can be arranged,” he said, smiling now that he’d got his way. “Would a week from today be possible?”

“It will be a rush, certainly, but anything is possible if you throw enough money at it.”

“I want everyone who’s anyone to be there,” he cautioned. “The whole ton . Three dukes, at least. Royal ones, if you can.” He glanced over at Vaughan. “We can count on your attendance, Your Grace, of course?”

Lucien sent him a cynical smile, fully aware of the other man’s desperate desire to climb the social ladder. “Of course.”

“I hear you and your friends are also great favorites of the queen,” Brand said silkily, turning back to Daisy. “Didn’t she make an appearance at the recent marriage of the Earl and Countess of Cobham?”

It was all Daisy could do not to roll her eyes at his shameless maneuvering. “Indeed, she did, but I couldn’t possibly guarantee her attendance at this ball, even if she were sent an invitation.”

“Nevertheless, an invitation should be sent. Just the chance that Her Majesty might grace us with her presence will add a cachet to the proceedings. I don’t suppose the prince regent could be persuaded to come?”

Daisy pressed her knee sharply against Lucien’s, silently commanding him to help. This situation was as much his fault as it was hers.

“Unlikely,” he said coolly. “His Royal Highness can rarely be prevailed upon to attend social functions due to the precarious state of his health.”

Daisy bit back a derisive snort. The entire country knew the prince regent’s health would be greatly improved if he didn’t spend his days drinking, eating, and whoring himself into a torpid state of dissolution, but that wasn’t something one could say in polite company.

Brand grunted, but seemed to recognize the truth of Lucien’s words. “Very well. The queen will have to do.”

Daisy turned to Violet. “Violet, can you draw up a list of people you want to invite and send it to me by the end of the day?”

“Absolutely. Oh, I can’t wait! Can the party have a theme?”

Daisy did her best to hide her dismay. “Of course. What did you have in mind?”

Violet’s eyes were practically glowing with excitement. “Well, I’ve always loved costume parties, ever since I was a little girl. Everyone dressed as shepherds and dairymaids, and harlequins and such. How about something like that?”

“You could ,” Daisy said slowly, “but Veronica Cardew did something like that only a few months ago. You wouldn’t want to be thought unoriginal.”

Violet looked stricken. “Oh, goodness, no. What do you suggest? I want this to be the absolute best party of the season.”

Daisy racked her brains. “How about a romantic theme? Something that hints at a wedding? That will get people talking before they even get there.”

Violet clapped her hands. “Yes, I love that!”

“Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream was originally designed to be performed as a wedding celebration. Why not have that as your theme? The garden here might not be quite big enough to accommodate everyone, but we could fill the ballroom with flowers and trellises and such.”

Violet’s blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “Yes! I can dress as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, and Perry can be my consort.”

She patted Perry’s knee and Daisy hid a smile.

Perry looked slightly dazed, and she had the feeling he was going to have his work cut out controlling his new wife’s enthusiasm.

What was that phrase? Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

She hoped neither Perry nor Violet would come to regret their impetuosity, but considering how similar they seemed in terms of temperament, it was probably unlikely.

“We should be able to manage that,” Daisy said briskly. “Even given the short notice.”

Brand nodded, apparently happy now that he’d been appeased, so she stood and held her hand out to him. “Mr. Brand, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be off to start organizing things.”

Brand shook her hand while Vaughan rose to his feet next to her.

“I’ll take my leave too,” he said. “Perry, I’ll see you back at Cranford House.”

Daisy allowed Vaughan to usher her back out into the hallway. His proximity, as ever, made her jittery, and she tried her best to ignore the subtle hint of his cologne that teased her nose.

“Congratulations,” he said drily. “You’re now in charge of the social event of the season.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “As if I had any choice in the matter. I blame you entirely. If your stupid nephew had just waited until your sister returned from her travels, this would have been her problem, not mine.”

His deep chuckle made her stomach somersault as he caught her chin and tilted her face up so their eyes met.

“Speaking of weddings, have you made up your mind to attend ours , yet, my sweet?”

“I have not,” she said mulishly.

His eyes danced at her continued evasion.

“Perhaps you could make a decision in time for this party? We should probably avoid one another in public for the next few days if you don’t want to set tongues wagging even more than they are already, but we’ll both be expected to attend this affair on Saturday.

We need to have a plan in place for when we’re seen together. The world will be watching.”

Daisy pulled her chin from his hand and turned away, heading toward the front door. “I know that,” she said crossly. “I’ll have a decision for you on Saturday night.”

A servant opened the door, and she made her escape, but Vaughan’s taunting voice followed her into her waiting carriage.

“I look forward to it, my love.”