Page 93 of Road Trip With a Rogue

She sent him a serene smile. “I’d be delighted, Your Grace.”

Every eye in the room followed them as they took their positions on the dance floor amongst the other couples, but Daisy’s attention was focused on Lucien’s hand as it settled at the small of her back, an inch lower than propriety demanded. She placed her left hand on his broad shoulder, and when he raised their joined right hands in readiness for the waltz, she looked up into his handsome face.

“I must admit,A Midsummer Night’s Dreamis the perfect theme for tonight,” he said lazily. “Isn’t it the one with all the young lovers running around the woods and making themselves ridiculous?”

Daisy bit back a smile. “It is.”

“I’m amazed Perry isn’t dressed as Bottom, the donkey.”

“Oh, hush! He’s your own nephew. You shouldn’t go around calling him an ass.”

He shrugged, and the muscles of his shoulder twitched under her palm. “If the shoe fits.”

Violet and Perry were just to their left, also waiting for the music to start. Violet, in a gown of pale peach that would have made Daisy look as if she had jaundice, was the Fairy Queen Titania, complete with a glimmering tiara and tiny net fairy wings emerging from the back of her dress. Perry was equally handsome in a pale blue suit in the style of a French musketeer. They were gazing at each other, so clearly besotted and impervious to the rest of the world, that it made Daisy’s heart clench. Had she ever been so starry-eyed? So naively sure that life was a fairy tale?

She didn’t think so.

But she curved her lips up to answer Lucien. “It’s easy to be cynical, but I think they’re sweet. I hope they’ll come to appreciate each other fully, when the first rush of infatuation fades.”

“Youarea romantic.”

Heat scorched her cheeks at his gently mocking tone and she glanced away, unable to deny it or think of a clever response. Thankfully, the orchestra started playing the first bars of a waltz.

“Everyone’s watching us,” she muttered as they started to move.

“Of course they are. We make a striking couple.”

Such typical arrogance made her look up at him again, and the twinkle in his eye bolstered her fighting spirit.

“That’s not why. They’re all waiting for a formal announcement. Half of them think we’re secretly engaged, the other half think we’ve already married at Gretna, andallof them think I’ve succumbed to your wicked charms.”

“They’re all wrong,” he said, amused. “It was me who succumbed toyourwicked charms. You’ve compromised me shamelessly.”

Daisy snorted. “My father wants us to marry as soon as possible.”

“He does indeed.”

“And he wants us to announce our engagement here, tonight.” Her mouth was dry.

“Your father’s wishes don’t interest me in the slightest. What wouldyoulike to do? It’s still your decision.”

“How is it my decision if you’ve already requested a special license?” she hissed, careful to keep her voice low so they wouldn’t be overheard. “My father said that’s what you were doing.”

His expression betrayed no hint of remorse at her accusing tone. “A special license just allows the couple listed on it to marry somewhere private, without the need for banns to be read. Having it doesn’t mean youhaveto marry me. There’s no obligation to use it. You can still say no.”

Daisy narrowed her eyes at him. “Really?”

“Really. I can throw it on the fire, if you like, and to hell with the thirty pounds it cost me.”

Daisy winced. Thirty pounds was more than most ordinary people earned in a year.

His lips curved in a smile at her obvious conflict. “The fact that you’re even debating this makes me question yoursanity. Stop looking so cross. Anyone would think you don’t want to marry me.”

Oh, the arrogance of the man!

“Idon’twant to marry you, you dolt. I want to be married to someone who actually likes me. Someone who cares for my opinion. Respects me. Values me.”

Loves me.