Page 5 of To Steal a Lyon’s Heart (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #85)

But what if she was right? What if Daisy’s betrothal ended?

The thought surprised her. In fact, the idea almost made her giddy.

As they’d gotten older, she and Cliffton had seen each other less and less.

Daisy didn’t mind. They had little in common other than their betrothal.

She used to hope that as they got older, romantic feelings would develop.

But he seemed never to want to see her or write to her.

Lady Claystone claimed it was because he was simply too busy performing his duties, so busy he hadn’t been there to sign the contract at all.

Lady Claystone assured Daisy that everything was fine and Cliffton couldn’t wait to marry her.

Now at nineteen, Daisy was suddenly done waiting to be wanted.

If she wasn’t betrothed then she could come out, have a season, and maybe not be so inclined to sit against a wall, waiting to marry a man who was too busy to woo his own bride.

No one had ever asked Daisy if she wanted to marry him.

What she wanted had never seemed to matter at all.

What if Lady Claystone took their newly signed marriage contract and ripped it to shreds? Daisy could picture it. Her enraged pale expression, her slender fingers clawing the parchment to shreds, and bits of it falling down around her like snow and Daisy would feel... elated.

“Why are you smiling?” Miss Miranda asked in alarm.

Daisy wiped her hand across her mouth. Had she been? Oh dear.

The maid cleared her throat. “I’m done, miss.” She bobbed a quick curtsy and left.

Miss Miranda folded her arms. “I’d thought you’d be more upset about this. After you leave here, my mother said we can no longer associate with you.”

Daisy frowned. “Do you agree with her? Do you think the behaviors of others somehow taint me?”

“That’s the way proper society works.”

“It’s stupid.”

Miss Miranda stepped closer to her, her eyes pooling with tears.

Maybe they were friends, Daisy thought, even if they’d never had much in common.

“I’m sorry this happened to you,” Miss Miranda said. “Maybe one day, when we’re both married—if you marry Lord Cliffton—we can be friends again.”

“But you think he won’t want to marry me now, isn’t that correct?”

Miss Miranda shrugged meekly. “Goodbye, Miss Blakewood.”

Daisy’s nose stung but she lifted her chin. “Goodbye, Miss Miranda. I thank you for your friendship and kindness while I’ve been traveling with you and your family.”

Miss Miranda nodded. She turned away and left Daisy there. Confused, now a little saddened, and frightened about what would happen now.

It was nearly lunchtime when the maid returned to summon her, and Daisy was led out of the house like a criminal. She climbed into the carriage, surprised to find Mrs. Miranda’s lady’s maid, Bailey, inside and not Mrs. Miranda.

“I’ll be your chaperone for the time being, miss,” Bailey said.

“Oh... thank you.” This might be a blessing.

The carriage lurched into motion. By the time they reached the closest posting inn, evening had set in. Daisy followed Bailey into the tavern, her stomach rumbling.

“Wait here,” Bailey instructed. Daisy slid into a chair at an open table. The room smelled sickly sweet like spilled ale, but there were also wafts of savory meat pies. A barmaid stopped by her table.

“Can I get ye something, miss?”

Daisy took out her pin money. “A meat pie and a cup of tea, please.” She was starving. She didn’t have enough to buy two pies, but she would share with Bailey if needed.

Bailey came to the table with a huff of annoyance.

“You’re to stay here until it’s time for the mail coach to leave. The innkeeper said it would be thirty minutes.”

“Oh?” Mail coach? But they’d arrived here in Mr. Miranda’s conveyance.

She assumed they’d take a room for the night.

But perhaps Daisy should have guessed they wouldn’t want to spare the expense, but to put them on a mail coach.

She’d never been on a mail coach let alone traveled overnight.

It wasn’t safe, was it? That was what she’d always been told.

But it must be all right. Mrs. Miranda wouldn’t put them in danger.

“Very well. I’ve ordered a meat pie if you’re hungry.”

“With what money?”

“My pin money.”

“Let me see how much you’ve got.”

Daisy chewed her lip as she opened her reticule and dumped out the rest of her pin money. It wasn’t much.

“I’ll take it,” Bailey said.

“Why?” Daisy asked in confusion.

“To keep it safe.”

“Oh, very well.” Daisy handed it over even though her instincts told her not to. Her meat pie and tea arrived. Bailey sat in the other chair. “How long will it take to get to London by mail coach?”

“Just overnight,” Bailey said. She picked up the teacup and drained it. Then she took a bite of the pie and stood.

“Stay here. The bell will peal three times before the coach leaves. Here’s your ticket.” Daisy took the ticket and tucked it into her sleeve.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be outside. Eat your meal and do as I say.” Bailey left Daisy, and she devoured her pie in silence, curiously observing the other patrons.

This was a nice, respectable inn, The Oat and Oak, but it was now fully dark, and Daisy had never traveled without a group of people to protect her.

Once she finished eating, she remained seated until she heard the three distinct rings of a bell.

Daisy stood with a mixture of excitement and fear.

She stepped outside the inn, looking for Bailey.

She spotted her trunk being loaded onto the large carriage.

At least that was sorted. She drifted closer, scanning the area for Bailey.

“Are you coming aboard, miss?” a man asked.

“Um, yes.” Daisy showed him her ticket and he waved her toward the door.

“You’ll want to claim a seat inside. Are you alone?” He eyed her, one eye narrowing.

“No, I have a travel companion.”

“You should get inside, now.”

“Should I not wait for her?” Daisy asked in a panic. She did not see Bailey anywhere. Would they leave without them? Should Daisy stay?

“No. You don’t want to miss the coach.”

“She has my money,” Daisy murmured, more to herself than to the man.

He gave her a sad half smile. “What did your companion look like?”

Daisy licked her lips, trying not to panic. She couldn’t travel alone. Daisy had never done anything alone. “She’s tall and slender, with brown hair and silver at the temples. She has a mole just above her eyebrow and a gray cloak.”

He nodded, his sympathetic frown setting off alarms. “She left ye here alone, she did.”

Daisy skidded to a halt as she put a hand on the carriage and turned back toward him. “She left me?”

He nodded. “Take care, miss. Try to sit between the two ladies for your safety.”

For my ...her mouth went dry. An older man scowled at her from inside.

“Are ye coming or not?”

Daisy climbed into the coach, the tight space and stale air making her dizzy.

She hunched over as she moved toward an open space between two women.

One had a small boy beside her. Daisy smiled to each of them, but she could not speak.

Her heart raced as she knit her fingers together and tried to calm down.

She would be fine. She was an intelligent young woman, now with nothing of value to steal, and soon she would be in London with her brother.

Everything would be fine. She chanted this to herself inside her head. Just fine.

Most of the night had passed in a blur of agonizing, jostling, disjointed dreams, long stretches of yawning and staring at sleeping passengers while avoiding the stares of some men who were awake all night.

But as dawn lit the sky, the coach pulled up to The George in London and Daisy almost cried with relief.

Daisy sat up slowly. Her neck ached as she smiled at the woman beside her.

Mrs. Peppers was sweet, if a little loud when she snored.

Most of the patrons of the mail coach were not inclined to talk, but Mrs. Peppers had taken one look at Daisy and assured her she’d be all right. Not comfortable, but safe.

“Where do you go from here?” Mrs. Peppers asked her now.

“I will walk to Marlybone where my brother is staying.”

“Heavens, that isn’t close. A young lady should not walk unescorted.”

“It isn’t?” Daisy’s hopes fell. She had no coin. She couldn’t hire a hack or even buy herself some food. At that moment her stomach rumbled.

Mrs. Peppers opened her reticule and took out some coins. “Here, take this—”

“Oh, no. I couldn’t impose on you further.”

Mrs. Peppers smiled brightly. “It’s no imposition. In fact, I should escort you there myself or I will worry about you.”

Daisy’s eyes stung as she smiled. “Thank you for worrying about me,” Daisy said. Mrs. Miranda, the woman charged as her chaperone, hadn’t worried at all when she’d sent Daisy away. “My brother will see you are repaid for your kindness.”

As a steady drizzle began to fall, Mrs. Peppers found a driver willing to take them to Marylebone. Daisy didn’t know what her brother would do when she arrived at Lord Alston’s house, but she had no other place to go.