‘Sherry?’ he offered.
She tilted her head and nodded, her sandy-blonde waves catching the light. ‘Of course. This must be good for you to ply me with my favourite drinkbeforewe dine.’
He poured, handed her the glass and gestured for her to sit on the sofa before he sat down next to her. ‘I need your help,’ he said.
She took a sip of her drink and studied him. ‘You look painfully serious. With what?’
He released his breath. ‘Creating a fake betrothed and making her believable to theton…by this weekend’s ball.’ There, he’d said it in one big rush. He felt better already.
She watched him for a beat and then threw back her head and had a hearty laugh. ‘You are good. I almost believed you,’ she said, wiping one of her eyes.
‘I am serious, Cousin.’
She set down her glass on the end table next to her and her eyes widened. ‘What?’
‘We have had an eventful week and I am desperate.’
She stilled and placed a gloved hand gently on his forearm. ‘Start from the beginning and tell me what has happened. Leave nothing out. We will figure it out together, Cousin. We are family.’
Telling Daphne everything hadn’t been as hard as he first believed. She had listened and nodded throughout, interrupting only once to add in a curse of frustration when he relayed to her the events with the trespassing reporters at the lake and how they had scared the wits out of Millie and Miss Potts.
‘Scoundrels, all of them,’ she added, even after William had moved on and outlined his plan in full to her.
He sat in silence and allowed his body to reclaim the calm and relief he felt now. Whether she agreed to assist him or not was out of his hands, but to have finally shared all his worries, hopes and fears with someone who knew all he and Millie had been through relieved him in a way he hadn’t anticipated. His cousin was an ally, no matter what her answer, and he would respect her choices, no matter what they were.
‘And this Miss Potts,’ she asked. ‘She has agreed wholeheartedly?’
He paused. ‘Perhaps that is too strong a word, but she has agreed to do her best for Millie’s sake.’
‘And?’
He shook his head. ‘And what?’
‘What incentives have you given her? For her to agree to take such a risk, it had to have been something impressive?’
While Daphne was not a snob, William wasn’t sure how she would react when he told her the truth of Miss Potts’s upbringing. He also felt a surge of protectiveness in him for the woman, which was odd to acknowledge, despite its truth.
‘Liam?’ she asked, extending the length of his name to show her concern.
‘I promised her a good reference for herself as well as her two friends in case it did not go to plan and she was no longer able to stay on as governess here. I also offered her an additional lump sum that she can use as she sees fit.’ He rubbed the back of his neck, which had begun to ache. It didn’t seem like much now when he thought of the risks she was taking. He felt a bit like a cad.
‘That isallshe requires?’ she asked. Her brow furrowed, and she took a sip of sherry before resting the tumbler in her lap. ‘Why did she not ask for more? This is quite a risk.’
‘I do not believe she thought to. She is…kind and has had little. She grew up as an orphan. It was initially why I selected her as governess. I thought…’ He paused and shrugged.
Understanding bloomed on Daphne’s face and she gifted him a soft smile. ‘That she would understand Millie as she lost her mother.’
‘Precisely.’
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before the mantel clock chimed eight times loudly, reminding them it was time for their evening meal. William viewed his cousin’s silence as her answer and decided to take the rejection in stride. It had been a long shot and she had her own reputation to risk. He didn’t blame her for not wishing to be a part of such subterfuge. Success could not be guaranteed and if they failed thetonwould scrutinise them relentlessly.
‘Shall we?’ he said, standing and offering his arm to escort her to the dining room for their meal. ‘I know Millie will love seeing you, as will Miss Potts enjoy meeting you.’
Daphne set down her drink, rose and accepted his arm. ‘So, you have your governess dining with you? That is unusual, is it not?’
He shrugged. ‘Yes, but you know we are not a household that stands on such formalities.’
She chuckled. ‘I do.’
