The evening passed by in a blur after that. When Daphne reached the drawing room, she felt as though she was in a daze.
"My Lady," Rosalie, Daphne's trusted lady's maid, called out to her, "Are you feeling well? Your complexion looks to be a bit... pale."
Daphne shook her head, dismissively. "Do I look pale now?"
"Yes, my Lady. If you would allow me.... It's almost as though you have seen a ghost..."
"Perhaps I have," Daphne shrugged, trying to push the memory of Ambrose's whispered words from her mind. She couldn't let him get under her skin—she couldn't let him affect her like this.
"Shall I fetch you a glass of water?" Rosalie asked.
"No, no," Daphne bit down on her lip. She was still thinking of what Ambrose had said to her, “Rosalie, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course, my Lady. I am here to assist you in whatever way you require.”
Daphne bit down on her lip, “Do… you.. well, do you think I aminteresting?”
Rosalie seemed surprised by the question at first. “I am not sure if I understand. Interesting in what way, my Lady?”
Daphne rubbed the side of her face. That was exactly what she was trying to figure out as well. What had Ambrose meant by his comment? “Well, do you find that I’m the sort of person others might find… interesting?”
Rosalie tilted her head, regarding Daphne thoughtfully. “My Lady, I believe anyone who spends even a moment with you would be hard-pressed to forget you.”
“So is it a compliment?” Daphne asked. “Being interesting?”
Daphne had always thought that it was. But when it came from the duke, it was hard to decipher the true meaning on top of the fact that she did not think it was possible for him to ever compliment her.
“I would say so,” Rosalie nodded.
Daphne felt a strange feeling arise inside of her.
“Has Lord Richard said that to you?” Rosalie asked, smiling.
The question was enough to remind Daphne of what she should be focusing her attention on. Once again, she was thinking about Ambrose when she should be thinking about Richard.
"You should accompany me to the garden. I was to meet Lord Richard there,” she said abruptly.
Rosalie nodded, and began to follow Daphne out to the garden. Daphne straightened her back, annoyed at herself for being so distracted.
This was an important moment. For all she knew, this could be the moment that Richard finally proposes marriage to her.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about the infuriating Duke, about the way his breath had felt against her ear, the shiver that had run down her spine, and the smile on his face as he had walked away.
Perhaps you should hire a tutor...
His voice echoed in her mind, and the shiver she had felt earlier returned.
Why does he affect me so?she wondered, her frustration mounting.I should be angry with him. I despise this man.
But now was not the time for such thoughts. She pushed them away, unwilling to let them cloud her mind.
Instead, she focused on the man who stood before her as they entered the garden—Richard.
"Lady Daphne," Richard greeted her softly, extending a hand. "I've been waiting for you."
Daphne took his hand. "I'm sorry if I kept you," she said, though she knew he would never fault her for such a small thing.
"Not at all," he replied, his tone as gentle as ever. "Shall we walk?"
