Daisy’s hands shook as she peeled off the wax. She unfolded the paper and elegant script jumped out at her, bold and sharp.
Miss Blakewood,
Your betrothed performed admirably last night, but my ledgers are still stained with red regarding you and him. Come to my office posthaste. I want to make a deal withyou to resolve it. I think you’ll agree that your path to wedded bliss is still obstructed, and I have a solution.
Bessie Dove-Lyon
Daisy stared at the letter until her eyes watered. “What do I do? Tell Sam? My brother?” She dropped the message on her plate of eggs and slapped a hand over her eyes.
“No. She asked for you,” Amelia said.
Daisy twisted to look up at her. “I can’t go there by myself. Sam is in bed and he’s clearly”—if she saidhurtAmelia might lose her mind—“tired. He’s incredibly tired.”
Amelia patted her shoulder. “You can, Daisy. You’re much stronger than you think. I’ll escort you to the club. Come quickly. Get your cloak.”
After gathering their cloaks and gloves, the carriage was summoned. Amelia patted Daisy’s hand as the carriage rolled down the cobbled streets of London, but Daisy’s stomach would not settle.
“There’s a lady’s entrance,” Amelia said reassuringly. “She is expecting us, so I have no doubt that someone is already waiting for our arrival.”
“I feel like I’m about to meet the queen,” Daisy admitted sheepishly.
“She is. In the Lyon’s Den, she is the queen. Show her deference and she will take mercy on you.”
“How well do you know her?”
“Not well, but enough to guess her nature, I think,” Amelia said. “She wouldn’t be protecting a woman like Miss Brandon if she weren’t a compassionate person at heart.”
Daisy drew in a steadying breath as the carriage came to a halt.
A groom opened the door, and Amelia stepped out first.
“Keep your hood up until we’re inside,” she said.
The side door was held open for them, and there Mr. Chase stood, much to Daisy’s relief. He might not be a person Sam trusted, but he’d always been kind to Daisy, and she just had a feeling he would never put her in harm’s way.
“Lady Amelia, Miss Blakewood, welcome. Come this way.”
He led them up the stairs. The familiar comforts of a home eased Daisy’s nerves as they reached a small receiving room. She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t this. Mr. Chase led them through another door and then down a short hall. He waved them through an open door, stopping Amelia.
“Would you like tea in the ladies’ parlor?” Mr. Chase offered. “Or to play a card game while you wait?”
“I can’t stay with her?” Amelia asked. “She is understandably nervous.”
“Understandably, yes. But a woman must learn to stand on her own, or she might be trampled to death, isn’t that right, Lady Amelia?” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said from inside the parlor.
Amelia met Daisy’s gaze and smiled reassuringly. “I’ll see you in a moment.”
Daisy entered the room alone. A figure in black silk sat in the center of a settee, reminiscent of something from a painting of a Renaissance queen.
The door closed softly behind her, and Daisy stepped forward and sat in one of the open chairs.
“I hope you’ll heed my advice, Miss Blakewood.”
“Yes, madam.” Daisy couldn’t remember it word for word. Her thoughts were too scattered, her nerves making it impossible to focus.
“You remind me of someone, you know.”
Daisy swallowed. “I do?”
