“But why? Why are you doing this?” Daisy tamped down her panic. None of this made sense, but if she and Gilbert were going to get away from these thugs safely, she needed to keep them talking.
The two men exchanged a look. Then Brown shrugged.
It was Giles who answered. “Commoners can’t be dukes.”
Daisy blinked. “What do you mean?”
“The boy—Lord Calvin says it goes against nature—even if he is Lovington’s spawn.”
Lovington’s what? But… “I never! He isn’t!” The absurdity of it nearly made her laugh—if the situation weren’t so dire. “Gilbert ismy brother. He ismy father’sson.”
Brown arched a brow, unimpressed.
She had to make them listen.
“My mother gave birth after we were forced off the duke’s estate. Gilbert is no heir to anything, least of all a dukedom!” Her voice rose as she shook her head, pleading. “This is a horrible mistake. If Lord Calvin believes my brother threatens his claim, he couldn’t be more wrong. Please. Go back and tell him—he has nothing to worry about.”
“She’ll say anything to protect him.” Officer Brown’s eyes narrowed, darting around the room. “Close those curtains.”
Officer Giles kept hold of Daisy’s hands behind her back, but he’d inadvertently loosened his grip.
“But this is a mistake!” She kept her voice lowered, as calm as she could. “Gilbert has no relation to the Duke of Lovington! Lord Calvin is mistaken!”
“Enough from you,” the man beside her snapped.
Daisy flexed her fingers, preparing to act—but then she hesitated.
Something had changed.
Gilbert no longer looked quite so terrified. His wide eyes had narrowed, his focus shifting just over her shoulder.
Someone had entered through the garden entrance.
As much as she wanted to turn around to see who it was, she remained focused on their captors.
"The two of you must be thirsty."
The words slipped out smoothly, though every inch of her was strung tight.
Giles hesitated, and his hand dropped away from her wrist.
Brown’s expression darkened. “This isn’t a bloody tea party.”
Daisy forced a laugh, casually shifting a step toward the counter. “No, but I have scones. Preserves. Cream. And I’ve mixed a new blend of tea, you must try it.”
Another step.
She lifted the kettle off the stove. “It’ll just take a moment.”
Tightening her grip on the wooden handle, Daisy whipped around.
Officer Giles yelped in agony as scalding water doused the lower half of his face.
And then?—
A gunshot.
The thunderous explosion ripped through the room right before a dark stain bloomed across Officer Brown’s chest.
