Delilah’s jaw fell open. The greater implications of this news were beginning to filter through her mind. “You’ve known about a love potion all this time, and you’ve failed to tell me or Lucy, the best matchmakers in town?”
Danielle laughed. “Honestly, I thought you’d scoff at it.”
Delilah shook her head. “Lucy might scoff, but I won’t. I’m completely desperate. Madness begins to sound like sense when one is desperate.”
Danielle gave her a warning look. “You cannot tell Lucy. You can’t tell anyone. You promised.”
Delilah nodded and crossed her fingers over her heart. “It shall be difficult, to be certain, but I promised and I will keep that promise. The secret is safe with me, but youmusttake me to see Madame Rosa.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Delilah sincerely hoped she was dressed appropriately to go to a magical perfume shop and buy love potion. She wore a light pink gown with matching slippers and no jewelry, save for her prized possession, a small golden heart pendant her father had given her the Christmas before he died.
Guilt tugged at her when she considered how she was keeping this scheme from Lucy (Lucy so adored a scheme), but Delilah had promised Danielle that she wouldn’t tell, and she intended to keep her promise. The entire premise was completely mad, of course, but Cousin Danielle was an intelligent woman who had traveled the world and seen many things that Delilah had little idea about. How did she know therewasn’tsome sort of magical love potion in existence? Besides, as Danielle had pointed out, it couldn’t possibly hurt to try it. Could it?
Danielle’s coach arrived at Delilah’s town house at precisely one o’clock in the afternoon the next day.Delilah had already decided it best to keep the details to a minimum when describing her outing to her mother. She could picture the look of horror on her mother’s face if she were to call out, “I’m going out to buy love potion,” as she headed for the door. It was tempting, but she wasn’t quite that brave. Besides, even if her outing seemed perfectly reasonable, she didn’t want her mother to know she needed any help capturing Branville’s attention.
On her way to the front door, Delilah stuck her head into the gold salon. “I’m going out shopping with Cousin Danielle,” she announced. “I’ll be back later.”
“I don’t approve of Danielle,” Mother replied from her perch on the settee, where she sat looking at pictures of gowns in periodicals and sipping ginger tea.
Delilah had to fight her eye roll. Of course Mother didn’t approve of Danielle. She didn’t approve of any of the Cavendishes.
“Your Cousin Daphne could have made a much better match,” Mother continued. “I don’t knowwhatmy sister was thinking when she allowed that marriage to take place.”
“Yes, well, I’ll see you when I return.” Delilah had long ago learned it was best not to argue with her mother about things like whom she did or did not approve of. Mother never changed her stance, and she enjoyed telling Delilah how wrong she was.
Mother’s opinion had never stopped Delilah from being great friends with the Cavendishes. She’d always adored her Cousin Daphne and her husband, Rafe, his twin brother Cade, and Cade’s wife, Danielle. Rumor had it, they were all spies. They were certainly all interesting and well-traveled, and had a great many fascinating stories to tell. Stories like knowing where to purchase magic perfume, Delilah thought with a smile.
She hurried out to the coach and allowed Danielle’s groomsmen, who’d been riding on the back of the conveyance, to help her up into the interior.
“Good afternoon,” Danielle said, as Delilah settled herself into the seat across from her cousin and her cousin’s maid.
“Good afternoon,” Delilah replied, patting her reticule. “I’ve got all my pin money saved and ready.”
Danielle laughed. “I’ve already given the coachman the address.” She called out to the groomsman, who let the coachman know they were ready to leave. The coach took off at a clip toward London’s main shopping district.
“You haven’t told anyone about this, have you?” Danielle asked, eyeing Delilah carefully.
“No. Mother only knows I’m going shopping,” Delilah replied.
“And Lucy?” Danielle asked, drawing out the duchess’s name.
“Not a word.” Delilah crossed her fingers over her heart. It was true. It had nearly killed her not to tell Lucy, but she’d bit the inside of her cheek and kept her secret to herself when she’d spoken to Lucy last night.
“Did you tell your mother you were going out with me?” Danielle asked, a sly smile on her face.
“Yes.”
“No doubt she disapproves.”
“She disapproves of most of what I do.”
“You haven’t told her about the play yet?”
“Not yet. She’s heard there’s a play, but I’ve managed to remain silent every time she rails about how tasteless and vulgar such a thing is.”
Danielle swallowed a laugh. “You didn’t?”
