Daphne pulled the pillow over her head and buried her face in it. “I’m ruined.”
“You’re hardly ruined, dear. You drank a bit too much and ended up in a seemingly compromising position with a handsome gentleman, your husband, I might add, in the garden under the moonlight. Many a girl has done much worse. But I’m afraid you cannot blame Captain Cavendish for your behavior last night.”
Daphne rubbed her forehead. “I know. It was all me. I’m the one who drank five glasses of champagne. I’m the one who jumped up on a bench. I’m the one who— Oh, I just wish Rafe had left when I asked him to. He refused, you know. If he hadn’t been there last night, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to fall on him and tumble about in the grass in front of Lord Fitzwell.”
Cass laughed aloud at that. “It was an unfortunate incident, to be certain, dear, but I’ve never known you to be much for rules. If I remember correctly, aren’t you the same young lady who once tried to sneak out the window at the Hillboroughs’ ball?”
Daphne lifted her eyes and blinked at her sister-in-law. “You remember that?”
“I most certainly do. You never told me. Why were you trying to sneak out that night?”
Daphne hung her head. “It’s too humiliating to tell.”
“A midnight assignation?” Cass’s eyes sparkled.
“Something like that.” Daphne sighed. “Actually, the truth is that I was sneaking out to see Rafe.”
Cass’s blond eyebrow arched at that. “Is that so?”
“Yes. That’s when word had just come about how hurt he was and I desperately wanted to see him and I—I intended to hire a hack and visit him. Oh, Cass, I’m so ashamed of myself.”
Cass patted her hand again. “You’ve little to be ashamed of, Daphne. It seems to me you’re quite in love with Captain Cavendish and you happen to be conveniently married to him. I don’t see the problem.”
“I amnotin love with him!” The words were a bit too vehement even to her own ears.
Cass gave her an understanding smile. “Aren’t you?”
Daphne sniffed. “Maybe just a little, but I fully intend to rid myself of it. You don’t know what he’s done.”
“Love is not like a cold, Daphne. You cannot wait for it to go away. It seems to me Lord Fitzwell did you a favor last night, leaving here.”
Daphne groaned and flopped back against the pillows. “There I can agree with you. He obviously wasn’t right for me if a bit of champagne and some rule-breaking scared him off. Mother’s sure to be angry with me for making such a mess of things. After all of the work and planning you and she did for the party. I’m so sorry, Cass.”
“On the contrary, I believe your mother was quite relieved to see Lord Fitzwell go. I know Aunt Willie was, and I can’t say I’m particularly displeased.”
Daphne sat up again and searched her sister-in-law’s face. “You’re not?”
“Admittedly, I didn’t know him well, but I don’t believe Lord Fitzwell ever had your heart, Daphne. Believe me when I tell you how important that is.”
Daphne reached out and patted Cass’s hand. “Cass, you’re so sweet. You’ve loved Julian since you were a girl. But for most of us, it doesn’t happen that way. We must be methodical about finding a proper husband.”
“Forgive me for disagreeing, but I don’t think ‘methodical’ and ‘husband’ should be in the same sentence.”
Daphne gave her sister-in-law a resigned smile. “Then we shall agree to disagree. I must consult my list again. I put it up in the cabinet. Do you mind fetching it for me?”
“What list?” Cass asked, her brow furrowed.
“My list of eligible gentlemen.”
Cass’s eyes went wide. “You made a list?”
“Of course I did.”
“See, even that? It’s not like you to be so… planned. So…” Shaking her head, Cass stood and made her way over to the cabinet.
“Methodical?” Daphne offered with a small laugh.
“Yes. You’ve always been so free-spirited and fun, Daphne. Finding the right man, your true love, shouldn’t be the equivalent of a business proposition.”
