Rafe shook his head. “I didn’t think blue bloods had it in them.”
Daphne stopped scrubbing and looked up at him with one hand on her hip. “Not all of us are pompous fools, you know?”
“Like Fitzroyal?”
Daphne finished scrubbing the floor, splashed water across it, sat up, and peeled off her gloves. “Fitzroyalisa pompous fool.”
“Were you disappointed that the engagement didn’t happen?” Rafe’s question was low, soft.
Daphne shrugged. “Mother and Aunt Willie like to remind me that there are plenty of eligible gentlemen to be had. Besides, I’ve already chosen the next man on my list. Cass helped me.”
“Ah, yes. Your list. And I suppose thetonis full of worthy gentlemen.”
Daphne tossed the brush into the bucket. Still sitting on the floor, she turned to look at Rafe and tucked her knees up to her chest. “You don’t like my class very much, do you?”
Rafe walked over to the bunk and sat on its edge. “Honestly, I haven’t seen much to like.”
Daphne wrapped her arms around her knees. “You like Derek and Julian.”
Rafe nodded. “Claringdon was born the son of soldier like I was. He was only awarded his dukedom after his bravery in battle. And Swifdon, he may have been born to privilege, but he’s a soldier through and through. And he wasn’t meant to inherit until…” Rafe glanced away, biting his lip.
“Donald died,” she finished.
“Yes.” Rafe nodded.
Daphne tapped her boots against the wooden planks of the floor. “So that’s it? No one is worthy of your respect unless they are soldiers and don’t belong to the aristocracy.”
“No. That’s not true. Not at all.”
Daphne narrowed her eyes on him. “Name one person you respect who isn’t a soldier and who is part of the aristocracy?”
“You.”
Daphne blinked. Her hands dropped to the floor. “You respectme?”
“Of course I do.”
Her brow furrowed. “How? Why?”
“You’re here, aren’t you? Putting yourself in danger for the Crown, for your brother. You didn’t have to do this, Daphne. You still don’t have to.”
“It surprises you to see someone of my class being brave, being noble?”
“I think your family is special.”
“What about Lucy? What about Garrett?”
Rafe smiled. “Lucy is one of a kind. Anyone who meets her knows that. And Upton is going to be an earl only because his cousin died. It’s not the same thing.”
Daphne groaned and shook her head. She pushed at the bucket with the tip of her boot. “Talking to you is impossible.”
“Then let’s not talk. Let’s do something else.”
Daphne turned to look at him and swallowed. A thrill shot down her spine but she concentrated on keeping her face blank. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
Rafe stood up and walked over to the desk where he opened the drawer and rifled inside. “Would you like to play cards?”
“Oh.” Daphne swallowed. “Cards.”
