“Me happy, Pa-Papa.”
“Me too, my princess. We’re going home.”
His voice was smooth. There was no anger in him.
Something much worst.
Apathy.
With the Lord Mayor’s incursions and my running off, breaking Daniel’s trust, I just didn’t know how longwewould be welcome.
CHAPTER 57
DANIEL—WESURRENDER
Two days without incident, didn’t exactly help Daniel sleep, but he was tired.
Long hours at the Lincoln’s Inn preparing for an upcoming trial, then coming home to a silent Finchely, did nothing to subdue the restless tension in his spirit. Standing in his closet, he pulled on his nightshirt and thought of nothing but curling into his mattress.
Well, he had thoughts of reconciliation with Jemina, but it wasn’t up to him.
She needed to be sure.
The business of the Royal Hospital and the Lord Mayor had made her skittish.
Daniel didn’t know how to fix this.
What he wouldn’t give for her to barge through their adjoining door wild and crazy and carefree, but she hadn’t.
He could be a hermit a little longer. Daniel leaned forward, knocking his shelf of waistcoats and wondered how he’d become so good at lying to himself.
Knocking. Tapping. “Daniel?”
Jemina. Hallelujah. He coughed to deepen his voice. “Come in.”
She burst inside and stepped into his closet. She wore a burgundy silk carriage dress with silver buttons and pleating at her bosom. “Daniel? We have a problem.”
His heart jittered, but other than a frown swallowing her face she looked unharmed. He tugged on the final sleeve of his robe and determined to remain calm. “You are capable, darling.”
He soaked her in, hair up with tendrils coiling at her neck. “Mrs. Gallick said you’ve been out all day.”
“But I came home, Daniel.”
He told his pulse to slow, to not fool himself with the soft look of longing in her eyes. “Yes, Hope—”
“This isn’t about Hope.”
Daniel came to her and put his hands to her shoulders. “Is there new trouble? Something with the Widow’s Grace?”
Jemina put her palm on his. “No. It’s us. We can’t do this anymore. I can’t.”
The breath in his chest froze, sharp like icicles, piercing his lungs. Schooling his face, he wheezed, then returned to hanging up his court frills. Tell me, Jemina, what can’t go on?”
“You’re going to stay in there? I want to talk.”
“I’ve heard I do my best work in closets, but I’ll move to the bed for you.”
Daniel walked past her, breathing a fragrance that was sweet like honey. Then he saw the lignum vitae, blue and purple pinned in her curls. “I like those flowers.”
