While his world had begun to descend into darkness all around him, Daisy was everything light and good. He wasn’t sure how, but she hadn’t let the cynicism of the world dim her exuberant spirit. Her innocence was endearing. Her gentleness was inspiring. Her happiness was–
“Hold on, I’ve got you,” he said, yanking her back from the window when she nearly tipped out onto the road in her effort to scan the clouds for Sir Vincent.
“I can’t see him,” she said, breathless. “And he’s not answering my calls. I’m afraid something terrible has happened!”
“We’re more than halfway back to Briarwood House. He couldn’t have flown that far, and I doubt he’d have tried to fly at night which means he likely took refuge in a tree close to home.” His fingers sought and sank into the tense muscles at the nape of Daisy’s neck. “We’ll find him.”
“How can you be so certain?” she cried.
Because, he answered silently.I found you.
“Daisy, there’s something I want to–”
“STOP THE CARRIAGE!”
Before the horses had come to a complete halt, Daisy had wrenched open the door and was running off into the bushes with Everett right on her heels.
“Sir Vincent,” she called, cupping her hands on either side of her mouth so that her voice carried. “Sir Vincent, I’m here! You can come out now!”
A tree branch cracked.
Leaves rustled.
And then…nothing.
“Sir Vincent?” Daisy whispered.
His heart aching for her, Everett placed his hand in the small of her back. “We can look somewhere else.”I’ll comb through this forest tree by bloody tree if I have to.“Why don’t we find you something to eat? You must be half-starved.”
Just as she nodded, an incredible thing happened.
Maybe even a miracle.
A black bird, wings folded flat to its sides, came diving out a towering oak tree. Instinctively, Everett jumped in front of Daisy to protect her, but she pushed him aside and raised her wrist to the sky.
“Sir Vincent,” she said joyfully, and he watched in equal parts disbelief and awe as the black bird opened its wings, slowed its descent, and landed neatly on her extended forearm before climbing onto her shoulder and chattering into her ear. “Where have you been,” she scolded, shaking her finger at him. “I’ve been worried sick. I told you I was only going to be gone for a little while. I never want you to….”
As Everett stood back and listened to the woman that he’d fallen in love with chastising her pet crow, he discovered his own source of exuberance. Loathe as he was to admit it, Cranbrook was had been correct. For as much as he’d tried to run from his responsibilities, including a wife, a duke was never stronger than when he had the right duchess by his side.
And Daisy was right for him.
In their own ways, they were both outcasts. Jagged pieces of a greater puzzle that had never quite fit how they were supposed to. Everett had grown up in the shadow of a man that hadn’t accepted him as he’d been born, and Daisy had been struggling to fit into a Society that would never accept her as she was.
But together…together they fit.
Together they made their own puzzle.
Together–if she’d have him–they would make their own life.
“Daisy,” he said gruffly, lowering himself to his knee. “Sir Vincent. There’s something I’d like ask you.”
Two heads swiveled to face him.
Thankfully, only one had feathers.
“Yes?” Daisy asked, her blue eyes bright. “What is it?”
“The first time we met, I asked you to leave. The second time we met, you walked away from me. But this time…this time I want us to stay together. Forever. I know that our acquaintance has been brief, but–”
“We will,” said Daisy, exchanging a quick glance with Sir Vincent. A smile, impossibly huge, stretched across every inch of her face. “I mean to say,Iwill. Marry you, that is. If that’s what you’re asking.”
He rose to his feet. “I’m asking for a lifetime.”
“Then you’ll have it,” she vowed. “So long as you don’t mind sharing it with a few…friends.”
Everett grinned at the crow, then looked tenderly at his betrothed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
