“Indeed, I did not. I simply reminded her of her duty to me and my obligation to the Society. She flew into an inexplicable temper, and leveled all manner of insults at my head. Who is she to speak so?”
Though still puzzled by what had prompted Daphne’s sudden desire to leave Hampshire, Viola could read between the lines where her brother was concerned, and she no longer needed to wonder what had sparked Daphne’s temper on having her resignation refused. He had probably gone on and on about what mattered to him, without a thought for what mattered to her.
Viola almost wanted to laugh. She had a great deal of affection for Anthony, but he did have his faults, which Daphne had clearly not hesitated to point out to him. Despite the other woman’s quiet reserve, Viola was developing a high degree of respect for her. Reserved, perhaps, but quite able to speak her mind, and stand up to Anthony.
“What was the girl thinking?” he demanded, turning away to pace back and forth in front of his sister. “Does she not understand her place? God, does she not know what I could do to her for this?”
Viola studied him as he moved back and forth in such high dungeon, and she realized she had never seen him quite like this before. Undoubtedly, he had never heard such criticism in his life, and was so outraged by it that his usual coolness and self-possession had deserted him. Daphne had truly gotten under his skin, probably because everything she had said was true, and deep down, he knew it.
“A duke saying please and thank you,” he went on. “How ridiculous is that?”
Viola was too preoccupied to reply. A thought suddenly occurred to her, a thought that seemed incredible at first, but which took hold with such force that she could not set it aside. Oh, how delightful if he could be persuaded to marry Daphne instead of Lady Sarah.
The more Viola thought about that idea, the better she liked it. If Daphne was indeed the granddaughter of a baron, her suitability would be disapproved only by a few high sticklers. Viola knew from that look she had caught on Daphne’s face the other day that she was a woman of passionate feeling, despite her outward demeanor. She was head over ears in love with Anthony already. She also seemed to know her own mind, and she had the temerity to stand up to a duke. That boded well for future happiness. Of course, his unfair impression of her had to be overcome, as well as her decision to leave and her new, unexpected animosity toward him, a feeling that puzzled Viola. Where had it come from?
“Oh, good lord!” she exclaimed as a realization suddenly struck her. “Of course. How could I have been so blind not to see at once?”
“That is what I want to know,” Anthony’s voice intruded, and made her realize she had spoken aloud. “I am quite put out with you, Viola, as well as with her. What were you thinking?”
Viola tore herself away from her dismayed realization long enough to reply, “I am sorry, Anthony, if you feel put out.”
Daphne must have overheard their conversation in the music room, their conversation about her. That explained everything. No wonder she wanted to leave with such haste. No wonder she wanted to go into society and find suitors to soothe her wounded pride. No wonder she dared to throw criticism back at Anthony. What woman would not retaliate for the comparison to a stick insect?
“You should have at least consulted me,” he tossed out at her as he continued to pace. “She had the gall to say she is leaving because she does not like me, Viola. Deuce take it, who is this chit to like me or not? Who does she think she is?”
“A woman who is not afraid to tell you what she thinks of you, obviously.” As much as she hoped her brother could be made to revise his assessment of Daphne, she wondered if it would matter in any case. Daphne had been in love with him, Viola was sure of it, which made her wounded pride all the harder to heal.
Bringing the pair together suddenly seemed a hopeless business, and Viola’s heart sank. Daphne was a warm and loving person, and she would make Anthony so much happier than Sarah ever could. “She is entitled to her opinion, Anthony.”
He shot her an angry glance as he paced. “You are partly responsible for the entire situation. I expect you to retract your offer to the girl at once.”
Viola folded her arms and gave her brother the stubborn look characteristic of their family tree. “I will do no such thing. If Daphne chooses to come to stay with me, I will not gainsay her.”
Anthony stopped pacing and faced her with all that ducal intimidation. “You intend to defy me?”
She stood her ground. “I intend to do what is right. Daphne deserves to find her relations and take her place in society. I have offered to help her in that task, and I have invited her to stay at Chiswick with me. I will introduce her into society, assist her to make appropriate acquaintances, and introduce her to eligible young men. I will not take back that invitation simply because you will be inconvenienced. If you do not want her to leave, I suggest you find a way to persuade her to stay. If you can.”
The moment she said those words, Viola felt a ray of hope return. Anthony had never been one to refuse a challenge. As she expected, her brother met her gaze and replied, “I can, and I will.”
“Might I suggest,” Viola added, smiling, “that in persuading her to stay, you make use of the charming aspects of your character? You might have better success in changing her mind if you remember that she is a woman with needs and feelings and dreams of her own. Though she might be an excellent antiquarian, Daphne is not a machine. If you got to know her, you might come to understand her, which would only serve to help your cause.”
He did not react to having his own description of Daphne thrown back at him, nor did he seem to appreciate her advice. Instead, he started for the door. “I will keep your counsel in mind.”
“Good. Then I think I will go on to Chiswick in the morning, so that I do not get involved in this any further.”
“Excellent.” He paused in the doorway to look at her over his shoulder. “I shall be down to London in a few months, and will pay a visit to Enderby to see you then. In the interim, if Hammond does anything—”
“I shall inform you at once.”
“Good.”
Viola watched her brother go, and she hoped her notion to bring Daphne and Anthony together would succeed. Matchmaking was a tricky business, but she thought this match at least had a chance. Granted, Daphne wasn’t beautiful like Lady Sarah, but she was attractive in her own way. She shared Anthony’s most important interests in life. She had the intelligence and good sense necessary to run the vast households of a duke with ease. She had passion and a warm, tender heart. Though he did not realize it now, Daphne was a woman who could make him happy. If it came about, theirs would be an excellent match.
She summoned Celeste to begin packing her things. She had done all she could to ensure Anthony’s future happiness, and she would have to content herself with that. Perhaps she would write a letter or two along the way to move the pair in the right direction, but love, if it was destined between these two, would have to happen on its own. She knew the best thing she could do for now was get out of the way.
In addition to helping Anthony find a loving wife, there was also the benefit of prevailing over Lady Sarah Monforth, one of the most worthless young women in England. The idea of that sweet triumph made Viola smile.
Daphne watched as a pair of workmen carried a large section of mosaic flooring through the doorway into the antika. She winced as the corner of it hit the door jamb, chipping off a tiny piece of the pavement. “Oh, please be careful.”
