Prologue
“My lady, you outshine everyone else here this evening.”
Miss Daisy Williams blushed furiously as Viscount Watt bowed over her hand, his lips tantalizingly close to her skin. “You are much too kind,” she told him, a little breathlessly. “And a little biased, I believe.”
He looked up at her, grinning. “Biased? Surely not!” he exclaimed, making her smile. “I cannot be so. I am just wise in all my judgements.”
She shook her head at him, laughing. “You know very well what I mean.” Her cheeks were still hot, but she made no attempt to hide them from him. Lord Watt had been courting her for some weeks now and they were getting along very well indeed, it had to be said. Daisy was quite certain that, soon, Lord Watt would seek her father’s permission to ask for her hand in marriage. She had no doubt that she would accept, of course, for Lord Watt was charming, kind, considerate, and very well mannered. In addition, she found that each moment spent in his company was a joy, for he often made her laugh. Yes, they rubbed along very well indeed together, and Daisy had to admit that the thought of being wife to someone such as he was a welcome one.
“I am sure that I do not know at all what you meant by such a statement,” Lord Watt answered, with a twinkle in his eye. “Therefore, I will stand by my consideration that you are, Miss Williams, the most beautiful young lady in all of England.” Her hand, still captured by his own, was lifted a little closer and, in a moment, he had kissed it and then allowed it to drop.
The sensations that captured Daisy were almost too overwhelming to describe. Heat spiraled up her arm, sending embers all the way into her heart and stealing her breath from her. The urge to draw closer to him, to have him take her in his arms completely, grew so strong that had she not been standing at the edge of a ballroom with the other guests milling near to her, then Daisy might have done just that.
“I look forward to our walk tomorrow afternoon, Miss Williams,” Lord Watt murmured, a spark in his eyes. “You have not forgotten it, I hope?”
“I would never permit myself to forget,” she answered, one hand pressed to her heart in an attempt to calm its furious thundering. “I look forward to it, Lord Watt.”
He smiled at her, and something in his expression shifted, as though he knew some wonderful secret that she did not. Her heart exploded within her, suddenly believing that Lord Watt had every intention of proposing very soon indeed.
“As do I, Miss Williams,” Lord Watt replied, glancing to her right and smiling at whoever it was approaching. “I look forward to it with great anticipation.”
“Daisy, my dear!”
Daisy closed her eyes momentarily, feeling a wave of disappointment crash over her soul as she turned towards her father, who was looking at her knowingly. Viscount Harrogate was a kind if not strict father, who had taken a keen interest in each of his daughter’s debuts into society. Daisy’s sisters had both married very well indeed, and that was, of course, thanks to their father’s careful eye as well as their mother’s guidance.
“Where is your mother?” he asked, with a slight gleam in his eye. “Or one of your sisters? You know very well you ought not to be standing here alone!”
Daisy, who knew her father was a stickler for propriety, winced inwardly but put her very best smile on her face instead. “I am sure they are nearby,” she said, gesturing at nobody in particular. “You need not worry, Papa.”
He chuckled. “I am not worried, my dear, not when you are in the company of Lord Watt.” He grinned in Lord Watt’s direction. “I am certain that he has been speaking a good many lovely words to you, my dear. Is that not so?” He shot a questioning glance towards Daisy, who blushed all over again. “How sad that I should have to pull you from his company.”
Lord Watt bowed his head, no sign of frustration or regret on his face. “I quite understand,” he said warmly. “I have every intention of calling on Miss Williams tomorrow afternoon, as was agreed – but perhaps I might arrange a meeting with you a little beforehand?”
Daisy felt her world begin to spin, her heart beginning to cheer furiously with such joy and expectation. She saw her father glance at her, as though looking for signs that she agreed with and wanted this arrangement, and Daisy gave him a swift nod, her hands clasping together tightly as though this would help her contain her joy.
“I think that would be welcome,” her father said, with a warmth to his voice that told Daisy he knew precisely what Lord Watt wanted. “Come half an hour before you were due to call on Daisy. I look forward to seeing you then.”
“You are lost in a dream, Daisy.”
Daisy caught herself, then laughed as her mother eyed her from the other side of the carriage. It was quite dark save for the two carriage lanterns and, even then, they threw only a small light across the passengers within.
“I am sorry, Mama,” she said with a smile. “It is only that Lord Watt has asked father if he might call upon him tomorrow afternoon, before he and I go for our walk in Hyde Park.” Her voice rose in pitch, exposing her excitement. “I cannot help but be thrilled with such a thing.”
Lady Harrogate considered this for a moment, glancing at her husband, who was sitting next to her but looking keenly out of the window into the darkness.
“And you are content with that, Daisy?” she asked after a moment. “Lord Watt has been very attentive, yes, but are you quite sure that he is someone you wish to consider to be by your side for the rest of your days? I have heard that he is a viscount with too much wealth and not enough responsibility.”
Daisy, knowing that her mother was doing all she could to ensure that Daisy had given a good deal of consideration to her future, smiled gently back at her. “Yes, Mama, I have,” she said honestly. “Lord Watt has been very attentive, yes, but there is a frie
ndship between us that cannot be denied. He is always interested in what I have to say and does not consider me vapid, as so many other gentlemen have done.” She rolled her eyes, recalling how one Lord Barton had simply ignored her conversation, before telling her that he thought it best if young ladies remained, on the whole, mostly silent. “I think him an excellent gentleman.”
Lady Harrogate considered this, her eyes fixed upon Daisy. “Then I hope all goes well,” she answered gently, allowing Daisy to let out a breath of relief. “Your sisters have all married well, and I hope that the same will be said for you. Lord Watt appears to have an excellent character, although he is a little lacking in the accepting of his responsibilities. I have heard that he does not often spend time at his estate and prefers to leave such matters to his steward, but mayhap that will change in time.”
“Once he is married, a good deal will change,” Lord Harrogate said firmly, reaching across and taking his wife’s hand. “I think him an excellent match for Daisy.”
Daisy smiled, sighed, and settled back into her seat. This was all going wonderfully well. Soon, she would find herself betrothed, with a wedding to plan and preparations to make. Thereafter, she would be a viscountess, wed to Lord Watt and mistress of his estate. She could hardly wait for tomorrow to come.