“Thank you, Mama,” she said carefully. “I will consider what this letter contains on my way to London.” She smiled as warmly as she could and handed Lady Harrogate back the letter. “You need not worry.”
Lady Harrogate did not smile back in return. “You might then allow this rumor to continue to circulate?” she asked hoarsely, as Daisy took her hand. “Why would you do such a thing, Daisy? Have I not had enough trouble?”
Daisy swallowed the lump in her throat, hating that she was making her mother cry. “I must find out the truth about Papa,” she answered, having explained this to her mother many times before but finding that she did not seem to understand. “I cannot return to society or even consider my own future happiness without having all my questions answered.”
Her mother’s cheeks paled just a little. “And ensure that those who killed your father are brought to justice?” she asked hesitantly, as though she did not want to consider what such a thing might mean. “Is that what your intentions are, Daisy?”
Daisy paused, searching her mother’s expression and seeing the fear held in her eyes. She did not want to admit such a thing to her mother, having never done so before, but that was the truth. She not only wanted to discover who had taken her father’s life, but she also wanted to ensure that they were meted out their punishment in return. Lord Templeton had admitted that much to her, at least. He had vaguely spoke to her of those who might have killed her dearly loved father, but he had been forced to admit that no consequences, as yet, had been brought on anyone.
“I will find the answer to our questions, and thereafter, I will consider what to do,” Daisy answered quietly, seeing how her mother let out a sigh of relief. “But you know that I have every intention of finding the truth, Mama. I will not be dissuaded from it, not even by the rumors and whispers of the ton.” She smiled at her mother, who only pressed her hand tightly. “They may think me dead and gone, but you and I know very differently indeed.”
“You will be careful,” her mother stated, as though Daisy had every intention of behaving foolishly. “And you will ensure that these rumors do not become truth.”
Daisy reached forward and hugged her mother tightly, feeling her sob and finding her own heart breaking also. “You will not have to bury me too, Mama,” she promised, well aware that she could not say such a thing with definite confidence. “I will return home again very soon. You need have no doubt.”
It took some days for Daisy to return back to London. The hours sitting stiffly in the carriage, the overnight rests at various inns, and the constant jarring of the carriage on the road had left her in a very dark frame of mind, which was not at all helped by the sight and sound of the ton as the carriage drove towards Lord Northgate’s home. Her sister, Susanna, who was married to an earl, had written to say that they had intended to come to London for the Season, only for them to discover that she was now expecting their first child. Daisy had been very happy for her sister, glad that she had found some happiness still, but the pain and the sorrow had not lessened within her own soul.
“My dear sister.”
Daisy managed a small smile as her sister hurried towards her, arms outstretched. Opening her arms, she hugged Susanna tightly, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes but refusing to allow them to fall.
“How was your journey?” Susanna asked, looking keenly into Daisy’s face. “You are not too fatigued, I hope?”
“I am glad to have arrived,” Daisy said honestly. “Thank you for allowing me to stay with you again.”
Susanna did not quite manage to smile. “Of course,” she said, a little unsteadily. “I presume that, similar to last Season, you have no intention of going out into society?” It had taken some time for Susanna and Lord Northgate to become used to Daisy’s refusal to go out into society or to be seen by almost anyone, but in time, they had accepted it. Mostly because Daisy herself had refused to change her intentions and had done precisely what she wished, when she wanted to do so.
“No, I have no intention of going into the beau monde’s arms,” Daisy answered firmly. “I have come, as I did last Season, simply to try and find out more about our father’s death.”
Susanna sighed heavily and shook her head. “I do not think that such a thing is wise,” she said gently. “You know that you had very little success last Season. Why should you have any change in circumstances this year?”
Daisy lifted her chin and looked her sister straight in the eyes. “I have every intention of being successful,” she said, firmly. “I will return to Lord Templeton and insist that he divulge more.”
Susanna, who knew of Lord Templeton but not about The King’s League, sighed but nodded. “You are determined, that is for sure,” she admitted softly. “Very well. Do come in, Daisy, and let us have something to eat. You will need to rest, of course.”
Grateful that her sister was not about to start haranguing her in an attempt to get her to change her mind, Daisy smiled appreciatively and then continued to make her way through the house, towards the drawing room.
“Lord Northgate is gone into town,” her sister called over her shoulder. “He will be back this evening, and I am sure he will be very glad to see you.”
Daisy smiled, feeling more and more relieved with every step. “I shall be glad to see him also,” she said, hoping that Susanna’s easy demeanor and willingness to accept Daisy’s intentions would pass on to her husband also. “I hope his estate fares well?”
Lord Northgate had endured some difficulties with his estate over the last couple of years, what with fields flooding and crops being entirely ruined, but thankfully now all seemed to be improving. She listened to her sister talk animatedly about the new methods that were being tried out with the crops, thinking to herself that it would be very lovely indeed to have so few cares.
Whilst she knew that her sisters, mother, and elder brother missed and mourned for Lord Harrogate, none had the same drive as she did in her determination to find out the truth. They merely accepted the explanation from Lord Northgate that it appeared as though someone had broken into the house and had taken Lord Harrogate’s life.
Even her mother, Daisy considered, as she sat down, had decided to leave the matter alone. It seemed that it was too painful for her to consider any further, and Daisy knew she could not criticize that. But as much as Lady Harrogate wanted Daisy to leave things as they stood, Daisy knew she could not.
“Lord Watt.”
Daisy’s attention was caught suddenly by the mention of a name she had not given much consideration to these last two years. Her heart wrenched from her chest as she looked to her sister, who was watching her closely. “What did you say?” she asked, a touch breathless.
“I said,” Susanna answered, gently, “that Northgate met Lord Watt yesterday here in town. He was present last Season I believe, but only seen very little, which is why I made no mention of him before.”
Daisy cleared her throat and smiled up at the maid who, thankfully, interrupted the conversation by bringing in the tea tray. She did not want her sister to know of her suddenly racing heart, of her sweaty palms, and the thousand memories that threatened to swamp her. Lord Watt was not someone she had given much thought to these last few months. Her mourning for her father and the shock of what had occurred had dogged her mind, making her quite unable to even recollect any of the warm feelings that had once filled her heart.
Until this moment.
“I am sure you will see him again, should you decide to rejoin society,” Susanna said slowly, as the maid closed the door behind herself. “He has not married.”