EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND TWO NO NEST FOR THIS CUCKOO

EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND TWO

NO NEST FOR THIS CUCKOO

I have no bastards, Miles said bitingly. I have no children , born within wedlock or without.

Daisy blinked at him. His reputation was unearned. But she d seen him

You think that I have a fistful of bastards off in the country, and you hoped to hide this child among the rest, a cuckoo in the nest?

Yes, she said baldly.

Miles was clearly furious, his body rigid. I m sorry to disappoint you, but my sins are not sufficient enough to camouflage yours. The veneer of a politic, sophisticated gentleman had been stripped away. He looked like a Pict warrior she had seen depicted in a history book. Blue slashes of paint on his cheekbones would hardly make him look any more ferocious.

Daisy swallowed hard. This was a disaster. If he had no place to put Belle, then he could not help. If she told him that Belle was her half-sister, he would go straight to the Albany and accost her father-which would result in Belle being put in an orphanage. She would be gone forever, and Daisy would never see her again.

The baby pulled her thumb out of her mouth and frowned, as if she too was insulted. In one deft movement, Miles swung her over his head, flying her around as if she were an ungainly bird.

Daisy started forward, fearful he would drop her, but Belle began giggling and broke into a peal of laughter, kicking up her legs in delight. Miles s entire face transformed as he smiled at the child.

He may not have any children, but he would be a marvelous father someday. He lowered Belle and tucked her into the crook of his arm.

She ll last two minutes at most, Miles said. As he turned to Daisy, his laughing eyes lost all expression. I suggest we dispatch her to the kitchen while we discuss the situation.

The baby caught the corner of Miles s neckcloth and began chewing on it busily.

Ew, what on earth is she doing? Daisy cried.

He pulled his cravat away, and Belle promptly replaced it with her thumb. She s teething. Your mothering skills seem somewhat lacking. Where has Belle been living while you were circling the ballroom floor?

Daisy s mind reeled at this rude-albeit fair-observation. That s none of your business! she said hotly. How do you know so much about children?

Not due to bastard children. I have younger sisters, and my parents passed away when they were very little.

She should have gone to Frederick. Miles had looked at her with indifference before this morning, but now his eyes held pure contempt.

It enraged her at a basic level. He had gone to that masquerade. What right had he to be so holier-than-thou, even if he didn t have such children? Not that she had one, but if she did Her thoughts got tangled up in the unfairness. The only conclusion was that the world was unfair-but most keenly unfair to children like Belle and women like Belle s mother.

Forgive me for intruding. We shall leave, she said.

And go where? Miles bounced Belle gently. She stopped sucking her thumb, patted his face again, and opined Moo.

Miles raised an eyebrow. Are her greetings limited to bovine imitations?

It s a nice sound, Daisy said defensively. Give her to me, if you please.

No.

It was incredibly seductive watching Miles cuddle a baby so tenderly, perhaps because she d never seen a man do anything of the sort. Then his refusal filtered into her mind.

What do you mean, no ? she asked sharply.

I gather your mother threw you out?

Actually, I left, Daisy said. But when she opened her mouth to explain, he interrupted.

This child is hungry, and you appear unprepared to care for her, as you have no nappies or appropriate food. I suggest that you don t leave the house in the future without carrying rusks. My sisters had to be fed at odd hours.

Daisy accepted that reprimand as fair enough, so she nodded. I shall learn to care for her. Surprisingly, given that she had originally thought to send Belle to the country, she meant it.

Watching Belle smiling at someone else made her feel peculiar. She didn t want Belle to grow up with another woman.

Belle was hers .

His eyes narrowed. Do you even know what a rusk is?

Of course I do! Regina had frequently suggested that Daisy eat nothing but rusks in order to whittle down her hips. If you have some in the kitchens, I shall give her one and we can take our leave.

And go where?

To Frederick, she snapped.

His face grew-if possible-even more rigid. I should have known. Although I would have thought that Frederick s penchant for whiskey might have affected his ability to father a child. And he is not married, by the way.

Daisy wasn t entirely sure what he was talking about, but her friend obviously needed defending. How dare you! she cried. Frederick can do can do whatever he wishes!

Obviously. Miles visibly struggled for control. Let s hope he is sober enough to manage a rapier.

What are you talking about?

He deserted this child. He deserted you . I had no idea that when you were working so cozily together on your uncle s letters he was seducing you. I would have-

Done what? Daisy asked wildly. Frederick wasn t seducing me!

So you seduced him? A vein was pulsing in Miles s forehead. I would be grateful to be spared the distasteful series of events that resulted in this child.

Belle is not Frederick s child!

A prickly silence fell between them.

Miles s brows drew together. So are you planning to beg Frederick for help, just as you did me? If he is the man I take him for, he has no bastards, Daisy. And not because of whiskey. I lost my temper and shouldn t have said that.

That is none of your business, Daisy stated.

You came to me. You made it my business.

That s when I thought- She broke off.

When you thought that I had a schoolroom full of bastards? He snorted. I suppose your mother informed you that I was a rakehell. I assure you that my reputation has been blown out of proportion. Surely you didn t think that you could simply drop this child on my doorstep and return to society as if nothing had occurred, as if Belle didn t exist? Miles s eyes darkened with distaste, but his voice remained even.

Daisy swallowed hard, since that had been precisely what she d envisioned.

This child makes you ineligible for marriage in polite society, Miles stated.

Daisy instantly knew that she was hearing the cool distance with which Miles addressed miscreants in the House of Lords. People like her uncle.

Surely you understand, he continued, that you cannot simply return to the ballroom as if nothing happened, as if you had never given birth. Although I gather that s precisely what you have been doing since the Season opened.

Daisy felt a blinding wave of fury. You need not be so condescending, she retorted, her voice cracking. It would probably take practice to sound as calmly patronizing as he.

I am being practical. I spend my days investigating sexual depravity amongst the nobility, Miles said with scathing emphasis. I am surprised that Lady Wharton had the gall to bring you to the marriage market this fall knowing that you birthed a child. I assure you that such dishonesty is no basis for marriage.

Marriage? Daisy repeated. Marriage to whom?

To a husband whom you entranced without telling the truth . What about your wedding night? Virginity is highly valued. I ve always known you were impulsive, Daisy, but this sort of behavior is a new low.

How could she ever have imagined they were friends?

Unfortunately your free-spirited ideas are not shared by most gentlemen in polite society. I will say in your favor that you have never pretended to be sanctimonious.

Daisy couldn t believe that she d ever had an infatuation with the pompous, arrogant arse who was standing before her. He sounded as if he was a solicitor, doling out charges at the bar.

Did you consider what would happen after your husband discovered that not only were you unchaste, but that you had given birth? he demanded. The event leaves marks on a woman s body, as I m sure you are aware.

Daisy had no idea what the marks might be, but that was irrelevant. You are outrageous horrible! she spluttered.

If you had been party to the cases I have investigated, you would be as cynical as I. Polite society is nothing more than a cesspool of sexual profligacy.

Amongst your friends, perhaps, she said scathingly. Fellows like Rothingale, who entertain you one minute and try to seduce your sister the next. Can there be anything worse than a man who chides a lady for not wearing a halo-when he himself pranced around a masquerade looking for a mistress?

Miles s face shut like a trap. An error on my part. Your mother kindly pointed out my transgressions. As for the halo, evidence suggests that your claims for that-or a white veil-were lost some time ago.

She was so angry that she couldn t even think straight. What do you know of women s bodies? Men are fools in that respect, as in so many others. I shall leave and you can forget all about me and my sexual-what was the term? Profligacy?

His jaw clenched. I should not have spoken so, and I was not referring to you. Obviously a man took advantage of you. He is the cesspool.

Daisy snorted. There is no cesspool in my life.

Then she winced, remembering her father.

His eyes caught the gesture and softened. There s only one solution to your problem, Daisy, and we both know it.

I will not allow Belle to be sent to an orphanage! She took in a deep breath. If you re going to suggest that she be housed in the country, I refuse that as well. She reached out her arms, and Belle leaned toward her, making Daisy s heart burst with tenderness. I intend to raise her myself, no matter the scandal, she said, snuggling Belle against her breast.

In that case, I ll marry you.

She gaped at him. What?

We ll marry by special license. Miles s voice was even. He no longer looked contemptuous but resigned. What did you think would happen when you came here?

Not that. I thought you had-

His hand slashed through the air. Nonsense! You brought that child to me knowing that I would have to marry you.

I didn t, Daisy gasped. Given your reputation, I thought this was a problem you had faced before. I wouldn t marry you if you were the last man in the world!

He laughed. Are you quite certain?

She felt her face turning red with embarrassment. Marry you ? She was proud of her sarcastic tone. I came to you because of your reputation. I wouldn t want to marry a man whose morals are so loose!

It was a lie. Even now, with the way he was looking at her, with the assumptions he made about her, she only had to look at him to feel a wash of longing.

There s only one solution, Daisy, and it s marriage.

Behind him, the door to the library opened.

Hobbs entered and announced, The Lady Regina.

Glimpsing the baby in Daisy s arms, the butler s eyes widened. Regina shoved him to the side and traipsed into the room, followed by her maid.

I ve grown concerned about the reputation of my dear friend, Miss Wharton, she said brightly. I know that Her voice faltered into silence. With a sharp jerk, she slammed the door in Hobb s face.

Belle lifted her head and smiled at the new arrival. Moo!