EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE THE PROSPECT OF MARITAL INTIMACY

EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE

THE PROSPECT OF MARITAL INTIMACY

D own in the kitchens, Belle greeted them with cheerful Moo, but showed no interest in leaving the maid who was feeding her mashed apple. Daisy was struck by an aching wish for Belle to beam at her and hold out her arms. The feeling confirmed that she was right to marry Miles, because that was the only way she could become Belle s mother.

The child should remain below stairs so that she s not seen, her future husband said. She will follow us to the country in a carriage with its curtains drawn.

Daisy couldn t help thinking that he was terribly dictatorial. In the normal course of a marriage-if he had fallen in love with her-she might have been able to stand her ground and tell him that she d like Belle to travel in their carriage. But now?

She nodded.

Then she walked home accompanied by a footman, since Miles exhibited a disconcerting ferocity at the idea she might walk a few London streets without an escort.

The moment she entered her house, her mother tore out of the front parlor.

Where have you been? Lady Wharton cried. I thought you had left forever, taking the baby with you! Her eyes were feverishly bright, the skin drawn tight over her cheekbones.

I didn t go far, Daisy said soothingly, drawing her mother back into the parlor. Do let s sit down.

Where s the baby? Where s Belle? Her mother collapsed into a chair, her thin hands twisting together. I can t stop thinking of the way you looked at me with abhorrence. I suddenly realized that I had sent those waifs to the orphanage without ever checking to see what happened to them.

I didn t mean to look at you unkindly! Daisy cried. When I heard of Father s despicable behavior, I thought of him with abhorrence. My half-siblings are not your relatives. You made certain they were cared for and taught to support themselves. No one could expect more from you.

I should have expected more from me, Lady Wharton said. Wallowing in anger as I did Why do I bother going to church on Sundays, if I can t be truly charitable? The fact that Belle has her own name, your curls, and a blanket just like yours made my mean-spiritedness all too clear. Her voice caught. Where is she?

She is with Lord Devin, Daisy said. Miles and I will marry and raise Belle together.

What ?

We will wed tomorrow morning by special license, spend the night in London, and then travel to the country the following day. Miles is sending footmen all over London with invitations.

When the news about Belle spreads, everyone will think that the two of you had child out of wedlock, her mother said hollowly.

Miles assures me that his household staff will not gossip about Belle s presence. In six months, he will announce that one of my father s cousins, born on the wrong side of the blanket, has sadly succumbed to a fever in India that also took his wife. My husband and I will be able to care for Belle under the guide of raising my uncle s orphaned child. In time, Belle will be introduced to society with a magnificent dowry supposedly left to her by her entrepreneurial father.

Oh, Lady Wharton said faintly. Oh, my goodness.

Apparently many children orphaned abroad are actually illegitimate offspring of nobility. Daisy hesitated and admitted, Miles thinks that Belle is my child.

Her mother s lips fell open as an expression of pure horror crossed her face. Daisy! Your fianc e believes you are a fallen woman?

Daisy nodded, feeling a pulse of guilt.

Virginity remains the cornerstone of all marriages in the aristocracy. Every man wants-rightly or wrongly-to feel that his wife is his alone.

Then he ll be happy to learn the truth!

You cannot lie to the man you re going to marry! Lady Wharton s eyes widened. Who does he think the father is?

I refused to tell him.

Her mother s expression was extremely pained. She cleared her throat. I believe now is the time to share some details about marital intimacy.

I know them, Daisy assured her. I shall tell him the truth after our wedding. He ll be pleased to discover that I m as pure as the driven snow. Despite herself, a sardonic note underlaid that sentence. For the life of her, she couldn t understand why a gentleman was free to take more than one mistress and yet insist on marrying an innocent lass. It wasn t fair.

Actually, I doubt Lord Devin will be pleased, her mother stated. No one likes to be lied to, Daisy, let alone married under false pretenses.

It s only one lie, Daisy said, her stomach clenching into a knot. Well, two lies. One about me and one about Belle.

Lady Wharton shook her head. Please tell him now. Waiting until the wedding night is a recipe for disaster.

I can t, Daisy said flatly. Miles is marrying me to save my reputation. If he discovers that Belle isn t mine, he ll pivot to ensuring that Father accepts his responsibilities. Belle will be sent to the orphanage, and I ll never see her again.

Not necessarily, her mother said. You could volunteer at the Chelsea Orphanage. I ve half a mind to join the board myself.

Belle will not grow up in an orphanage, Daisy stated. Miles didn t flinch at the idea of raising my illegitimate baby-nor dowering her. Who other than he would have so much forbearance? What gentleman can you imagine accepting-and cherishing-another man s child as his own?

It is true that Lord Devin proposed to you some time ago, her mother said, speculation in her eyes. Perhaps he is infatuated.

No.

You can t be certain. He s far more refined than the lads courting you. He would never write you silly sonnets or send bunches of violets.

Violets were Daisy s favorite flower; she blinked away the thought that she would love a bunch from Miles. Unfortunately for that rosy idea, he lectured me about the evils of falsely pretending to innocence and blathered on about cheating my future husband by passing myself off as a virgin. He was forced to marry me after Lady Regina entered the room.

Her mother gave a shriek. Tell me it isn t so!

She has promised to hold her tongue, Daisy said. My point is that I can t fool myself into thinking Miles is marrying me by his own inclination.

I suppose not. Lady Wharton sighed. You truly intend to mother this child?

Daisy sprang up and then sank onto her knees by her mother s chair, taking her hands. I was so lucky to have you as a mother-and so was Livie. You loved and cared for both of us, even though Livie is not related to you by blood. If I can be half the mother to Belle that you have been to Livie, she will be a very lucky little girl.

I never cry, Lady Wharton declared, her tear-filled eyes belying the claim as she squeezed Daisy s hands in hers. She frowned and said in a crackling voice, Your hair has fallen down again.

Belle has my unruly curls. Perhaps you can train her to be neater than I am. Grandmothers have notable authority.

I love you, Daisy. You do know that, don t you?

How could I not? She got to her feet and leaned down to kiss her mother s cheek.

I mean to find your father s children, Lady Wharton said heavily. This morning, after you left, I instructed Tangle to locate them. I should never have weighed my reputation against those young lives.

I know just what to do with them, Daisy exclaimed.

You do?

That relative of ours in India? He had a large family. We re not even sure how many, since he was estranged from my father. His eldest daughter is my age and was brought up in England. After his and his lady s untimely demise, Miles-Lord Devin-was named as the guardian to all of them.

Given that at least one is your age, people are more likely to believe the story, her mother said thoughtfully. You couldn t have given birth to your twin, no matter how similar you are in appearance-and in my memory, the first child left on our doorstep looked exactly like my own baby.

I can t wait to meet her, Daisy said. I shall introduce her to society next year!

She may be a charwoman, her mother pointed out. I ve always thought of you as fearless, but even for you, that suggestion is mad.

Mad, but just?

Don t speak to me of righteousness when you re beginning your marriage with falsehoods, her mother said tartly. Just when do you plan to inform your new husband that not only is Belle your half-sibling, but that you intend to adopt four or five more?

I ll share my virginity on our wedding night, Daisy said, giving her mother an impish smile. That will make him cheerful, given the absurd weight that men give to that foolishness. I ll save Belle s brothers and sisters for the next morning over breakfast.

Her mother began laughing. Where did you come from, Daisy? Where did you get your fearlessness?

From you, Daisy said, holding out her hand. Will you please come upstairs and help me choose a wedding costume? I am thinking of walking to the altar in the pillar of salt.

The what?

My Egyptian mummy gown. It s so very white. The whitest white gown I have.

You needn t wear white! Princess Charlotte s gown was a lovely cream silk with metallic lace.

Miles made some ill-advised comments about strumpets disguising themselves in white. I have to live up to his expectations of a hussy.

But you are a maiden! her mother cried.

Daisy grinned. Not for long.

Daisy!