She Hid Under a Table to Escape a Matchmaker — The Duke Was Already There
Chapter 3
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Her sister looked at the displaced glove, the hair that had escaped its pin, and the crumb attached to her skirt. "Are you quite well?""Perfectly.""Mama is looking for you.""I gathered."Winnie came nearer. At 24, she had the disconcerting ability to look like a girl Daphne remembered dressing and a woman who knew when she was being deceived. "Were you hiding?""Only briefly.""From Mr. Dunford?""From Mama with Mr. Dunford attached."Winnie sighed. "He asked me where the library was. I don't believe he wishes to marry anyone this evening."Daphne glanced back towards the table. There was something particularly discouraging about having escaped a danger that might not have existed. "I shall speak to her.""Tonight?""Before your first child is old enough to arrange it for me."Winnie laughed and caught her hand. "Come and meet Osric's aunt. She thinks I am somebody else, and I have allowed it to go on too long."Across the room, Gilbert found Lady Marcia standing beside his mother. He greeted her, asked whether she had been comfortable on the journey, and endured three minutes of his mother's satisfied observation. Then the dowager went to speak to a guest.Lady Marcia looked at him. "You may stop looking as though we are being led to an execution."Gilbert blinked. "I beg your pardon.""Your mother invited me. My mother was delighted. I am very pleased to see Winnie marry your brother. Those are three facts that need not produce a fourth."He looked at her for a moment, then laughed. "I am relieved to hear it.""So am I. You have been so determinedly polite that I feared you were about to do something foolish."They spoke pleasantly for another ten minutes. Gilbert discovered that she was already fond of someone her mother considered inconveniently distant. She discovered that he had no objection to being regarded as a disappointing possibility.When Daphne passed them, Marcia was laughing. Daphne continued past without slowing. She told herself she was pleased. The duke had found a tolerable way to spend the evening. It was an entirely reasonable feeling, and should not have required quite so much explanation.She found her mother by a bowl of flowers. "Mama, I don't wish to marry Mr. Dunford."Mrs. Selwood looked at her. "He hasn't asked you.""I know. I should like us all to enjoy that fact."Her mother put down the flower she had been adjusting. "I thought you might be glad to know him.""I can know him without marrying him. I know several men that way. It has caused remarkably little difficulty.""Daphne."She softened her voice. "Please don't arrange any more introductions with an ending attached."Mrs. Selwood studied her. She had been so busy hoping for her elder daughter's happiness that she had begun to find Daphne's actual preferences rather unhelpful. "You are very particular.""I hope only one man will have to endure it."