Dangerous in Diamonds - Madeline Hunter [124]
“We are almost there,” Celia said with girlish excitement. “Will any of the others still be in residence? Have they all moved to Surrey ahead of you?”
“Mrs. Hill will be there still, so you can see her. And Margaret and a few others. Emma has returned to her home, but I think Susan may remain with us at least for a while.”
The carriage turned onto the lane leading to the house. Daphne’s own excitement built until she was breathless from it. She watched the house grow larger. Her home. Her sanctuary. The place where she had harbored and nurtured dreams that she dared not believe would come true.
She looked at her dear friends, each in turn. They had all been haunted by the past when they entered these doors, but none more than she herself. They had found their lives again, however, and their freedom from secrets. And now, finally she had too.
“There is something I must tell all of you,” she said. “There is a secret I must share with you, that I dared not tell you until today.”
They looked at her oddly, then at each other. She opened the carriage door and they all stepped down.
The door to the house opened. Margaret waved and came out. Then another figure appeared and sprinted past Margaret and flew into Daphne’s arms.
She stroked the fair hair nestled against her, and bent down to kiss the soft face. She turned to the others. “I want all of you to meet Estelle. She is my daughter.”
Estelle reveled in the attention the ladies gave. Her eyes grew wide on hearing one was a countess.
In the joy and admiration that followed the first astonishment, none of her friends asked any questions. Perhaps they just guessed most of it. Estelle’s apparent age told most of the tale. Despite her fairness, she was not only her mother’s child in appearance too.
Celia began a little game of flipping Estelle’s curls on the back of her head. Estelle squealed and pivoted and turned to try to escape Celia’s hand.
“She is beautiful, Daphne,” Audrianna said quietly. “It breaks my heart that you felt you had to keep her a secret from everyone, even us.”
“I will explain why tonight, after she is in bed. It was not lack of trust in you, Audrianna. Rather a fear that if anyone learned of her, I would lose her forever.”
Audrianna watched those pale curls spin. “Does her father not even know about her?”
“Latham? Thank heavens, no. The father spared the son’s conscience in all things, especially this.”
Estelle had gotten so dizzy that she fell to the ground, laughing. She sat herself up, giggling still, and brushed her skirt. Then she stilled and looked down the lane, distracted from her fun.
She pointed. “Who is that, Mama?”
Daphne turned her head. Audrianna inhaled sharply.
A man on horseback had stopped halfway up the lane. He watched them intently. Noticed now, he moved his horse forward.
Daphne held out her hand for Estelle. She drew her close while Castleford approached. Finally he was right in front of them, looking down, appearing every inch the duke he was.
“Your Grace,” Daphne said. “Estelle, this is the Duke of Castleford, another of Mama’s friends.”
He swung off his horse and walked around. He looked down at Estelle a good long while, then made a bow. Estelle wobbled through a clumsy curtsy.
“Estelle, come with me,” Celia said. “We will go inside, and I will dress your hair like a lady does for a ball.”
Castleford and his big horse could not hold a child’s attention when such fun waited. Estelle ran away, leading a string of women to the door.
Finally there were no sounds surrounding her and Castleford except the blowing leaves and the horse’s occasional snort. Castleford quirked a half smile, but there was no mischief in his eyes.
“No wonder you did not want me to kill him. It would be a hell of a thing explaining that to her five years from now.”
“Yes. It might be best if I did not have that to admit along with the rest.”
He tied his horse to a tree. “Every day that you were at Park Lane I waited for you.