Daughter of Darkness Read Online Free Page A

her.
    ‘Have you heard from Gerard recently?’ she enquired of Lady Edwina.
    ‘I received word only yesterday. He intends to return before Christmas.’
    Willow’s heart gave a nervous jump. Why hadn’t she been told? She wished her grandmother would begin to treat her like an adult. Her finger traced a blue mark on Edward’s hand. Idly, she pushed back a section of his sleeve and gazed in horror. ‘You poor darling,’ she gasped. ‘You have hurt yourself.’
    Edward’s lower lip began to tremble. ‘Papa beat me with his cane.’
    ‘Oh, my poor love.’ Falling to her knees Daphne gathered up her son and hugged him tight. Tears stung her eyes as she gazed from one to the other.’ I beg you to help me. Eduard is insane, and will kill my boy one day. He’s jealous that the marquis favors Edward as his heir. Allow us to travel to Dorset with you.’
    Edward began to sob in sympathy with his mother.
    All was pandemonium until Edwina took charge in her own indomitable manner. The child was pacified with a sweetmeat, then a maid summoned to clear away the tea things. When they were alone again, she called for Edward’s nurse to take him to the nursery to play. She chose to forget that Daphne de Vere had spurned her dear grandson in favor of the child’s father, and therefore deserved all she got. That was water under the bridge. Besides, she’d grown to love the vivacious Willow in a way she’d never thought possible over the past four years.
    ‘Now, my dear,’ she said kindly to Daphne. ‘You’ll tell me all about it and we’ll see what can be done to help.’
    ‘Will this journey never end?’
    Lady Edwina had been querulous for the past half hour. No wonder, Willow thought, sighing as their two hired coaches stuck fast in the mud once again. What should have been a two-day journey had stretched into three when a summer storm had flooded the Piddle River just outside of Dorchester. They’d found overnight lodging at a wayside Inn.
    ‘I swear the bed was crawling with lice,’ Edwina scratched her neck and sighed, ‘and you tossed and turned all night. I didn’t get a wink of sleep.’
    Nonsense! Willow grinned as she took a deep breath of the country air. The bed had been wonderfully clean and Lady Edwina’s snores had practically raise the thatch from the roof.
    She bestowed a smile on Edward, pleased that the excitement of having soldiers as an escort had taken his mind from his mother. Daphne had begged to be allowed to accompany her son to visit her grandmother at Sheronwood Estate. Her husband had agreed the child must go but had spitefully refused Daphne leave to accompany him.
    ‘It will not be for much longer.’ Gazing out of the coach window she smiled as she beckoned to Hugh Macbride. ‘We will take some exercise whilst the men free the coaches.’
    ‘And ruin our complexions?’ Lady Edwina grumbled, allowing Hugh Macbride to assist her from the coach to a grassy raised strip. She put out a hand to help Willow herself, bestowing a scowl on the man. ‘You may help the child and his nurse.’
    ‘My pleasure, ma’am.’ The nurse was a young widow, and handsome enough to turn a few heads. Taking her by the waist, Hugh Macbride lifted her across the gap, his hands still lingering about her waist after he’d set her on her feet.
    The smile the nurse offered to the soldier was intercepted by Lady Edwina, who frowned. ‘Get about your business, sir. You are here as escort and you neglect your duties.’
    ‘Beware of the soldier, Willow,’ she grumbled as he strode away. ‘He is too handsome for his own good, and conquest comes easily to him.’
    ‘Are all men so free with their affections?’ She laid her cheek against the old lady’s arm as they promenaded on the sun-dappled grass. ‘I wish I’d been born a man. It would be nice to follow my heart and live a life without restriction.’
    ‘Who says a man has no restrictions?’ Edwina smiled at her naivete. ‘It’s a man’s