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"The point is," Lillian fretted, "I’ as she doesn’t an in a careful atteic, but Evie interrupted softly

"I th-think it’s Daisy’s right to ive her our help if she asks for it"

"We can’t help her if she ends up in bloody New York!" Lillian retorted

Evie and Annabelle didn’t argue with her after that, tacitly agreeing there were some problems that mere words couldn’t solve, and some fears that couldn’t be soothed They did what friends do when all else has failed…they sat with her in companionable silence…and let her know they cared

A hot bath helped to soothe Daisy’s body and relax her frazzled nerves She stayed in the stea, and her headache had faded Feeling renewed, she dressed in a ruffled white nightgown and began to brush her hair, while a pair of h her hair until the waist-length locks forh the open doorway that lead to the balcony, into the daht The starless sky was the color of black plu absently, Daisy heard the click of the bedroo one of the maids had returned to collect a towel or a soap dish, she continued to stare outside

Suddenly she felt a touch on her shoulder, followed by the war across her chest Startled, she rose to her feet and was slowly pulled back against a hard masculine body

Matthew’s deep voice tickled her ear "What were you thinking about?"

"You, of course" Daisy rested against hi up to stroke the hairy surface of his forearaze returned to the outside view "This roo to one of the earl’s sisters," she said "I was told that her lover--a stable boy, actually--used to climb up to the balcony to visit her Just like Romeo"

"I hope the reorth the risk," he said

"Would you have taken such a risk for my sake?"

"If it was the only way I could be with you But it makes no sense to cliood door is available"

"Using the door isn’t nearly as ro in his arms Matthew’s clothes were scented with outside air and the acrid trace of tobacco He entle deeper into his embrace, she srance of his skin "I love the way you smell," she said "I could walk blindfolded into a rooht away"

"Another parlor ga at his hand, Daisy tugged him toward the bed "Co "I’ll only stay a few aze slid hungrily over the prio anywhere near that bed, I won’t be able to keep fro love to you"

"I wouldn’t ged her carefully "Not so soon after your first time You need to rest"

"Then why are you here?"

Daisy felt his cheek rubbing against the top of her head Even after all that had happened between the her so tenderly "I just wanted to say good night," he mur glance, and he stole a kiss as if he couldn’t help hieyou," he said "In fact, you would have a da rid ofat hio of her, Mattheent reluctantly to the door He opened it a cautious crack and glanced outside to ascertain the hallas elanced over his shoulder at her "Yes?"

"Come back to me soon"

Whatever he saw in her face caused his eyes to blaze in the shadow-tricked atave her a short nod and left while he was still able

CHAPTER 13

Matthew quickly discovered that traveling in Bristol with Lord Westcliff was a far different inally planned to stay at an inn located in the central part of Bristol With Westcliff as his companion, however, they took up te faathered there had been many such invitations extended by prosperous faer to host the earl in the finest style possible

Everyone was either a friend of Westcliff’s, or wanted to be Such was the power of an ancient aristocratic name To be fair, it was more than a name and title that inspired such enthusiasressive, not to mention a skillful businessht-after in Bristol

The city, second only to London in its volu a period of explosive development As the commercial areas expanded and the old city walls cruhfares appeared on what seenificantly, a harborside railway syste the TempleMead station to the docks had just been completed As a result, there was no better place in Europe to establish a ly adotiations and s much easier Not only did Westcliff’s naive hied there was a great deal to be learned froe about business and

When they discussed locomotive production, for example, the earl was not only conversant with principles of design and engineering, he could also naauge locomotives

Without modesty, Matthew had never met another man who could rival his own ability to understand and retain vast quantities of technical knowledge Until Westcliff Itconversation, at least to the two of the part in the discussion would have started snoring after five minutes

For his part, Marcus had embarked on the week in Bristol with a dual purpose, officially to accooals…but unofficially to decide what to make of Mattheift

It hadn’t been easy for Marcus to leave Lillian’s side He had discovered that while the events of childbirth and infancy were perfectly ordinary when they happened to other people, they were monumentally i about his daughter fascinated hi, her first bath, the way she wiggled her toes, the sight of her at Lillian’s breast

Although it was not unheard of for an upper-class lady to nurse her own child, it was fared her mind after Merritt was born "She wants me instead," Lillian had told Marcus He hadn’t dared to point out that the baby was hardly capable of a discussion on the matter and would likely be just as content with a wet nurse