Daisy was at a loss, unable to comprehend why her father's voice thrummed with such anger.
"What am I hearing?" He demanded, his voice heavy with accusation. "Is this the reason you wished to delay your marriage with Lord Blackthorne? So you could tarnish your reputation?"
Tarnish her reputation?
"What did I do?" She stammered, her heart pounding.
"That is precisely what I aim to find out. What have you done? Why are the townspeople whispering about you and Philip?"
Philip? Daisy's heart skipped a beat. Had they found out about the incident? No, it couldn't be. Everyone, even her father, seemed convinced that she was home all day yesterday, and the day before.
"I did nothing, Father," she protested, her voice barely a whisper.
"Are you lying to me?"
"Why would I do anything untoward? Am I known to behave so? And with Philip, of all people?"
