The following morning, Daisy found herself perched upon a chair in nothing but her new dressing gown at a table set for two in Papa’s bedchamber while they enjoyed their breakfast which Papa had retrieved for them from the kitchen. “Papa,” she said, “do you not have servants available this morning for such a thing?”

“Of course I do, my dear. You met them all yesterday. However, it is my pleasure to take care of you and provide for you and I do not want anyone else to invade or spoil our private time.”

“Thank you, Papa. You make me feel so very special.”

“And that, my dear, is because you are.”

After breakfast Papa disappeared for a few moments and returned with a very pretty gown, slippers, stockings, chemise, drawers and a hat for her to wear. All of the garments were brand new and she wondered at Papa's ability to have clothing for her. However, the reason for this became a bit clearer as Papa dressed her. “My apologies, dear Daisy,” he said, “as you are well aware, I had intended to marry someone else and had this wardrobe made in anticipation of her arrival. And given the short nature of our own courtship, these are the only clothes I have available for you. I hope you do not mind and as soon as it can be arranged a whole new wardrobe will be made exclusively for you.”

Daisy glanced at herself in the mirror. The bodice of the dress was a tad snug and the hem probably needed to be let out a couple of inches. In her mind she heard Miss Wickersham’s voice saying, “Good heavens, Daisy, you are growing like a weed. How shall we keep up with you?” After arriving at Talcott House as a shapeless sixteen-year-old, she had promptly grown several inches and filled out in a womanly way as well. Within a short time, she was hardly recognizable.

But the dress was of high-quality and much more fashionable than any of the items which Daisy had brought along in her meager trousseau. Despite her aversion to hand-me-downs and second-hand clothes, she reminded herself that this dress was brand new and had never even been seen or touched by its original intended owner and therefore she would be silly not to love it.

“Papa, please don’t go to such bother and expense for me. This dress is very lovely and with just a few alterations I'm sure it will fit me perfectly. Thank you so very much.” And to emphasize her point and alleviate the worried frown on his face, she spun a little pirouette in front of him. “Now,” she said, “I believe you have promised to take me on a stroll around the neighborhood, but you are not properly dressed, Papa,” she said, giving him a squeeze on the behind through his silk dressing gown.

“Oh you impertinent little minx,” he said, gathering her and spinning her around before planting a firm kiss upon her lips once he set her on the floor. “If you were not already dressed for our stroll, I would take you back to bed and do more naughty, naughty things with you.”

Daisy squealed and giggled and darted from his grasp. “Now, now, Papa. There will be plenty of time for that later. We both need a bit of fresh air.”

It was a beautiful morning and Daisy felt content and happy and in love. She had absolutely the best papa in the whole wide world. She doubted if even Miss Wickersham could have selected a better match for her. She glowed with the knowledge that she had pleased her papa in the marital bed. And she tingled with the revelation that he had also pleased her quite thoroughly. She had most certainly experienced the sweet rapture of their joined love—in a variety of most interesting ways, she thought as she recalled kneeling to accept his cock in her mouth as well as the bottom hole training with the plug. She inhaled deeply and released a long breath in an effort to calm her suddenly racing heart. Though she would enjoy experiencing another rapture with her papa, she was also looking forward to exploring the neighborhood.

Within moments the two of them were strolling along the walkway in front of Kensington Manor, her gloved hand tucked snuggly into the crook of her husband's elbow as they took their first walk as a married couple. In addition to the beautiful gown, Papa had also secured for her a matching parasol and she felt quite fashionable indeed, though her best accessory was the handsome man upon whose arm she was escorted down the street.

Her papa was clearly a well-known man in the neighborhood as a number of people stopped to chat with them as they were out walking, and others tipped their hats to him as they rode by in their carriages. Midway down the block they walked past a small park which Daisy paused to look at, on odd sensation moving through her. She felt as though she had been there before. She shook that feeling off. Certainly, there were dozens of such parks all around London and she, as usual, was simply being silly.

“It is a lovely park, is it not?” Papa asked.

“Yes, it is. I have never seen anything quite like it my whole entire life.”

“You have never seen a park?”

“Well, this is my first time in London, Papa. So everything here is new to me and quite exciting. As I said, I have never seen anything like it.” The untruths tasted bitter on her tongue, but she reminded herself of the secrets she must keep to safeguard the happiness of her marriage to a man of Lord Kensington's stature.

“I had no idea you had never been to London before. Where exactly did you live before you arrived at Talcott House again?”

“Oh,” she said, thinking quickly on her feet and hating herself for lying, but she absolutely could not let Papa discover the truth. “I believe I once mentioned that I had lived in the north country, did I not? Well, I was born in a small village north of Talcott House and when my mother died Miss Wickersham took me in. I honestly do not recall very much else, it was all so very long ago. I-I can’t even remember the name of that particular village, I was so young when my mother passed away. Yes, very young indeed. So I have never been to a big city like this.”

“I see. And you never made any trips to London?”

“No, I did not. I had no reason to do so. All my needs were met at Talcott House. We had food, wonderful food really. The cook was so nice and even though Miss Wickersham did not allow us to have many sweets, when someone had a birthday Cook usually made puddings as a special surprise. Oh, I like pudding. What is your favorite pudding, Papa?”

“We were discussing the fact that you had never been to London, not puddings, little wife.” He tapped her on the tip of her nose. “I am simply surprised that you were never curious about visiting the city. You do not strike me as a young lady who would be content without a frequent change of scene, particularly given your penchant for running off and visiting traveling fairs and fortune tellers. I would have expected you to have at least asked Miss Wickersham about a visit to London.”

Looking for a quick distraction to change the subject, Daisy clasped her husband's arm with both her hands and said, “You are correct about my need for a frequent change of scene. Will you not show me more of your neighborhood? Shall we continue on our walk, Papa?”

“Yes, of course.” He patted her gloved hand with his own and they continued along the street.

As they drew closer to a large estate Daisy again had that strange feeling of being in familiar territory. Her heart began to pound faster and her breathing became shallow the closer and closer they got to the imposing home.

Oh no, she thought, it cannot be.

She tried to quicken her pace but, Papa slowed down and in fact stopped at the gateway so they could look up the drive to the front door of the house. “This is Hamilton Manor,” Papa said. “It is the home to Lord and Lady Hamilton and their daughter Lady Millicent Hamilton. I believe she is near to your age and is quite a delightful young lady. In fact, you remind me of her in many ways.”

Daisy feared she might faint dead away. Millicent Hamilton. She never thought she would hear that name again, let alone be standing in front of that home. The home which had been the location of her happiest memories and also her most tragic.

She struggled in her unsophisticated way to try not to react in a manner which would reveal any of the turmoil spinning through her body. And so, she simply said, “Oh, how nice.”

“As a matter of fact,” Papa said, “I intend to invite her to call upon you, once you are settled into married life. I think you will enjoy having a friend near your own age and how very fortuitous that she is just around the corner from Kensington Manor. I am sure the two of you will get along famously.”

At the thought of entertaining Lady Millicent, Daisy nearly swooned and she clung to Papa's arm. Suddenly all of his attention was on her as he clasped her upper arms and gazed intently into her face. “Little girl, are you unwell? You look positively ashen.”

“I suppose I am simply fatigued, Papa” she said, giving him a weak smile. “As you might recall, I have not had a great deal of sleep in recent hours,” she said, forcing a naughty smile upon her face.

“Well, my wicked little minx, you ought to get used to it,” Papa said with an equally naughty smile. “However, I believe it is time we take you home and you can have a little nap while I attend to some business.”

To her vast relief, they turned and walked away from Hamilton Manor.

Moments later they were back inside Kensington Manor, Papa having insisted upon carrying her up the staircase and she had no objection to being held close by him. Although Miss Wickersham had provided for all of the little ladies of Talcott House, it was impossible for anyone to supply the sort of love and affection which Daisy craved and which she now found herself receiving in abundance from her beloved papa.

Rather than taking her back to his bedchamber, Papa stopped and opened the door to a room next to his. Inside, sunlight flooded through the windows and Daisy found a room befitting of a young lady. There was a table containing several puzzles and a checkerboard. The bed was covered in a lavender coverlet. A large display of dolls and books filled several shelves, which delighted Daisy. And on the wall was a beautiful painting of a field of daisies which she knew her papa must have selected especially for her.

“Do you like it?” Papa asked, and she was surprised to see he was a bit nervous about her reply.

“Well, of course, Papa. Of course I do. What little girl would not be thrilled by a room such as this? I particularly like the painting,” she said with a smile. “Thank you for such a thoughtful gift. It makes the room feel like it is truly mine.”

“It pleases me to hear you say so,” Papa said, “as making the room special just for you was my intention all along. As you know—I apologize for continuing to mention the topic—but I had originally intended this room to belong to another.”

Poor Papa. Daisy took in the anxious glint in his eye and the wrinkles in his brow. If Daisy had not loved him profoundly already, she most certainly would in that moment, seeing his deep desire to make her happy.

She reached up and cupped his cheek. “Please, Papa,” she said, “let us not talk of those concerns any further. Cynny is one of my best friends and I am sure it was fate which had things happen the way they did, including the old ceiling falling through. You are my papa. My one and only true papa and I am your little girl. Forever.”

Or at least until my secret is found out.

Oh how the pain of it hurt her heart. She loved her papa with every fiber of her being and the thought of being a disappointment to him or being removed from his life shattered her heart in a million pieces. She turned from him and pretended to be studying the display of dolls while she blinked away the tears burning in her eyes.

Papa gently turned her to face him and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “My sweet Daisy, so delightful and also exceedingly wise. I am indeed a fortunate man.”

He held her to him and she buried her face in the soft fabric of his shirt inhaling deeply of Papa’s unique scent. Oh please, she prayed, never let this moment end.

Papa released her from his embrace. “I believe it is time for your nap. Though I am reluctant for this moment to end, you need your rest, little girl.”

“I believe I am quite tired, Papa,” she said. “I will enjoy a nap.”

Papa helped her to change and slip into a lovely and delicate nightgown. And then he tucked her into the bed, held her hand, stroked her arm and massaged her fingers until she grew still and he likely believed her to be sleeping. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and rose from the bed.