Daniel was indeed passing by the bottom of the stairs after speaking with a patient other than Eward and he'd enjoyed the break when he spotted Daphne ascending the staircase. He did feel bad about leaving her on her own, seeing her tending to Eward whilst Yvette refused (having been called a French tart by the grumpy Lord his presence here hadn't sat well with her) and yet he hadn't been able to say or do much at all. Her brother's outburst at the news of their engagement had shaken him to the core, almost sending him into another panic attack. It was bad enough that Johnny had disapproved but that he wanted Daphne to marry Eward... yes Eward's late brother had been tipped to marry her, but what was the need to marry her off to the next one down?
As Daniel watched Daphne he did feel the usual pangs of emotion, the love and the fondness which were almost constantly swimming around his head for her. When she turned he offered a small smile though it was tinged with sadness. He did realise he had abandoned her in favour of trying to shield his own feelings from the scorn of her family, and he regretted it. Yet it was something he couldn't seem to get out of whilst tending to Eward.