“Is that so? And which young lady, pray tell, are you referring to? I saw you dance with at least two and snuck away to the garden with another.”
Alistair chuckled. “And I took the air with yet another. It is this young lady, Miss Priscilla, daughter of the Viscount Henley that I speak of.”
Daniel could not quite recall the young lady, however. Between the many balls, dances, dinners, and nights out at the opera, the names and faces of the young ladies were rather muddled in his mind.
Beside him, Alistair sighed. “I fear by the time we return to London the young lady will have received an offer already. And I am certain there will be none in the country who can rival her beauty and grace.”
“Well, where is the lady from? Perhaps she is no stranger to Oxfordshire,” Daniel asked.
“I haven’t the slightest idea where she is from. We never did have occasion to converse much. If you know what I mean.” He winked and chuckled at his own remark. Daniel shook his head, having expected as much. His best friend was nothing if not a ladies’ man who fell in love at the drop of a hat. It seemed he found the love of his life on a weekly basis, only to find himself distracted when another pretty lady crossed his path. In his opinion, there were simply too many beautiful ladies to choose from.
I must admit, I am not immune to such temptations. I know that I have left many a broken heart myself. However, unlike Alistair, I have never risked a young lady’s reputation.
“I am sure there will be a lady to catch your eye in the country,” he placated his friend.
Alistair frowned. “And how would you know? You are hardly ever there. And when you are, it is for a day or two and you escape again to London.”
He could not deny it. Thanks to Mr. Scott, his presence at his estate was not required often. He could not even recall when he’d last been there. Perhaps a year or two.
“I may not spend much time there, but when I do, I assure you I have seen beauty. Besides, it would be quite unlike you to not find a young woman to lose your heart to, at least for a while.”
Alistair shrugged. “That may be true. One might have to settle for a servant to pass the time, if all else fails.”
Daniel shook his head once more at his friend’s blunt manner. At times he found Alistair somewhat too crude, but as it was one of his few flaws, it was easily overlooked. Alistair, despite his brusque exterior, was a true gem of a lad.
Ever since the day they first met at Eton just over nine years ago, the two were as thick as thieves. If he had a brother, he would’ve wished him to be just like Alistair. The two enjoyed much of the same things in life: dancing, billiards, horses, and gambling. But it wasn’t just the finer things in life they shared.
They trusted one another with all their secrets. Alistair was only the second person to whom he had told the truth about the night his parents died. Alistair was one of the few who not only knew of Daniel’s troubling habit of sleepwalking, but dared rousing him from such a state.
He glanced out of the window. Despite their closeness, there were still things he kept from Alistair. The nature of his nightmares, Daniel always kept to himself. To this day, there was only one person who knew in detail the horrible things that came to his mind as he slept.
Penny. His beloved friend and confidant from childhood. The one he once secretly hoped to marry. The girl who was now a woman. Even though he had not seen her in so many years, he could not help but think of her and wonder what she was like these days.
What did she look like? What were her favorite pastimes? Did she still enjoy music as she had when they were young? Had she ever mastered the pesky French language she had so struggled with?
Perhaps I ought to call on her this time. Her and her father. Even though I have not spoken to His Grace in years, he was my father figure after I lost my own. Yes, I think I shall. I will.
Just as he made up his mind, there was an almighty boom somewhere outside and the horses neighed in terror. Daniel grabbed on to the sides of the carriage as Alistair did the same beside him. The carriage suddenly bolted forward and he was catapulted from his seat. He landed head first in the seat across from him, a sharp pain rushing through his head. All happy thoughts were banished from his mind, for within a split second, he’d gone from planning his immediate future to facing the terrifying possibility that this moment might be his last. He tumbled to the floor and remained there as all around him, the world seemed to fade away.
Chapter 3
Penelope made her way through the drawing room and into her father’s study. Her inkwell had run dry quickly as her morning was occupied with writing. She required a great deal of ink and paper this day, in order to keep track of her matchmaking efforts. Thus far, she’d kept the information of who she’d attempted to match with whom in her head. But lately, so many of her fellow ladies requested her assistance that she needed to write it all down in order to avoid a conflict.
This week, she almost set Miss Sophie, daughter of Viscount Burns, up with Lord Bradford, despite the fact they had already courted and found one another insufferable.
I cannot allow that to happen. I might not be a professional, but I must still conduct myself as such. Otherwise, no one will call on me and I shall lose my favorite pastime.
She found it curious that matchmaking brought her such joy, for she did not seek a match for herself. Penelope was perfectly content to remain alone, having already loved once. Yet, bringing happiness to others made her joyful beyond compare.
She retrieved another inkwell from her father’s mahogany desk and then rushed back to the drawing room, only to find herself stopped in her tracks once she got to the hall.
“Bridget?” She was not made aware of her friend’s arrival until then.
“Penny!” Her friend beamed just as Mr. Roberts, their butler, returned from the drawing room, a puzzled expression on his bearded face.
“Lady Penelope, I was just about to announce Miss Hughes’ arrival.”
“Yes, I can see that. I had to fetch ink.” She turned to Bridget. “I was not expecting your call today, but I have an idea why. Join me in the drawing room?”
