Penelope nodded. “I am. It has been weeks since we spoke. I’m afraid she won’t be able to forgive me.”
Her mother frowned. “Has she not already forgiven you? I was under the impression she’d responded favorably to your letter.”
Penelope nodded. She’d written a long letter, explaining everything to Bridget some weeks before. She’d admitted her part in it all and acknowledged that when Bridget asserted that Penny always loved Daniel—she had been right.
Several days passed before her friend responded. Her letter was short, albeit forgiving in tone. She’d requested that Penelope come visit her at the barn where they’d fought, and it was there Penelope was going now with her mother by her side for support.
“I was just thinking to myself that I am asking my friend for forgiveness for my actions, while at the same time, I am not able to accept my own father’s pleas for forgiveness. Does that make me wrong?”
Her mother pursed her lips. She’d been careful not to talk about the Duke too much. Penelope assumed this was due to her desire to not influence Penelope one way or the other when it came to her father, a matter greatly appreciated by Penelope.
“I do not think it makes you wrong. And the case is quite different when it comes to your friend. You did not intentionally lead her astray for years and years as was done to you. You had no malice in your heart and if the truth had been told to the both of you, none of this would have happened at all.”
Penelope nodded as the barn of Amberley Hall was coming into view. In the distance she saw her friend standing outside. Her red hair stood out in the sunshine.
“Perhaps you are right.” She stopped before the word ‘mother’ could pass her lips. While it was true that she was her mother, Penelope found herself unable to call her by that title. They walked the last few minutes in silence and when Bridget was in sight, Penelope waved at her. To her relief, her friend returned the gesture.
“I shall remain here by the paddock,” her mother said. “You talk to your friend. All will be well.” She gently squeezed her daughter’s elbow and then went on her way toward the horses which were grazing in the paddock.
“Bridget,” she said. “I have missed you.”
Her friend looked at her with her eyes narrowed, suspicion on her face.
“Good morning, Lady Carlton.”
Penelope sighed. “Please, let us not be formal with one another. I miss you.”
Her friend pursed her lips and fixed her gaze on her. There was anger in her face, but also something else—relief.
“I missed you as well, Penelope. Faith, I have been so angry with you. You hurt me so much. You and Lord Carlton. But, I suppose, given everything you told me about your father’s deeds and now your mother…” She shook her head and her eyes grew wide. “I cannot believe it. I wanted to hold onto my anger, as I deem it righteous. But in light of everything that you have gone through, I feel it would make me quite the terrible person.”
Penelope’s heart melted as she sensed her friend was, indeed, ready to forgive her.
“Bridget, I am sorry. You saw the truth before I did. While I was attempting to conceal my feelings for Daniel even from myself, you saw through me.”
Bridget shrugged. “You are my friend. I know you well. Truthfully, in the end all I lost was a chance to marry a man I thought handsome but did not really know. A man who never would have loved me. What a life I would have had. Miserable, I declare! You are the one who truly experienced loss. You and your husband. I would be cruel to continue being cross with you.”
Penelope broke into a smile. “Oh, Bridget. I had hoped to hear you say this. I missed you and all of your family. Do you think they, too, might be able to forgive me?”
Bridget grinned. “It was my mother who insisted upon my seeing your side of the story, and it was my father who pointed out the inequality in our sorrows. I should imagine they are eager to welcome you back. And besides,” she grinned and stepped forward. “I venture to say that your guilty conscience might inspire you to find me an even better match than Lord Carlton would have been.”
Bridget broke into a chuckle and Penelope felt the weight of a boulder fall off her shoulders.
“Ah, I see your scheme! And I agree to it. I say we find you a prince!”
“Princess Bridget! I do rather like the sound of that. A prince it shall be!” Bridget’s face softened and suddenly, Penelope felt arms wrapped around her and the two embraced. When she let go again, Bridget’s eyes were full of tears, as were Penelope’s. “I missed you, my friend.”
“And I you. Now, there is someone I would like you to meet.” She turned and took her friend’s hand as they walked toward the paddock. Seeing the woman standing by the horses, Bridget stopped.
“Is this…?”
“Indeed, my mother. Come, I would very much like you to meet her.”
With that, the girls walked arm in arm toward the Duchess, who turned with a smile of relief on her face as she saw her daughter reunited with her dearest friend.
* * *
That evening, Penelope stepped out into the garden and walked toward the gazebo which overlooked the lake behind Carlton Manor. The house had turned out to be much warmer, much more pleasant now that they lived there full time. Daniel, with assistance from his new steward, Mr. Percival, had hired a full staff of servants for the house and the grounds. In addition, some of Penelope’s old friends had called on them, eager to hear the full story of the scandal surrounding their families.
