“I’m glad you’re here. Good morning, Odette.”
“Well,” she said, already impatient, “I’m here now. I did what you asked. So where is it?”
“A good morning from your side would have sufficed, as well.”
“You said there would be a book,” Odette narrowed her eyes.
“I did,” Penelope replied, folding her napkin neatly in her lap. “And there will be. But first, I thought we might greet the morning like civilized people. Perhaps with tea. What do you think?”
“You promised me a book,” Odette slumped in her chair.
“Yes,” Penelope said calmly. “And I shall fulfil that promise. But if you are going to spend time with me, you might as well learn the first rule of any proper lady’s life.”
“Which is?”
“Patience,” Penelope smirked. Somehow, she knew that the word was foreign to the young girl. No one had ever made her wait before. No wonder she was behaving so poorly.
“That’s boring,” Odette stifled a yawn.
“Necessary,” Penelope corrected. “In romance, in society, and especially at the breakfast table.”
“Besides,” Penelope went on, sipping her tea, “what kind of heroine demands her reward before the first course? That’s not how it works in your novels, you know.”
“I thought this breakfast wasn’t about talking,” Odette muttered .
“Itwasn’t,” Penelope said, smiling into her cup. “But I changed my mind.”
“I should have guessed you’d be vexing in the morning,” Odette glared at her.
“Manners, my dear,” Penelope reminded her gently. “You have to at least pretend like you are happy to be here.”
Odette did not say anything. Instead, she dug straight into her breakfast. They ate in near-peace for a few moments, save for the occasional sigh from the young girl.
Finally, Penelope leaned back, deciding to end her turmoil. “You’ve beenverypatient.”
Odette rolled her eyes at the acknowledgment.
“So much in fact that I will let that little eyeroll slip,” Penelope asserted. “Patience is always rewarded, and so… ”
She reached to her side and pulled the book into view. Odette’s eyes immediately dropped to it, and despite her best efforts toremain aloof, her entire expression shifted. She brightened with joy at the sight and reached out to grab it.
“A Secret Vow,” Penelope announced. “It was the first romance novel I ever read that truly made my heart flutter.”
“What’s it about?” Odette grabbed the book eagerly, already sifting through its pages.
“A viscount who makes a vow never to fall in love, of course. And then promptly falls in love with a woman he shouldn’t.”
“That sounds predictable,” Odette snorted, unimpressed.
“Of course it is,” Penelope grinned. “That’s the best part. You know what’s going to happen, but it still manages to surprise you. The writing is terrific, you will see. There’s a scene in the garden that….”
Thump.
A sudden nudge struck her shin beneath the table.
Penelope jolted slightly, blinking down in surprise. Another swift tap.
Her eyes snapped up to Odette, who was staring very pointedly at her teacup, face perfectly blank. Penelope wondered whathad gotten into her suddenly until she realized that they had company.
