“Natalie, it’s me, Penelope. And Danbury.”
Lady Natalie peeked curiously around the hedge. “Whatever are you two up to?” Seeing the blood, her eyes flew open wide. “Garrett, they are injured.”
“Not really, but in need of assistance to be certain.” Hugh gestured with his hands toward the blood on their clothing. “And Penelope needs her hand attended to. I don’t wish for it to become putrid.”
Lady Natalie looked to the sky in exasperation. “Do you mean to tell me that the two of you have come to fist-a-cuffs over your political opinions?” She lifted Penelope’s hand to examine it more closely.
Garrett was grinning at Hugh. “She popped you a good one, eh?”
“Penelope, really!” Natalie shook her head as she took in the implications of their situation. “We need to get the two of you out of here without anyone seeing this bloodbath.”
The earl looked over at his wife. “What would you like for me to do, my love?”
Natalie drummed her fingers along her chin for just a few seconds. “Order our carriage and then inform Penelope’s mother that I am of need of her daughter for the rest of the evening. You may tell her, in confidence, the news that I am increasing. She will then understand my need to have her daughter with me. Meet us in the front then and we can deliver Penelope home.”
“What of Hugh?” Guilt plagued Penelope when she saw that his nose was swelling and the skin around his eyes looked like it might bruise. His joke had not been funny at all but perhaps she’d overreactive ever so slightly.
“Danbury will be fine on his own, I imagine.” The earl looked to Hugh questioningly who nodded.
And then Hugh caught Penelope’s concerned gaze. “I’ll be fine. Remember what I said about the hand though.” And to Natalie, “You’ll make certain she has it cleaned and dressed?”
“Of course, of course, now off with you both before somebody discovers us.” Natalie shooed the men away and pulled Penelope alongside the house next to the hedges. “We’ll wait over here until Charles brings the carriage around.” From their vantage point, they could watch the front entrance without being observed. “I cannot believe you punched him, Penelope!” And then she laughed. “I imagine he deserved it. You ought to see the two of you! If I didn’t know both of you better, I’d assume it was a lover’s spat.”
“Of course not!”
But Natalie had far more fascinating news! “You are increasing? Oh, I am so happy for you! I was with the Duchess of Cortland when she was delivered of the little marquess. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
The Duchess of Cortland was Lord Hawthorne’s first cousin. And Natalie had been engaged to the duke last year before marrying the earl. Surprisingly, they all remained in good standing with each other. Penelope knew they’d celebrated the holidays together even, at the duke’s estate.
Natalie blushed and nodded. “We travelled down a few weeks ago. Before coming up to London. He is a darling!”
Unable to contain asking after Natalie’s condition, wishing she could openly discuss her own physical maladies, Penelope blurted out, “Is the babe showing yet? Is it difficult to hide?”
Natalie giggled into her glove. “Not yet, it’s only been about three months. Soon though, I can hardly wait.”
Penelope froze inside. She wasn’t yet eleven weeks along, and she already had a definitive bulge. “Does the babe make you feel ill?”
“A little swoony sometimes in the morning, and I’m feeling more tired than usual. But other than that, I’m fine. Garrett worries though. He’s constantly hovering around me these days. I’ve had to practically force him out the door to go to his clubs while we’re here.” She smiled in confidence. “I love the attention, though, to be truthful. I love knowing he’s as excited about it as I am.”
A pang shot through Penelope. What had she done?
“Lilly told me you were not going to come to London this year. I am so glad you have come after all, and you look beautiful! I know you’ve done your hair differently, but you look absolutely stunning. The clothes, the jewelry… Have you decided to join the husband hunters after all?”
Penelope knew Natalie was teasing. Wasn’t she? And then she remembered what Hugh had told her about everyone knowing of her former feelings for Natalie’s brother. Did that mean Natalie had known as well? Oh, how embarrassing! She must think Penelope had come to chase after Rome?
But Penelopehadcome to London in search of a husband. Well, one man in particular.
Then Natalie confirmed her fears. “Rome remains unattached, you know.”
Penelope moaned. “I’m not here to land Rome for a husband. Please believe me, Natalie. I merely grew weary of my old look, and Bath grows tiresome rather quickly.”
The youthful countess looked disappointed but perked up again quickly. “Oh, well. I can hope, can I not? I must admit to you that I was not unhappy to see things fall apart between him and that poor girl. It was plain to me that she was being pressured into the match by her family. Poor Rome was so besotted that he didn’t notice. He’s been rather morose since then. When I saw the two of you dancing together, I rather hoped that…”
“I’m sorry to dash your hopes, but there is nothing there.” She decided to explain further, “Perhaps in the past I held a bit of tenderness for the viscount, but that is where it remains, in the past.”
Natalie sighed loudly. “Oh.”
The two ladies waited quietly, each left to their own thoughts for a few minutes until the earl exited the front of the house and waved them over. The sound of hooves on pavement heralded the carriage approaching. The ladies dashed across the lawn and were quickly assisted into the privacy of the coach.
