Hugh pushed off the ground and sat beside her again. “I’ve been lucky all these years, Penelope. Escorting Miss Radcliffe around the last few weeks has convinced me that one of these days my luck will run out. One of these days, if I continue as I have, I’m going to find myself saddled with one of those empty-headed debutantes and her mama. Forever! I can’t do that, Pen. I mean, I actuallylikeyou.” Oh, that painted it up spectacularly. Hugh ran his index finger along the length of her arm from shoulder to wrist. He watched as she shivered. “And now I discover that we havethis,as well.”
“I said I would, Hugh. I will, that is, marry you.” She sounded even less enthusiastic than she had before. “Thank you.”
What was wrong with her?
“You won’t regret this.” He leaned in and kissed her again. But she seemed to have lost interest.
“When?” she asked.
“When?”
“When shall we marry? Do you wish to announce it this evening?”
Of course, she is a doer.
“Best to speak with your father first. I’ll have a talk with him and after that, we can set a date. Is that acceptable to you?” Somehow, this wasn’t playing out the way he’d imagined.
Speaking with her father, he knew, was a mere formality. She’d been making her own decisions for nearly a decade: her impromptu visit to Augusta Heights had been indicative of that. Most likely, her father would be ecstatic to relinquish any remaining responsibility he felt toward her.
She nodded.
“But you look as though your dog just died!” He through his hands into the air. She was exasperating. Did he really wish a betrothal with this woman? “If you don’t wish to marry me, tell me now and we can forget this conversation ever happened.”
“Oh, no, no! Hugh, of course, I wish to marry you. It’s just that I’m a little overwhelmed, I guess. So much is changing so quickly.” It was she who took his hand this time. “Of course, I wish to marry you.” She leaned in and gave him a dry kiss on the lips.
As she went to move away, Hugh stopped her. Pulling her up against him, he found her mouth again with his own and coaxed the seam of her lips open.
“This matters as well, Penelope,” he growled when he felt one of her hands reach up to his neck. After exploring the soft flesh behind her lips, and the smooth edges of her teeth, he moved to the corner of her mouth, and then along the graceful line of her neck.
Wisps of golden red hair tickled his nose and eyes. She had the most incredible skin, so pale and soft. Without realizing he’d even done so, one of his hands had found her left breast. Remembering how timid she’d been the night before, he drew circles around it gently. Nice, plump, perfect flesh hid beneath the material of her bodice.
Oh, yes, this mattered a great deal.
“The orchestra is playing again,” she murmured. “I promised this dance to someone else.”
“Who?” Hugh did not really care. She’d just promised her person to him.
“Um, I think it was…” She was trying to glance at the dance card tied to her wrist.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, no cheating, Penelope,” His mouth now trailed down her shoulder, along bared skin and then lower, along the silk of her glove. When he reached the dance card, he pulled at one string with his teeth and it dropped off her wrist and onto the ground.
“But he will be looking for me. What will he think?”
“If he saw you walk outside with me, he will know exactly what to think.” Hugh grinned before sitting back and breaking their embrace. He supposed he ought to allow her to return. As long as he’d known her, Penelope had always avoided scandal. She’d been a very good girl up until now. He ought not to corrupt her completely.
Yet.
Penelope had retrieved the dance card and was attempting to tie it back around her wrist. “I’m to partner…” She squinted as she read the card. “Er… Darlington.”
Rome Spencer.
Hugh confirmed as much as he tied the card for her. “Just so he knows…”
“Just so he knows what?”
“That you are no longer his for the taking.” If Hugh had to have a discussion with the man himself, he would do so. He knew Darlington had been thrown over last winter. Hugh had watched as the man danced with Penelope before.
Ah, well, Darlington was too late.
