Penelope did not even glance at Rose. She just sat on the bed, staring out the window at the grounds of Hugh’s home. “It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t your fault. It would have happened eventually.” And then, turning to look over at her loyal companion, she grimaced. “He can’t get over the babies. And he refuses to even consider the possibility that I have not lied to him regarding his part in their conception.”
“Where is he?”
A lump formed in Penelope’s throat, forcing her to stifle the urge to cry again. “He’s gone away. He didn’t know where, but he said he could not bear to be here for the remainder of my confinement, nor for the birth of the babies. What does he expect me to do after they are born? Send them away? Surely, they will be a constant reminder to him.”
“And what, might I ask, will he think if they come out looking like a couple of miniature Danburys?”
Penelope had not even considered such a possibility. With her luck, they most likely would turn out to be the spitting image of herself. Poor little mites. She shrugged and shook her head. “Years of his mistrust, months even, will be enough to harden my heart against him. He doesn’t trust me. He refuses to believe me. What kind of relationship can we have if there is to be no trust?”
Rose scratched the side of her head, thoughtfully. “I see your point. And I had thought things were going so well. You have gone about like a couple of happily married newlyweds.”
At those words, Penelope’s eyes welled up with tears again. She swiped at them angrily. “He is willing to throw it all away. That is what makes me so angry. He does not respect my word enough to trust me. I cannot do anything about it. I don’t have the energy to persist with him regarding the truth. And Iwill notpretend there was another man before him. I am in the wrong for a great deal of things, but I never, never tried to pass another man’s baby off as his. I would not do that. And if he wishes to believe that that is what I did, that that is who I am, then good riddance! To hell with him!”
Rose handed over the steaming chocolate she’d brought in. “Don’t get worked up, Pen. It’s not good for the babies.”
Penelope nodded and dutifully took a sip. Rose was right. All that mattered right now were the babies. She would do what was best for them. They were her entire life right now.
And on that thought, a shrill, yet all too familiar voice called into the room, “Penelope dear! Are you dressed? Good Heavens, look at you! I was never so large with child as you are!” Perfumed and coiffured already, her mother found a seat and examined Penelope critically. “Tsk, tsk tsk, it is going to be difficult to regain your shape afterward. Perhaps you need to restrict you eating a wee bit. A husband such as Danbury is sure to lose interest in you, dear, if you don’t take proper care of your looks.”
Penelope restrained herself from tossing the leftover chocolate in her drink into her mother’s face. And now, she would be obliged to explain Danbury’s absence.
“My lady.” Rose, the dear sweet girl, curtsied “If you don’t mind my interference, your daughter has done exactly as has been recommended by the midwife.”
“Mind your tongue, girl.” The baroness turned to Penelope. “What does a country midwife know anyhow? I do so wish you were in London so that we could bring in a proper doctor. Much better for the baby!”
“Babies, Mama, remember, there are two?”
As though Penelope had not spoken, her mother continued, “Midwifery is practically witchcraft! I imagine, right now, a physician might even recommend a bit of blood-letting. You claim to be so knowledgeable of all things modern and yet you would leave the care of your husband’s heir to a mere midwife! Youdointend a physician be the attendant at the birth though, I hope.”
“The midwife will do just fine.” Penelope was of the opinion that there were more fatalities with male physicians than there were with midwives. A woman attending her birth seemed more natural to her though. What with a woman being, well, awoman.
“At least allow dear departed Lady Danbury’s physician to examine you. For my own nerves, Penelope.”
Penelope rolled her eyes and then nodded. She would concede this one point.
But she could not go on this way.
“If I do as you ask, will you leave, Mama? It is not that I do not love you, nor enjoy your company, but I am concerned that I cannot provide you with any entertainment whilst you are here.”In other words, you will most certainly drive me to Bedlam if you stay.
“Well, I never!”
“Mother, Hugh left this morning. What did you say to him last night?”
“He left? Left where?”
“Mother, he leftme!”
Her mother appeared not to be overly troubled by the announcement. “Most likely for the best. Not to worry, he’ll be back. Men are squeamish where childbirth is concerned. You’ll not want him underfoot when the baby comes.”
Babies!
“What did you say to him?” She loved her parents dearly, but there were days… Penelope closed her eyes and forced herself to remain calm.
“I merely told him what he needed to hear. Why, what he did to you was criminal! I told him it was going to be necessary that he change his disreputable ways and become a proper husband. We had some plain speaking, if I do say so myself. I told him no more whoring about. Men get diseases from such sinful depravity! And then they put their genteel wives at risk. I’d not have that for my only daughter. That man has a horrible reputation, you know. You’ll have to take him in hand when he returns.”
It had been exactly as she’d feared.
“It was not what he needed to hear, Mama. It was exactlythe oppositeof what he needed to hear.” But none of this mattered now. It most likely would have all come to this anyhow. She’d felt the tension building every time their conversation grew too intimate. She sighed heavily. “I love you, Mama, but I would rather not have you here right now.”
