To Penny’s surprise, she had let them.
At present, each of her friends wore an expression unique to their personalities. Kent’s wife, Marianne, a stunning silver blonde around Penny’s age, regarded her with knowing and compassionate emerald eyes. Emma, the eldest Kent sister, was a pretty brunette with an earnest air. Over a year ago, she’d landed the catch of theton, the Duke of Strathaven, a once notorious rake; now the duchess had a slight furrow between her brows as if she were trying to decipher Penny’s state of mind. Sitting next to her, Dorothea, Emma’s sister and the newlywed Marchioness of Tremont, regarded Penny with concern in her gentle hazel gaze.
Lastly, Miss Violet Kent, the youngest of the bunch and the one who’d been speaking, had triumph written over her vivid features. Probably because she’d made her point: Pennyhadn’tbeen listening. She’d been caught up yet again in her tumultuous thoughts about Marcus and the state of her marriage.
“Hush, Violet,” Emma said. “This isn’t the time or place.”
“But you know I’m right. Lady Pandora doesn’t seem herself at all—”
“Why don’t you go check on the boys, dear?” Thea’s tone was kind yet firm. “Make sure Fredward isn’t terrorizing the Blackwood boys?”
Fredwardreferred to Frederick and Edward, Thea’s stepson and Marianne’s son, respectively. The nine-year-olds were so inseparable that the Kent family had given them a shared nickname, and they’d become favorite playmates of Penny’s boys.
Collecting herself, Penny said wryly, “I doubt anyone could terrorize my sons. If anything, probably the opposite is true.”
“Well, let’s minimize the bloodshed at any rate. Do run along, Violet,” Marianne said.
Violet rose nimbly to her feet, rolling her tawny eyes as she did so. “No one ever listens to me,” she grumbled in a way that suggested this might be a refrain. “And I don’t know why I have to leave just when the conversation is getting good.”
After her lithe figure disappeared through the doorway, Thea said, “I do apologize for my sister, Pandora. Vi’s just used to speaking her mind.”
“Her honesty is refreshing,” Penny assured her.
“I agree—but unfortunately thetondoesn’t,” the duchess said with a sigh. “If Violet doesn’t learn to curb her tongue and manner at least alittle, she’s going to land in hot water. And after her behavior at the Waterson’s affair last week, the scandal broth is already at a simmer.”
Penny had been so preoccupied by her own state of affairs that she’d missed the gossip. “What happened?” she asked.
“Nothing really. Violet was just being Violet,” Thea said.
From what she knew of the high-spirited Miss Kent, that could mean most anything.
“Itoldher not to dance more than twice with any gentleman. But the moment my back was turned, she was off like a shot. And it was a waltz, too,” Emma huffed.
“I suppose we can’t blame her. Mr. Murray is one of the most sought after bucks in Town,” Marianne said, “if rather too aware of that fact.”
“Wickham Murray?” Penny sat up straighter.
“Yes.” Thea’s honey-brown locks tipped to one side. “Do you know him?”
“He’s the younger brother of Viscount Carlisle, one of Blackwood’s cronies.” At the thought of her husband, her heart throbbed.
“I don’t think I’ve met this Carlisle,” Emma said.
“He’s not much for Society. Prefers his estate in Scotland or his lodge in the country.” She couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose. “He’s always struck me as a bit high in the instep, a rigid, traditional sort of man. Quite the opposite in temperament and looks of his charming younger brother. But Blackwood swears Carlisle’s a good chap and a gentleman’s gentleman, whatever that means.”
“That doesn’t sound too promising.” Thea nibbled on her lower lip. “Violet doesn’t do well with rigidity or tradition. If she’s truly forming an attachment to Wickham and his older brother doesn’t approve—”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Marianne said firmly. “No matter what happens, we’ll support Vi in finding the happiness she deserves.”
As the other two murmured their agreement, Penny felt her throat thicken. From the start, she’d admired the close bonds between the Kents. Although like any family they had their share of squabbles and disagreements, they also seemed to greet each other’s quirks and foibles with unwavering acceptance. It was the sort of love that Pandora hadn’t encountered until she’d met Flora and Harry… that she’d believed she had with Marcus.
The despair that she’d been holding back surged to the fore. Since the episode in the bathing room ten days ago, nothing had changed between her and Marcus. No, not nothing: things had gottenworse. Now he was actively avoiding her, spending as little time as possible at home, and she had to battle growing hopelessness. Would they ever get past their impasse?
Had her lies destroyed everything?
“Well, enough about Violet. Let’s get to the crux of why we’re really here.”
The duchess’ crisp tones broke Penny’s anguished reverie. She looked up, and the compassion on her friends’ faces was almost more than she could bear.
