When had that occurred? He’d not seen them together previously. Had it simply come about today?
Should he warn his cousin that Lady Penelope was of an independent mind and might drive him to Bedlam or should he allow Chadburn to discover her character on his own?
“Will you be in attendance at the Sanderson ball this evening?” Chadburn asked Lady Penelope.
“I do not believe so,” she responded before taking a sip of her tea.
“What of you, Henry? Will you be there with our cousins?”
“I had thought to attend,” he answered.
“You shall go alone,” Lady Penelope ordered, which took Henry aback.
“Was not the point of new gowns and fripperies and dancing lessons so that my cousins would make a favorable impression on Society?”
“Yes, but it is only the beginning. In fact, they will not attend any ball or be a guest at any other outing for a sennight.”
His eyes widened as the Simpson sisters gasped.
Bloody hell! Was she going to continually be in his life, ordering him about for another bloody week? He would not have it.
“Why not?”
“They are not yet prepared.” With that she smiled, challenge in her green eyes and then sipped her tea.
If she would have laid the whole of the plan out to Eldridge, no doubt he would have rejected it as being unnecessary. But, being a male, and a duke, he could not begin to understand what was necessary for a miss or lady to achieve the right notice and be seen in the perfect light so that they are not rejected or worse, relegated to the wallflowers, which was why Penelope had rescued them to begin with.
Thankfully, he asked nothing further and the tea continued with pleasant conversation, of which she took little part as the cousins became reacquainted and shared news of their families. Apparently, the Simpson sisters had been shielded from there male cousins, even though they were relations, because the Grell brothers lived in London, remained bachelors, two of them worked with criminals and thus were exposed to immorality. Even though they were employed by Bow Street and the Thames River Police, the vicar had not wanted his daughters to be associated with their sin. As for Chadburn, the vicar had seen him as a wastrel and rake without redemption.
Chadburn had laughed when Chloe shared her father’s opinion.
“Well, I always thought of him to be a sanctimonious arse.”
Penelope had thought they would be shocked or appalled by such but they giggled and whispered agreement then asked His Grace to forgive them for not showing more respect for their departed father.
“There is nothing to forgive when the truth is spoken,” Eldridge assured them.
Given all that she had learned, Penelope was quite happy that she had never encountered the vicar. No doubt he would have judged her for not having married and accused her of having a sinful nature for her independence.
There was also affection between the cousins, even though they had not shared much time together in the past and Penelope was glad to see the sisters comfortable with both Chadburn and His Grace.
Maybe this was exactly what they needed—exposure and conversation with males who were not like their father but would treat them with courtesy and respect.
“Well, I must be going,” Chadburn said as he stood. “Thank you for the tea and conversation. Now that I know you are in Town, I will visit again,” he said to the Simpson sisters. “Good day, Henry.” He then turned Penelope. “Until we meet again.”
“Good day,” she returned and wondered what he was about. First, he had escorted her into the parlor, then sat next to her, and then his address before he left.
She and Chadburn had known one another for these past five years, and his younger sister, Lady Eve, was a dear friend. He had never shown an interest in her before so why did he behave differently today?
Very odd indeed, and something she might ponder later.
As for now, she had matters to attend to and with those thoughts, she put her cup and saucer on the table and stood.
“I shall be going as well.”
“I need you to remain, Lady Penelope,” His Grace returned. “There are matters we must discuss.”
She should have known he would want to question her further.
