“Do you think Cousin Henry will want to court any of the misses who were here today?” Bernice asked.
“I do not know.”
“Maybe someone tomorrow,” Chloe suggested.
“We shall see,” Penelope answered, not expecting His Grace to find favor with any of the women invited.
The guests had been chosen because Penelope hoped the sisters would find friends among Society. If one of the women she considered might be of interest to His Grace, the woman had not been invited to tea. Not that she told the sisters, of course. While Penelope applauded their attempts to play matchmaker, she had decided not to be of assistance. She would hate it if someone did that to her and after giving it considerable thought, did not want to subject His Grace to such a tactic. Oh, she would watch and enjoy his discomfort, but she would not assist.
Penelope also told herself that His Grace needed to concentrate on his cousins and then he could find a wife, but that wasn’t completely true. In fact, there had been a pang of jealousy at the thought of him courting another, kissing another…Was it because he had nearly kissed her?
She assumed that was what he had been thinking when he looked at her lips when they were in the garden. And she did enjoy waltzing with him.
What was wrong with her? She had not been jealous of anyone before this and it was for a woman that was not yet involved in his life.
Further, she wanted to hold tight to her independence, so a courtship was out of the question. Yet, she still wanted to be kissed by His Grace.
How had her life tilted so suddenly and all because she wanted to assist five sisters to have a successful Season?
Chapter 11
Lady Penelope was becoming too much of an interference in his life and Henry required assistance. Therefore, he crossed to his desk and took out a piece of parchment and wrote four simple words before he signed his name. “Meet me at Whites.” He then folded the parchment and sealed with wax with the signet ring bearing the “W” and asked a footman to deliver it to Claybrook.
He then left the mansion and made his way to White’s, took a back corner table and waited.
It was not long before Claybrook stepped into the establishment, looked around and then found Henry and marched in his direction and took a seat.
“What is wrong?” he demanded. “Has an incident occurred that could harm one of your cousins?”
“They are well,” Henry dismissed.
“Then why the urgency?”
“She has taken over my house, my cousins and is attempting to manage my life.”
Claybrook frowned and pulled back. “Lady Penelope?”
“Yes! Who else could be so menacing?”
“Have you ruined her?”
“Good God, of course not.” How could Claybrook even think him to be so low? Though, he had wanted to kiss her and his thoughts did wander into more intimate situations when they danced. Oh, he had ruined her in his thoughts, but definitely not in the manner that mattered to Society.
“Has she caused a scandal that needs to be managed?”
“No!”
“Has she upset or ruined a business venture.”
“No and what does that have to do with anything?” Henry demanded.
“Then I do not understand what is so urgent that you need assistance from the Alliance.”
“She has brought misses into my home,” Henry growled. “They are taking tea at this very moment. Six of them who are of no relation and one of them being her.”
“Her, as in Lady Penelope.”
“Yes! Have we not already established that?” He paused in his discussion only to order ale for him and Claybrook. “She is the most aggravating woman to walk this earth and I need you to help me rid her from my home.”
