He could have arranged marriages and been done with them, but he hadn’t.
On the other hand, he allowed them to disappear as wallflowers do, which had been a disservice.
But he had allowed her to change that.
He listened to her.
Penelope sucked in a breath. He listened!
Yes, they argued, but he also listened to her reasoning.
Few gentlemen of her acquaintance would have done so. Women, for the most part were dismissed, especially when the topic was of importance, yet His Grace, listened to her.
No wonder she was beginning to think of him fondly. It was not infatuation at all and therefore her heart was not in jeopardy. She simply liked him because he did not dismiss her plans, even when he did not agree with them.
Much relieved that she had determined her emotions as they pertained to His Grace, Penelope knocked on the door and then was ushered into the parlor where the cousins awaited her.
The ball was planned yesterday, and servants were given their orders. The wardrobe was set, they knew how to dance, and hair had been styled. Today, they would receive the most important lesson of all. Who was who, and which rakes to avoid.
As requested, a copy of Debrett’s was sitting in the middle of the table and the sisters were on the settees awaiting her instructions.
“We have taken the liberty to look through the pages,” Judith announced. “We hoped to gain some familiarity.”
She nodded and took a seat.
“We are even in there,” Jael announced with excitement.
“Of course you are,” Penelope chuckled. “Your grandfather was a duke, a peerage that is thoroughly documented with each birth.”
“There is a new book released each year?” Chloe asked.
“No. Only when there have been significant changes, or it has been too long since it was updated. This one is from 1816. Only two years old, so it should be fairly accurate, but I will note if there are marriages and births not yet reported.”
Penelope knew that the sisters would not retain information for each family so she provided names of the misses and ladies who would be best to befriend. It was her hope that when introduced, if a name was not recognized that the sisters would be cautious in their association.
As for the gentlemen, she was very clear on which were to be avoided because of their reputation of being rakes, rogues and scoundrels. This was the list she spent far more time discussing because it was imperative that they know that no matter how charming the gentleman, or what their rank, they could not be trusted or would not make a good husband because they intended to wed for connections and keep mistresses for pleasure.
The sisters had been shocked at some of the examples Penelope provided but it was important that they lose some of their naivety when it came to certain gentlemen of the ton and what to watch for if a man was intent on seduction without courtship, betrothal or marriage.
“What about Cousin Henry, what is his reputation?”
Oh, did she dare tell them?
“Well…he is…” she winced because Penelope did not want to be untruthful. “He has the reputation of being a rake, a bachelor who enjoys his freedom. However, he would never encourage or ruin an innocent. A respectable rake,” she concluded.
“Is that what they say about me, Lady Penelope? That I am a respectable rake.”
Oh dear.
Penelope slowly turned in her seat to find His Grace standing behind her. Her face burned and she wanted nothing more but to crawl under the table.
Chapter 12
When Henry left the breakfast room, he was surprised to learn that Lady Penelope had already arrived. He had not expected her until the afternoon when the next tea was planned. Curious, he wandered to the parlor to find Lady Penelope and his cousins pouring over Debrett’s. Then to hear her descriptions of gentlemen that he would not allow near his innocent cousins, and the stories that he knew were true, he had been grateful.
It had been his plan to issue similar warnings as they neared the time for the ball because he knew that they would draw far more attention this time. Both from respectable gentlemen and the ones he wouldn’t trust to even glance at one of them.
He had also been uncertain how to broach the delicate topic without embarrassment for all, or even how much he should tell them. They were innocent misses who had been sheltered in the country. How could they possibly understand the dangers when a rake set out to charm and was eager to ruin?
