This was not the question that Henry had expected and he wasn’t certain how to answer. “I…um…”
Felding waved a hand in dismissal. “No doubt neither one of you were thinking, which is how you ended up in this predicament.” He tilted the glass and took a drink.
As Henry still was not certain as to Felding’s intentions, he remained silent.
“At least I know that you plan to wed Penelope, not that I could have forced you to anyway. As for Penelope, she is ready to flee to the country.”
Henry blew out a sigh and took a drink. He had anticipated rejection, objection and argument. What he had not expected was for her to run away. Did she dislike him so much or was it simply fear of losing her independence?
“There is no hope for it, Eldridge,” Felding said as he turned to face him. “You have already shown that you will do the honorable thing. Unfortunately, my sister is the one who will be difficult so it is up to you to win her.”
“You are her guardian. Can you not force the issue?”
Felding barked out laughter. “Yes, I could, but then she would make both of our lives miserable. Therefore, I wish you well and anticipate that you will have won her heart before the end of the Season.” He then tilted the glass back, drained the contents, set it on the table and left, leaving Henry staring after him.
Won her heart?
It would be easier to kidnap Penelope and take her off to Gretna Green.
She did not even like him very much so how the hell could he win her heart?
Bloody hell!
Penelope paced in the parlor as she awaited Noah’s return. All she could do was pray that both her brother and Eldridge were not set on doing the right thing because five people saw a kiss…that they went on to gossip about.
She was ruined and Penelope accepted her part, but that did not mean that she would bow to whatever Noah and Eldridge may decide was best for her.
She sighed and strolled to the sideboard and poured herself brandy. She did not care if anyone else would frown on her doing so. It was what men did in difficult and stressful situations and she was certainly experiencing anxiety.
Well, they may think they could decide her fate but nobody could force her to stand before a vicar and recite the vows. If she was shunned from Society for rejecting His Grace, assuming Eldridge would even offer for her, then so be it. She did not have to live in London. She could return to the country. Or she could travel.
Edinburgh was very pleasant and she did have friends there.
She also had not visited the Continent and had always longed to see Paris. Now that Napoleon had long been disposed of, well, three years was not so very long, but he was gone and it was now safe to travel the countries and grand cities on the Continent so that was what she would do. By the time she returned to England, everyone would have forgotten all about her transgression in the carriage.
“What do you intend to do?”
She turned to find Patience standing in the entry. No doubt her sister had already heard the embellished gossip and rumors. Not that Penelope wanted to know what everyone believed. Being seen while caught in a passionate embrace was bad enough.
“Would you like a glass of brandy? We can be miserable together.”
“I am not miserable,” Patience said as she walked to the sideboard. “My concern is with you, but I will happily join you in a brandy.” She poured a glass and then settled into a chair. “Where is Noah?”
“He has gone to call on His Grace.”
“I would have thought he would have done so earlier.”
“He had his reasons,” Penelope said not wishing to explain.
“What do you intend to do?” she asked again.
“Travel,” she said with confidence. Then brightened. “You should join me. Haven’t you ever wanted to see Paris or Rome, or Brussels?”
The corner of her mouth quirked. “I never thought I would see the day that my sister, Lady Penelope Johansen, would run away from a problem.”
“I am not running away. I simply do not wish to remain in London and suffer the gossip.”
“You could avoid that if you married His Grace.”
