“Certainly, you understand why I cannot.”
“Explain it to me.”
“He does not love me.” That was really all that mattered. She would not wed without love. It truly was as simple as that.
“Are you certain?”
Penelope snorted. “Until Eldridge kissed me, we had spent much of our time arguing.”
“You have spent nearly every day at his home since you took his cousins under your wing.”
“It was for them, not him,” Penelope insisted then sucked in a breath. If she left, what would become of the Simpson sisters?
She quickly took a seat across from her sister. “You must take my place.”
Patience drew back. “As Eldridge’s betrothed? I think not, nor would it solve your problem.”
“No, or course not,” Penelope snorted. “You must step in for me in seeing that the sisters are prepared for the ball. They have already acquired a new wardrobe, their hair has been styled, they have learned how to dance and…blast, I have not yet taught them the popular card games, but you can do that. The ball is in a few days and most preparations are complete or in the competent hands of the servants.”
Patience simply stared at her, lips parted as if Penelope had lost her mind.
“What?”
“I will assist, but I am not taking over what you started.”
“But you must! I cannot return there. No doubt they are wondering why I claimed an illness today for not being at tea.”
“Why have you been having tea with them daily and inviting all manner of misses and ladies.”
“The sisters hope to find someone for Eldridge to court so he will not be concerned with them courting anyone that could lead to betrothal of his making.”
She chuckled. “Well, that is no longer a problem.”
“It is!” Penelope insisted.
“I am certain Noah will have something to say about your future,” Patience reminded her.
Yes, Noah could be difficult, but so could she.
“What are you afraid of?”
“Afraid? I am not afraid,” Penelope insisted.
“You are or you would not be thinking about running away.”
“I am not escaping, I simply do not intend to be present while others try to force me into a miserable marriage and lose my freedom,” she added. “Nor do I want to listen to the gossip. It is a choice, not shame.”
“How are you so certain that you will be unhappy?” Patience asked quietly.
“Because he does not love me.”
Since both sisters insisted that they would only wed for love, Penelope knew that Patience could offer no further argument.
She lifted her glass of brandy in a toast. “Paris it is.”
Penelope clicked her glass against Patience’s glass.
“If I am in Paris with you, who is going to help the Simpson Sisters.”
