Jane huffed, but the warm blush across her cheeks spoke loudly of how pleased she was.
Penelope watched Nora tease Jane about what the future held, but she could not be rid of the sinking feeling growing within her.
All she could do was hope that her worst fears would not turn into reality.
CHAPTER TWO
Penelope lifted her skirts as she walked up the stairs into her home, grateful to have returned to her place of solace after what felt like a particularly long day.
Although she loved her friends dearly, it was somewhat taxing to see them fail to understand the gravity of Jane’s situation. She did not blame Nora at all for being so trusting of her brother, but Penelope knew no good would come out of his fraternizing with Jane.
Sweet, lovely Jane, who only desired to find a love as wonderful as the ones she often read in her books. Jane was too shy to appeal to any gentleman the way their peers did at social events, so she likely felt lucky that Cecil approached her first.
With a deep sigh, Penelope greeted the butler, Mr. Wyndell, noticing that he seemed rather distracted as he ushered a maid down the hall towards a drawing room.
“Do we have a guest?” she questioned quietly as he stopped the maid to study the tray of tea she was carrying before nodding and letting her into the room.
“Yes,” Mr. Wyndell sighed, looking as though he had suddenly found himself out of his depth. “A rather important one at that. Lord Bellcourt is already attending to him, but the visit was rather sudden and we did not have any time to prepare for his arrival.”
Upon hearing that her brother was also in the drawing room, Penelope thought there would not be a better moment to greet him before she retired for the rest of the afternoon. Although she was slightly reluctant to also present herself before his guest, the polite thing to do would be to face them – whoever they were – as soon as possible.
With a deep breath, Penelope knocked at the door, turning the knob as her brother’s familiar voice called for her to enter. She pushed the door open – only to stop her in her tracks at the sight of the very last person she wished to see.
“You,” she spat, seething.
Her brother’s guest grinned lazily; his eyes sparkling as he set down his glass of brandy.
“Well, if it isn’t my biggest supporter! I was wondering when you would show up. I was a few seconds away from admitting to my dear friend how peaceful it was without your usually stern shrieking.” He stated, his tone dripping innocence.
Penelope stepped further into the room and slammed the door behind her, pointing a finger at him.
“I am surprised you can comprehend what peace is supposed to feel like – given that your very existence sucks it right out of any room.” She snapped, feeling her earlier irritation return.
“I am hurt by your accusations, Lady Penelope. Many have found me to be an absolute delight. And yet you are the only one who cannot seem to appreciate how wonderful I am.” He shrugged.
“I'd sooner choke on a piece of carrot during dinner and expire slowly than do such a ridiculous thing.” She rolled her eyes.
“Ah-ah,” the visitor shook his head, his expression turning stern for a brief moment. “Surely you do not wish to expire before you are able to formally acknowledge my new title. Is that your way of trying to escape being respectful to me?”
“I do not need to employ such tactics –”
“Do it then.”
Penelope’s mouth snapped shut, and she glared at him.
“Not even if you –”
“Even if I begged? Are you absolutely certain I still won’t be able to thaw that ice cold resolve of yours? I think you regard yourself too highly, Lady Penelope.” He sighed, his lips pulling slightly into a roguishly handsome smirk.
Lionel Waverly, Marquess of Bellcourt, glanced between them, looking equally amused and exasperated.
“Really, you two... Will there ever be a day when you get along like civilized members of society?” Lionel asked, refilling his tea cup.
“I did not start this! She is the one who came in here and disrespected me within moments of gazing upon my face.” The guest eyed Penelope warily. “Perhaps you should advice Lady Penelope to do the needful and show me the proper regard I deserve.”
Lionel shifted his attention to her, his gaze soft and imploring as he urged,
“Penelope, you are being rather disrespectful to our guest right now. All jests aside, he is our guest and we are courteous to our guests.”
