Page 10 of Snowed In with the Jilted Duke

“Really, Penny. It was terribly rude of you to leave like that.”

Penny sighed and sat up straighter. “I know. My joints were aching so dreadfully I just couldn’t continue on.”

Pippa felt a stab of guilt. Of course, she should have realized that since Penny had been in such a bad way that afternoon. “If you feel that dreadful, you should be in bed. Where is Sally?”

“I sent her down to the kitchen to fetch me a posset.”

She must tell her.

Settling herself on the edge of the bed, Pippa said, “Mother read me a scold about O—Kendal turning the music for me.”

“As she should.” Penny said with surprising sharpness. “I scarcely saw Kendal at all, he was so interested in talking to you.”

Pippa swallowed hard around the lump in her throat. She could not hurt her sister with the truth. Not so close to her wedding.

“He was speaking of you the whole time,” she lied. “He is very much looking forward to the wedding.”

Penny looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. “I see.”

Pippa was afraid to ask what her sister saw, but Penny stretched and yawned, wincing a little with the motion. “I really am dreadfully tired. I shall drink my posset when Sally returns and then prepare for bed.”

“Then I shall as well.”

“No, I… I am worried the posset won’t help me sleep. Could you read to me?”

“Of course.” Penny frowned. “I don’t recall what books we brought with us.”

“All the books we brought are too interesting to put me to sleep. Surely Kendal’s library will have something more… more…”

Pippa’s lip twitched. “More dull?”

“Exactly!” They both laughed, and Penny rose to her feet. When Pippa leaped to steady her, Penny leaned forward and kissed Pippa on the cheek.

“What was that for?”

“I just felt like it,” Penny said. “Thank you, Pippa. Thank you for everything you do to take care of me. I do appreciate it.”

“Of course,” Pippa said, puzzled. “You are my sister.”

Penny squeezed her hand one more time before laying down on the bed with a gusty sigh. “A book, please, Pippa. Something very dull.”

Pippa frowned as she descended the stairs to the library. Penny was acting rather peculiar. Surely her sister could not have overheard the earlier conversation with Oliver. Pippa would have seen her standing close enough to hear.

She could not have been so wrapped up in Oliver's presence that she would not realize her own twin was nearby.

She opened the door and then halted as a man rose from his chair next to the fireplace. He was a mere silhouette, but she knew immediately who it was, and cursed to herself.

She ought to have known Oliver would be in his own library.

He bowed to her. "Miss Philippa."

She curtsied in return, balancing her candle. "Your grace."

"Are you in search of a book?"

"Penny asked me to find one to read to her. Sometimes it helps ease her pain when she has the headache."

Oliver frowned. "Is she prone to megrims?"