Page 14 of Snowed In with the Jilted Duke

“Remember to lock the door this time, my boy,” she called after him, and he closed the door on the sound of her laughter.

Pippa woke with a start to discover the curtains of their room were open and the fireplace lit. A housemaid must have already come in and left again, and she had slept right through it.

Penny was not there. Not in the bed with her, not sitting by the fire reading as she waited for Pippa to wake.

Not in the dressing room. Pippa checked, her steps a little frantic. Sally was not there, either.

She could not help feeling her twin’s absence in a stronger way than if Penny had merely gone downstairs for breakfast without waiting for her to wake up.

She whirled, and saw a folded sheet of paper laying on Penny’s pillow. Her name was written on it in Penny’s clear, neat handwriting.

Snatching up the paper, she unfolded it, tearing the edge a little in her haste.

Dearest Pippa, it began.

I overheard you and Kendal last night…

Her hand clenched, crumpling the note in her hand. No. It was impossible for Penny to have overheard them.

Wasn’t it?

With a mighty effort, Pippa forced her eyes back to the letter.

Dearest Pippa,

I overheard you and Kendal last night, and I finally understood what I ought to have seen months ago. I am not angry. In truth, I am relieved. Kendal is a good man, and I would rather he be happy with you than miserable with me. I am taking the stagecoach to Carlisle and traveling to Bath and Aunt Nelson from there. Do not worry. I promise I am saving all of us from disaster.

Love,

Penny

Pippa scowled at the sheet of paper as though it could make her sister magically re-appear. This was ridiculous. So much fuss over what had been only a kiss. Very well, two kisses, if she counted last night. It was nothing, really.

Even Oliver had said it was nothing. He had said so quickly the kiss had meant nothing to him.

A shriek from the room next door made Pippa flinch and spring to the door. She could hear her mother’s wailing even from across the dressing room separating them.

Penny must have left a note for her as well.

As he strolled to the library, Oliver tried to keep his steps casual and not those of an animal being hunted. He spotted the footman returning to the breakfast room and halted him.

“Thomas, let me know when Miss Penelope has come down for breakfast. I need to speak with her quite urgently.”

“Yes, your grace,” Thomas said, but his smirk told Oliver news of the kiss had already spread like wildfire through the servants’ quarters. Which would make the matter of breaking the engagement even more fraught.

But it must be done.

He pushed open the door of the library and discovered Hugo was already there, deeply engaged in reading a book, a plate of scones by his side. The kitchen staff always pampered Hugo when he was in residence. Oliver closed the door with slightly more force than he intended to.

Hugo looked up from his book. “Ah, there you are. I need to speak to you immediately.”

Oliver sighed and sat in the chair across from his brother’s. “If you insist, but I am waiting for Penelope. I must speak to her this morning.”

“Oh.” Hugo looked away for a moment.

Oliver hesitated. He would need to tell his brother of the broken engagement since the sudden change in their finances would affect the entire family, but he could not say anything until the matter was settled. Even then, he might not be able to confess the dreadful truth to his brother: he had not only kissed the wrong sister last night, he had enjoyed it far more than he ought to have.

Hugo toyed with the book in his hand and then seemed to make up his mind. “I have been called back to the Admiralty and must leave for London today. I apologize, but I shall miss the wedding.”