by Oliver Queen
"Miss Inglewood, I must have a word with you." Jane pleaded softly, "That is if you are not busy now?"
Penny looked about for the duke warily. It would not do for him to see her speaking with his betrothed. "I was just about to go in search of my sister. Perhaps..."
"Oh I don't mind coming with you. Philip has gone into Lord Margrove's library so we can have a moment's privacy"
Penny sighed. She had been about to suggest putting off the discussion till tomorrow, but the girl was determined. "Very well. Shall we?"
Jane waited till they were out of earshot. "I saw you leaving the drawing room yesterday obviously distressed." she fiddled with a ribbon on her gown nervously, before continuing. "I can only guess what might have upset you so but I know Lord Farnsworth may have done or said something upsetting? I also presume that you k-know about Edward and I?"
"What occurred yesterday hardly matters now, Lady Rosebury..."
"Please call me Jane, Lady Rosebury was my mother's title. I do not like it much."
"Jane. I came to see you because I wish to beg you for a favor." Penny stopped to look Jane squarely in the eye. "Edward swears he will stand by you unless you reject him. I implore you to do so, if only to save the man you claim to love. We both know the duke is ruthless and will stop at nothing to destroy my family. I ask that you discourage Edward in his intentions, for the good of us all."
"But-but I love Edward! He is the man my heart belongs to. I cannot...deny him..I cannot." Jane protested desperately.
"Then you will doom him" she replied furious at the girl's foolishness. "But I will not let that happen Lady Rosebury. Unlike you, I will do anything to keep the ones I love from harm. Good evening" She hurried away, angry. Stupid, selfish girl, utterly foolish. Spotting Lucy and Lord Henry just returning to the ballroom, she changed directions in relief. She would get Lucy and leave at once.
"Good evening Miss Inglewood. So I was right in assuming you have been conniving with Jane in all this? "
She gasped in shock, she had not heard him come up behind her. "Your Grace! I did not...I am not conniving with anyone, least of all your intended." she spun around to see him standing behind her, an angry glint in his eye, even though he looked calm and composed in the well-fitting black coat over black pantaloons. His cravat pure white and immaculately tied.
"I see." Philip said quietly, a sneer pulling at his mouth, "Imagine my surprise when I come in search of my companion to see her deep in conversation with the sister of the man I intend to kill. Tell me, what exactly do you stand to gain in all this? Money? Influence?"
Penny saw red. How dare he? "I beg your pardon," she said icily, taking a step towards him and jabbing a finger at his chest to punctuate her words, "I want nothing that belongs to you. And be warned Lord Farnsworth, I will not not sit idly by and watch you harm my brother. If you so much as touch a hair of his head, I WILL kill you with my bare hands."
She did not wait for his reaction, simply gathering up her skirts and storming back into the ballroom.
CHAPTER 4 THOUGHTS AND ASSUMPTIONS
In all his thirty years, no one had spoken to him that way, not even his mother. He stared at the minuscule woman who was walking-no, limping away with a sense that he had been soundly put in his place.. Him! Bested by a mere slip of a woman who barely came up to his shoulder? He shook his head slowly, as if to ascertain that he was not dreaming, then glanced towards where she had disappeared into the ballroom, a fresh wave of boiling rage sweeping through his entire being. The wrench would learn not to cross him in future, he would make sure of that soon enough. He rubbed absently at the spot where her tiny finger had jabbed at his chest scowling at the lingering scent of her, a fragrant mix of jasmine and lemon that seemed to have embedded itself in his nostrils.
The annoying woman had gotten under his skin somehow and he thoroughly disliked the feeling, yet something about her words rang true, and he knew she had meant every syllable of the threat. The thought made him grimace in distaste. He was hardly finished with her though. Not until he discovered exactly what her whelp of a sibling had to do with Jane.
"Foolish girl," he muttered, "she will come crawling to beg me sooner or later." He much rather have it sooner though, for patience was not one of his virtues, and he needed to be done with this as soon as possible to return back to London. He still did not know what had possessed him to attend the ball, for he had had no intention of doing so up until an hour ago when Jane had casually mentioned that all of the Millcote gentry would be present at the function.
A flutter of fabric caught his eye. It was the shawl Miss Inglewood had worn draped over her shoulders, caught on a branch. He reached for it, sniffing as the scent of the owner wafted over him as he curled the delicate fabric in his left hand, bringing it to his nose to sniff once more before tucking it into the pocket of his coat. Right. It was time to leave this hideously boring ball and return to his home where he intended to indulge in a few glasses of brandy for the rest of the night, but first, he had to retrieve his errant fiancee.
He turned and took a few steps back to the spot he had come upon the two women talking earlier. He found Jane seated on a garden bench staring out at the cool evening sky. She stiffened when he came to stand before her.
"Get your coat, we leave immediately." he instructed coldly, "That is if you are done with your rendezvous of course."
She looked up her him, a quick flash of intense dislike flitting over her face. "But we have been here barely an hour. It would be rude to just..."
"Unless you wish to walk all the way home, I strongly suggest you go fetch your coat. I will not wait long"
She gave a defeated sigh and rose to do as he ordered. "Whatever you wish." she avoided looking at him as she swept past him, walking quickly for she knew he was perfectly capable of doing as he had threatened. He followed her into the ballroom, intending to wait by the front door while his carriage was summoned.
"Where have you been Penny?" Lucy exclaimed the minute she spotted Penny. "We came back with the lemonade but Fiona said you had gone out to the garden."
"I went in search of you." Penny replied, hoping her face did not betray her current state of agitation. She resumed her seat, forcing herself to remain calm for she did not wish to arouse inquiries of any kind. "You were a long time at the refreshment tables so I assumed you had gone out for a walk."
Lucy shook her head in the negative and handed over a glass of lemonade which Penny accepted gratefully, downing the contents in one gulp. "Oh no, the drinks at the table were horribly tepid so Henry suggested we go to the kitchens for a fresh batch instead. Are you all right? You look flushed"
Oh dear. She raised a hand to her face, and muttered that she was fine, just tired from her search, cursing her fair skin that was so susceptible to flushes. She was still angry at Lord Farnsworth, and a bit afraid lest he come after her seeking revenge for the way she had spoken to him. She had not meant to lose her temper, but dear god, the man could tempt the devil himself to murder. Why did he assume she was promoting a match between Lady Jane and Edward? And how dare he accuse her without taking time to find out if his assumptions were wrong? As she recalled the cold arrogant way he had sneered at her made her angry all over again and she wished she had boxed his ears soundly too, perhaps the silly man had never had his ears boxed before and it would certainly do some good in bringing him down a peg or two. The man was too sure of his power and looking as handsome as he did was no help either, if one liked that sort of haughty male attractiveness. Which she did not.
She vowed to never allow him ride roughshod over her or her family, she would fight him with every strength she possessed. She could only hope that Edward's infatuation with Lady Jane would fade when he realized just how self-centered the girl really was.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts then reached up to pull her shawl more securely over her shoulders, frowning in puzzlement when she touched the sleeves of her gown instead. Where had her shawl go
tten to? She rose to check the chair, perhaps it had slipped when she sat down, but the chair was empty.
Fiona and Lucy halted their conversation to stare at her. "Are you looking for something dear?" Fiona asked.
"My shawl. I cannot find it"
"But you had it on when you walked to the garden," her friend replied, "it is possible it must have caught on a bush or something."
"Shall I go look for it Penny?" Lucy offered, "Did you wander far?"
Penny's reply was cut off by a cold familiar voice, "I believe this belongs to you Miss Inglewood?"
She gasped and spun around, wondering why the man always chose to startle her. He was holding out the shawl by the tip, as though touching the material was distasteful and she glared at him, while taking it back. "Yes it is. I wondered where I had dropped it, thank you for returning it to me."
The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile that did not reach his eyes. "I decided to brave the possibility of being murdered, I am quite curious about how you will manage to achieve that"
"I meant every word."
"Of that I am in no doubt whatsoever. As I said, it is the means by which you intend to achieve that end that has stirred my curiosity. Death by jabbing with a finger perhaps?"
She blushed, biting down on her lower lip to stop herself from replying to his taunt with angry words. He would not get the better of her this time. "I will not apologize if that is what you are after, Your Grace."
"I will be insulted if you do. Good night Miss Inglewood." he spun about and walked away, leaving her more flustered and angrier than ever. The nerve of the man.
"What on earth was that about?" Lucy demanded, eyes wide in astonishment as she watched the retreating duke. "how did he come about your shawl?"
Fiona glanced up at Penny and arched a brow. "I had no idea you where acquainted with Lord Farnsworth."
"I do not know him. I have only met him in passing twice now and the second time was in the garden. He must have seen me wearing the shawl and returned it." the two women did not appear satisfied by her sketchy explanation but Penny was in no mood to be forthcoming and hoped Lucy would not mention the scandal. She suddenly wished she were home and in the safety of her bed, not in the same room with the vilest creature on God's earth.
"Well, the two of you were certainly engaged in quite the strangest conversation for mere acquaintances," Fiona replied coolly, sensing there was more her friend was not telling her.
"We are merely acquaintances, we have not been formally introduced." Penny sighed and rubbed her forehead, feeling the beginning of a headache. "I wish this ball were over soon, I long for a good night's rest."
Lucy looked at her, noting for the first time how tired her sister looked. She felt guilty for she knew that Penny only came here to chaperone her. "Perhaps we should make our excuses and leave? I have danced enough anyway, and Henry has promised to call on me tomorrow."
Penny smiled at her gratefully, "Are you sure?"
"Of course!"
Relief swept through her, and she hurried to make their excuses to Lady Margrove. Dinner was about to begin and the other guests were drifting towards the dining rooms. She caught sight of Edward for the first time that evening, and was grateful that he had at least kept his promise to stay clear of Lady Jane in public. He was deep in conversation with Miss Potter, a petite red-head who appeared to be hanging unto his every word. There would be no need to ask him to leave too, he would come home when he was ready.
The cool air washed over the two women as they began the walk home in companionable silence, each lost in thought. Lucy no doubt was thinking about the wonderful evening with Henry and the promise of courtship in the days ahead, while Penny's thoughts inevitably drifted towards the duke. Thankfully though, she had dispatched a letter to her father this morning, explaining the problem with Edward and if the good weather held, he would get her letter in a week. Hopefully, it would not be too late by then.
"Do you hear that?" Lucy cocked her head to the side, listening to an approaching sound. It sounded like a carriage and sure enough, as they looked back, an elegant carriage drew even with them and pulled to a halt. As the women watched curiously, the door opened and Lord Farnsworth alighted.
Penny groaned inwardly. What now?
"Good even Miss Inglewood, and Miss Lucy I presume?" he addressed Lucy even though his gaze rested on Penelope much to her discomfiture.
Lucy bobbed a curtsy and replied in the affirmative, earning her one of his half smiles. Penny merely nodded at him, not trusting herself to speak.
"It is quite cold to be walking. There is room in the carriage for extra passengers, if you will permit Miss Inglewood?"
That was the last thing she wished to do. "That is hardly necessary Your Grace. My sister and I prefer to walk, besides our home is just over the hill, quite out of your way too."
Lord Farnsworth chuckled, "Such vehemence. Still, it is no matter if it is out of my way, I am sure we can accommodate you perfectly well."
"I do not wish to inconvenience you." she replied while Lucy looked on curiously.
Lady Jane peered out the open door. "Please do come Miss Inglewood, I assure you it is not an inconvenience. I would love some company too."
Lucy looked at her hopefully, and Penny finally caved in. "Very well" She dared not look at Lord Farnsworth's face as he held out a hand to help her into the carriage, his touch was firm yet gentle when she placed her hand in his much larger ones. Lucy had already climbed in and seated herself next to Lady Jane so that left the seat opposite. She stiffened when he climbed in and settled beside her, his thigh brushing against hers in the small space. The carriage set off with a jerk and she was thrown against him briefly, feeling heat suffuse her body at the point of contact and the wry smile he cast her way.
Mercifully, the journey was over quickly. The carriage pulled up at the front doors, and Philip jumped down to assist the women once more. As she alighted, her injured leg cramped up, causing her to lose her balance. She cried out, arms flailing to grasp the closest solid object, which happened to be Philip's arm. She felt his other arm slip around her waist, steadying her before she fell flat on her face.
Lucy cried out in alarm. "Penny! What is it"
Winded, Penny could only cling to Lord Farnsworth even as pain lanced up and down the leg. He murmured something and lifted her easily into his arms, then carried her into the house.
"I-I am quite alright Your Grace, please put me down," Penny pleaded, her senses bombarded by the scent of his aftershave, something earthy and warm, she could feel his strength as he held her as though she weighed nothing, following Lucy into the parlour, while Lady Jane hovered uncertainly.
He ignored her protests, but set her down gently on the couch, an inscrutable expression on his face. Lucy knelt beside her anxiously and Penny hastened to assure everyone she was fine. The pains had subsided to a dull throbbing ache, nothing a hot bath wouldn't take care of.
"Perhaps some tea will help," Lady Jane suggested to Lucy, who nodded and hurried off to make a fresh pot, Jane trailing in her wake. Penny was left alone with Lord Philip who hadn't moved from his position in front of the couch.
"I find myself in your debt once again," she murmured softly, smoothing her skirts nervously.
"Does it always bother you like this?"
She shook her head. "Not often, only on cold days, but not to this extent. I have put a lot of strain on it though, so it is hardly surprising"
"What happened to you?"
"Riding accident. The horse fell on my leg."
Something crossed his face, and Penny could have sworn it was pity, which made her flare up. She did not want pity, least of all his pity. "I am quite all right. I was perfectly capable of walking earlier, there was no need to carry me."
His eyes flashed blue fire, then he leveled a cold look at her, causing a chill to run up her spine. "I see. Thankfully, there will not be a repeat. I have wasted enough time here." He stepped back, cal
ling out for Jane then strode out of the room. A minute later the carriage rolled away, much to her relief.
"Why did they leave so suddenly? I made enough tea for all of us" Lucy asked, setting down the tray of tea things on a stool. "And I cut some of that fruit cake you made yesterday."
"I have no idea Lucy, never mind we will try to finish the tea and cakes on our own."
Philip tugged off his cravat with a curse, his mood foul. This was what happened when he tried to be helpful, have it thrown back in his face. He should have left the two women to walk home, but instead, had given in to Jane's pleas to offer a lift, something that went against his very nature. He cursed once more as he thought of the unbidden wave of desire that had washed over him when he held Penelope Inglewood in his arms, she had looked so vulnerable he had been quite overcome with a inexplicable urge to kiss her freckled nose, or better yet that soft, full inviting mouth, carry her to bed and...
"Bloody hell!" he growled, shaking his head as though to rid himself of the image. He unbuttoned his shirt, shrugging out of it, and her scent swamped him, stirring up something in him. The woman was a menace, a small, but annoying menace. No woman had ever stirred his blood, or invaded his thoughts the way Penelope Inglewood managed to do and he despised the effect she had on him. He would get her out of his system, find a willing woman and purge himself of this wretched desire.
Finally undressed, he crossed to the window and gazed out at the clear night sky, the cold breeze hitting causing goosebumps on his bare flesh. Cursed with the inability to sleep at night, he had often spent many a night losing himself in drink till the early hours of the morning, where he would finally doze off for an hour before he was awake again. His mistress had called him the Devil's Spawn, because of that.
Tonight, he needed something other than spirits, he decided, moving away from the window, crossing to his wardrobe. He dressed in sporting breeches and a light shirt, donning the special pair of shoes he'd had made for such a purpose and quietly made his way outside. He took a few breaths of the night air, then set off on a grueling run.
