A Lady for the Taking

by Bethany M. Sefchick

  “Can I get you anything else, my lady?” Janie asked as Penny tried once more to settle down onto the sofa since calling hours had begun nearly an hour ago. “More tea?”

  “Heavens, if I have any more tea, I fear I shall float away.” Penny shook her head. “No. I will be fine, Janie.” She gestured to the abandoned embroidery next to her. “I have my hoop to keep myself busy.” She also had her memories of last evening, her body pinned beneath Harry’s in the abandoned summerhouse as he brought her to release – true release – for the first time in her life. Those memories alone were more than enough to keep her company for the rest of the afternoon.

  And quite possibly for the rest of her life.

  Janie looked at the abandoned stitching project, which was not only lopsided but all but impossible to discern what it had started out to be, and sniffed. “If you say so, my lady.”

  “I do, Janie.” Penny really did wish to be alone. Alone with her thoughts and the memory of last night. And so that she could decide what to do next. For she really hadn’t a clue. “Just make certain that there is a tea tray at the ready. Not that I expect anyone to call today.”

  “Not even me?” Penny looked up to see Julia, Lady Radcliffe, breeze into the room with the under-butler, Harris, trailing helplessly behind her. “Don’t blame him.” She gestured to the beleaguered and extremely suspicious Harris whom she was quickly shooing back out the door. “I just have such good news that I could not wait to share it with you! And, of course, I had to extend the invitation to you myself. It is rather short notice, as I’m aware. You might already be otherwise engaged, though I hope not!”

  “Invitation, your grace?” Penny asked as Janie dipped a quick curtsey and all but bolted out of the room as if she was on fire. “Short notice? To where?”

  Penny was barely aware of what day it was, so how could she be expected to consider an invitation to some sort of event that was obviously happening in the near future? Why was it that ever since Harry had entered her life, everything was moving so very fast? Far faster than she was accustomed to.

  “Why, to my dinner party tonight, of course.” Julia took a seat in a nearby winged back chair without even waiting for Penny to rise and curtsey. She removed her gloves and quickly plucked an invitation from her reticule. “It is really just a small gathering of close friends. It seems that our Mr. Greer is about to receive some rather wonderful news and, well, we all want to celebrate. Naturally, I thought of you, and hoped you might wish to attend.”

  As before, Julia was all but a force of nature unto herself, just as Penny was coming to learn most of those within the Bloody Duke’s inner circle were. Especially his sister.

  “Naturally.” Penny’s hand shook as she accepted the invitation. “And of course, I shall be there.” It was for Harry, so she could hardly refuse, even though the idea of being seen with him someplace where word might get back to her uncle filled her with frigid, icy claws of fear.

  As if sensing her distress, Julia patted her hand. “You really have nothing to worry about, my dear. This party shall be completely discreet. I know that you do not want your name linked with too many men, especially as you are still hunting for a husband.” And yet, as the duchess said those words, Penny could see that the other woman no longer believed them. If she ever had.

  Penny did her best not to show fear. Still, she worried. Was her time here in London running out? Were people beginning to guess the truth? What would become of her if they did? What would happen to her when her uncle learned the truth?

  “I, yes, well, it is very complicated.” Penny fanned herself with the invitation. She should not attend and risk discovery. “But of course, I will come.” On the other hand, if Uncle Charles discovered that Penny had turned down an invitation to one of Lady Radcliffe’s dinner parties, he might be even more furious with her, and there was no telling what he might do then.

  After all, even though Penny’s life would end in disgrace, Josie’s would not and more than anything, Penny wanted her cousin to make a good match and have the kind of life she deserved now that she was finally healthy once more.

  Josie deserved a life far removed from Sharpe-on-Edgecombe and the miserable existence they had both known there. For Josie was more than a cousin to Penny. Over the last several years, she had become more like a sister than a mere relation and Penny would defend the girl with her life if necessary.

  So Penny would accept the invitation for Josie’s sake if nothing else. Any connection to the upper reaches of Society would likely be a good thing in her uncle’s eyes, and Lord and Lady Radcliffe – with their standing invitation to Carlton House among other marks of rank – were about as high as one could get, save for Prinny himself.

  And, well, Harry would be there. But Penny would not dwell upon that, right? Right!

  Liar.

  “Wonderful!” The tightness around Julia’s eyes eased a bit and once more, Penny wondered if the other woman was up to something. “I am so looking forward to this evening.” She rose and Penny followed her to her feet. “I am afraid that I really must run,” she said, finally noticing Janie who had reappeared at the drawing room door with a tea tray. “But I shall see you this evening. We will have a grand time!”

  Somehow, Penny managed to drop into a quick curtsey. “I am looking forward to it, your grace.” The returned presence of Harris at the drawing room door prompted her to add the last part. “I shall see you this evening.”

  “Splendid!” Julia replied as she departed the room in a swirl of striking amethyst silk skirts. “We will await your arrival.” She waved her hand in Harris’ general direction. “Please see me out. I’m afraid I’ve become quite lost in this maze of rooms.”

  Once more, Penny rather doubted that Julia was lost at all. She had never met a woman more aware of her surroundings than Lady Radcliffe.

  “My lady?” Janie put the tea tray down with a soft thud. “There will be a change of plans for this evening, then?”

  Penny nodded, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. “There will be. Please have someone send my regrets to Lady Holcombe. I won’t be attending her musicale. And conservatory tour. Instead, I am going to a dinner party.”

  “Where you will be the belle of the ball.”

  Turning again, Penny saw Lady Candlewood at the door this time. “Your grace.” She dropped into a quick curtsey. “You just missed Lady Radcliffe only a moment or two ago.”

  “I know.” The duchess’ eyes twinkled. “And it is Eliza, remember?”

  “Eliza,” Penny repeated dumbly. “But I don’t understand. Why are you here? How?” She gestured around the still nearly-empty town home.

  As Julia had before her, Eliza swept into the room, seeming not to notice the lack of furniture and other creature comforts, as she removed her gloves and hat and handed them to a stunned Rollins, the butler who had shown Eliza into the drawing room. “First, I would suggest that you think of Julia and me as your fairy godmothers in the coming days. Second, as you probably already know, our husbands and Harry all but grew up together.”

  “I did know. Well, sort of, anyway.” Penny reached for a nearby table to steady herself.

  Eliza eyed her for a moment and then shrugged, coming to some sort of conclusion. “Then you likely also know, or can at least guess, that those three men are closer than brothers. There is nothing they would not do for each other, particularly my husband for Harry.” For a brief moment, she looked off into the distance. “It is no stretch of things to say that without Harry Greer, my husband would not be here, and that is the kind of bond and loyalty that lasts forever.”

  “And your husband has done something for Harry in return?” Penny had given up all pretense around this woman about her relationship with Harry, just as she had done with Julia. After all, Eliza had all but pushed Penny and Harry together last evening.

  “He has.” Eliza looked at the tea tray. “Could we possibly take this upstairs to your chambers? We really must get you su
itably dressed for the evening and we haven’t much time. It is ever so important.”

  Penny nodded at Janie to pick up the tray. “Of course.”

  As the maid led the way up the stairs towards Penny’s suite of rooms, no one uttered a peep, as if somehow Eliza knew that there were spies in the house. Then again, she was married to the Bloody Duke so she might simply be paranoid. Or perhaps she had simply taken up her husband’s occupation of spying.

  Once Penny and Eliza were comfortably ensconced in Penny’s chambers, along with the promise of a fresh tea tray from Janie, however, the duchess opened up once again.

  “Blasted, spying staff,” she sniffed, clearly irritated. “Thank goodness Nick told me which ones are loyal to you and which ones to your uncle.”

  “Then you know?” Penny was utterly confused.

  “Of course, I know.” Eliza headed straight for Penny’s wardrobe. “Well, not everything mind you. I don’t know what you and Harry were doing when you disappeared last evening, for instance, though I can guess. But about the spying and your uncle and his plans for you? I know enough.” Pausing, she turned to face Penny, her arms crossed over her chest. “We all do.”

  “Pardon?” Penny felt as if she was going to be sick.

  “We know you are in London to try to snare Phin Trew, Lord Fullbridge, as your husband at your uncle’s direction. Likely he thinks that such a marriage will increase your cousin Josie’s chances of making a splendid match as well. However, we also know that you rather fancy Harry and would choose him if you were free to do so. We also know that some of Lord Willfield’s staff is spying on you and reporting your activities back to your uncle. Which is why that rather misleading article appeared in this morning’s edition of the Tattler, by the way. To throw your uncle off the track. You may thank us later tonight when we are all gathered at Julia’s for dinner. Particularly my husband. That was largely his doing.”

  So they didn’t know. At least not the real truth. The Bloody Duke and his friends had part of the puzzle right, but not all of it. They didn’t know about Uncle Charles’ vendetta against Phin. Penny was both relieved and still terrified at the same time.

  “Eliza, I don’t…”

  “But, of course, we all also know that you are secretly in love with Harry and he with you and both of you are either too stubborn or too dense to admit it.” Eliza’s voice was somewhat muffled as she had buried herself in Penny’s wardrobe and was busy sorting through gowns.

  “I don’t love Harry,” Penny protested, though even she knew that was a half-hearted protest at best. “I hardly know him.”

  “You know enough of him,” Eliza tossed a golden slipper out from the wardrobe, where it landed directly in the center of the room. “And I, personally, think it is love between the two of you. Even if neither of you two recognizes it. I saw the two of you together last night, Penny. More to the point, I saw how you looked at each other. When two people are right for each other, love can bloom in only a single night. I have seen it myself.” She paused. “Now where is that other slipper? Ah! Here it is!”

  Another golden slipped came flying out of the wardrobe, landing next to the other. Another time, Penny might have picked them up, but at the moment, she was in too much of a daze.

  Love? She did not love Harry! She could not! Uncle Charles would banish her to the outer reaches of Cumbria forever! Or worse! Upper Canada!

  Except that maybe Penny did love Harry. At least a little. Or, if it wasn’t love, it was a rather intense like. But a fully formed, always and forever sort of love of the sort that one found in Gothic romances? No. It wasn’t possible. It simply wasn’t. She couldn’t let it be. There was too much risk.

  On the other hand, Penny couldn’t say that. Especially not to Eliza. Instead, she simply stood and watched as the other woman continued to rummage around in her wardrobe.

  “You really must speak to your maid about proper wardrobe organization.” This time, Eliza tossed out a white reticule trimmed in gold beads. “It really is a mess in here. And all of these LaVallier gowns! Such a shame!”

  “She’s not really my maid. None of the staff are mine.” Penny was so embarrassed to admit as much that tears sprung to her eyes and she sniffed, though she did her best not to.

  Immediately, Eliza withdrew from the wardrobe. “Oh, my dear. I know.” She took Penny’s hands in hers, a comforting expression on her face. “This empty house. The rented servants. I know. Again, we all do. I’d suggest you come live with me and Nick if I thought you would, but you won’t, will you?”

  Penny shook her head, though she was deeply moved by the offer. “My uncle would find out immediately, and then? Well, he wouldn’t like it and there would be consequences. I am touched, though, that you would even consider inviting me into your home. You don’t know me.” Which was yet another reason why she felt so wretched about continuing to lie to Eliza.

  For a moment, it looked as if the duchess wanted to say something, but instead, she simply shook her head. “I know enough, my dear, and I would venture to guess that, despite your claims, Harry knows you well enough, too. Despite your claims to the contrary.”

  “He knows, well, more about me than just about anyone other than my cousin, Josie.” Which wasn’t saying all that much. There was still plenty that Penny had never revealed to Harry about her past, including her time in that last so-called “finishing school” she had attended at her uncle’s behest. On the other hand, she had the distinct impression that he knew anyway – and not only because he was a Runner and could investigate her all he liked.

  “And you know about him?” There was a question in Eliza’s eyes.

  For a brief moment, Penny looked away. She shouldn’t admit that she knew a great deal about Harry, especially not to a woman he likely considered his friend. But what would it matter? She would probably be gone from London soon and she did so wish for someone to confide in. Eliza might as well be that person.

  “I know he is the son of a maid and a peer. He grew up with your husband as well as Julia’s and they became as close as brothers.” Penny sank down onto a nearby settee, gratified when Eliza sat down with her. “He has a reputation that others would envy, not just with Bow Street but in his own life as well. He is kind and charming, not to mention noble and honest. Also amusing, even though he insists he is not. He has a way with people. He values honesty and always seeks to do the right thing. He does not take what is not freely given and he is always a proper gentleman, despite the fact that sometimes, he doesn’t wish to be.”

  Eliza reached out and patted Penny’s hand. “Then, I think you know enough about our dear Mr. Greer. Or at least you know the important parts. He is all those things and, in time, he will reveal more of himself to you, I am certain. Harry is not an easy man to know, which is why so many think him a charming flirt but quite passionless and cold beneath the surface, which isn’t at all true. In fact, he is one of the warmest and most caring men I know.” Eliza paused. “But there is one thing I think that you don’t know. Something that is very important.”

  “And that is?” Penny shouldn’t care about whatever it was that Eliza was about to reveal, but she did. She cared very much, for any glimpse into Harry’s private life was too tempting to pass up.

  “He does not trust easily. Especially women.” Eliza rose and returned to the wardrobe, though she was not quite as zealous in her searching this time. “Oh, he’s never had any grand heartbreak or anything, mind you, though that is because he has never allowed himself to become that entangled with a woman. He likes women and he enjoys their company, certainly, but when he was a child? It fell to Harry to protect his mother from the wrath of just about every man they met before they escaped to Seldon Park. There was a time between when she left Lord Westerly’s employ and when she was hired by my husband’s late father that they lived in Whitechapel.”

  “I…I didn’t know that.” Penny had never even guessed. To see where Harry had risen to after such a difficult beginn
ing was all the more amazing to her.

  “Few do, and Harry does not make it a point of mentioning it.” Eliza reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a gown. White watered silk trimmed in LaVallier gold to match the reticule and slippers from earlier. “He would most likely deny this if you asked him, for he prefers to keep his private life private, but he had very humble beginnings. And during the brief time that they resided in Whitechapel, Harry took on the role of protector for his mother, even though he was very young. Far too young, really. He learned to fight and to spy, did everything he could to keep them safe until the previous Lord Candlewood found them and brought them to Seldon Park to live and work.” Another pause. “Harry was only five.”

  “Oh.” Penny had no idea what to say. She couldn’t say anything really. Instead, her mind was filled with images of Harry as a poor, defenseless child living in the slums of London and doing whatever was necessary to protect his mother.

  “Yes. Oh.” Eliza raised an eyebrow and turned back to Penny. “So you see, my dear, Harry has always viewed women as creatures to be protected. He might have sought physical pleasure from them in the past, but his heart and his emotions? They were never involved. He has never allowed himself to care enough about any woman to lose control. Not even Dory, though he did like her well enough. But he never cared and he certainly never loved. Until you.”

  This time, Penny shook her head adamantly. “But he doesn’t lose control with me. Nor does he love me.” Except that last night Harry had lost control and, had she encouraged him, he likely would have bedded her there in the summerhouse. Was that what Eliza meant about losing control?

  “He kissed you,” Eliza countered gently. “For Harry, that is a momentous thing. Not only that, but he took a risk and kissed you in public, even though he was on a dark walk and probably assumed that no one would see. But someone did see, one of your uncle’s spies we think, and in the past? That is not the sort of risk Harry would take. Ever. He has never shown so much as a hint of attraction toward any woman before. Well, before you, that is.” Eliza twitched her lips. “To those of us that know Harry well, it means that he cares for you deeply, and to our knowledge, he had never cared for another woman in that fashion. Ever.”