A Lesson in Friendship

by Jennifer Connors

  Her breath caught in her throat at the thought of Martin MacHugh doing something improper with her. She had no idea what it meant, but it was high time she found out.

  “I think I would like that as well, Martin.” Surprising herself, Penelope maintained eye contact, although her breath was hitched with anticipation.

  A look came across Martin's face. It looked as though he were a wild animal about to pounce on his prey. Realizing her folly, Penelope said, “Perhaps we should return to the house.” Before he could answer, she turned and started toward the door.

  Before she reached it, Martin reached for her shoulders and pulled her back against his body. Once again whispering in her ear, he said, “I will hold you to that, Penelope.”

  Shivering, Penelope opened the door and a very proper Lord Townshend escorted her back to the terrace and her awaiting mother.

  Chapter 12

  Entering another ballroom, Ginny looked as though her head lay on a block, awaiting the final blow from the executioner. She could hardly fathom why anyone would think this life was so entertaining. At least, why any young girl would enjoy it so much. A girl couldn't dance with just anyone and God forbid they should dance with the same man more than once or twice. The conversations were limited and boring. And getting ripped on wine or champagne was considered in bad taste. Chuckling to herself, she thought about all the silly drinking games she played in college. What would this group do if she pulled out a pair of dice and declared it time to play Three Man?

  After the outing that afternoon, Ginny never got a chance to talk to her sister about certain possibilities regarding her sex life. It was probably just as well, since Charlotte would only want to know how she came by such knowledge in the first place. Being astute, her sister would figure out that Ginny had spoken to Conway about it and then she would never hear the end of it. Knowing that Richter was attending the same house party as her family, the two would just have to wait patiently for their chance.

  As she stood against the wall, allowing her mother to fill up her dance card, Penelope walked over to say hello. It had been a few days since they'd seen each other, with their respective mothers dragging them this way and that.

  “Good evening, Lady Sarah. How are you?”

  Ginny noticed right away that the girl looked different. Her complexion was more radiant and her eyes sparkled with genuine happiness. Finally , Ginny thought to herself, maybe something worth talking about.

  “I'm great. You look... well, you look very happy this evening. What's going on?”

  Both girls noticed Lady Weston turn and look disapprovingly at her daughter. Not wanting her mother to overhear, or worse yet, become a part of the conversation, Ginny suggested they take a turn around the room before the dancing began. Charlotte was able to distract her mother long enough for the pair to make their escape, finding a secluded alcove a few yards away.

  “You are practically glowing, Penny. Did something happen?” Ginny asked, genuinely hoping for the young girl's happiness. Although they had only known each other a short time, there was something so guileless about the girl. She deserved better than she was getting out of life.

  “It has been so long since we have spoken. Did you see that I danced with Lord Townshend a few nights ago?”

  Ginny scrunched her eyebrows together. She was so caught up in her own misadventures, she had to admit that she hadn't noticed. With how predictable the story was, she should have seen it coming, especially after her first night in this body.

  “I admit I missed it. I take it, it was a good dance.”

  “Well, we got to talking and it turns out we have something in common. A hobby, of sorts. Have I told you of my love of botany?”

  “No, you've never mentioned it.” Ginny knew she was going to have to be a better friend. “I take it that Lord Townshend enjoys it as well.”

  “He does. I told him about some of my grafting projects, mostly with roses, and he asked to call on me to see my progress.” Judging by the smile on the girl's face, Ginny knew how excited she was by the prospect.

  “That's great, Penny. When is he coming over?” Ginny found herself getting caught up in Penny's enthusiasm.

  “He already did. This afternoon he came by and had tea with my parents and I, then we went to my greenhouse.”

  Lifting her eyebrows in a knowing fashion, Ginny asked, “Alone?”

  Smiling, she responded, “Well, not at first. My father escorted us and would not stop talking the whole time he was there. But then, as luck would have it, his man of business came for a meeting, leaving us alone for quite some time.”

  Ginny couldn't hide how shocked she was. “No chaperone?”

  “My mother was sitting on the terrace. She could mostly see us...”

  “And...”

  “And I showed him some of my specimens.” Ginny knew there was way more to the story, but waited patiently, without prompting.

  “As we stood there, he ran his hand down my arm.” Penelope demonstrated the action on her own arm, giggling slightly.

  “Then he took off my spectacles and told me I was beautiful.”

  Ginny's grin widened. “That is wonderful. And did he kiss you?”

  The blush on her friend's cheeks was telling enough. “Yes, but...”

  “But, what?”

  Turning her look to the floor, Penelope answered. “He told me that next time he would give me a proper kiss. And when I asked what the difference was... he said...”

  Lifting Penny's head with her finger, Ginny asked, “He said what?”

  Penny grabbed Ginny's arm and pulled her further into the alcove. Whispering, she said, “He said he had made a mistake. He said he would give me an extremely improper kiss.”

  Ginny wanted to laugh. What did he mean? A kiss with tongue? Whatever. Instead, she asked, “And is this something you would want him to do?”

  Shaking a bit, she responded, “I think I would. I think I really like him. And we share a common interest. I think that most people enter marriage with less than that.”

  Normally, Ginny would wonder why she thought a kiss would lead to marriage, but this was romance novel world. Of course a kiss would lead to marriage. And happiness ever after.

  “That's true. You could start off with far less. Do you know if he's attending Lady Hopewell's party as well?”

  “I know not, but when we dance this evening, I shall ask him.”

  “Well, then, we had better make ourselves known, so he has the opportunity to ask.”

  “Yes, indeed.”

  ********

  The Fearsome Foursome stood together on the balcony, smoking their cigars and discussing Devon's latest conquest. Since Conway had not been with a woman in what he considered far too long, the conversation was tiresome. His mind drifted to Sarah, who although he hadn't spoken to yet, he was on her dance card for two dances.

  As uninterested as Conway was in Devon's exploits, Townshend was even more so. After spending some time with Penelope, he had to admit that he was genuinely starting to like the chit. She was, by far, not the most beautiful woman of the season, but still, he was intrigued by her.

  The first night he'd met her, there was something in her eyes that captured his lust. Even behind those awful spectacles, there was a depth that most girls could only aspire to. Although his friends would question his sanity, he used the wager with Conway as a way to continue to pursue the girl without being ridiculed.

  When they had danced a few nights earlier, he had discovered a shared passion for botany. Since he was a young boy, he and his grandfather had worked on developing new varieties of vegetables. His kindly grandfather had taught him how to graft and cultivate, giving him an insight of how to behave in life. Unfortunately, the old man died when Martin was still young, leaving him with no proper role models.

  That afternoon, in the greenhouse, Martin could hardly credit his behavior. A large part of him wanted to ravish the girl right there, throwing her body on the table co
vered with dirt, lifting her skirts and making her his. His civilized half kept him in check, but just barely, as he took a great chance by even kissing her. If he'd been discovered, they would have been married in a matter of days. And that would have displeased his mother, which in turn, would have made his life far worse.

  After so many seasons, with so many matchmaking mamas on his tail, this little conquest seemed just the thing. It would never occur to him that her feelings might be hurt or that she might attach herself too strongly to him. His only consideration was entertaining himself. Would he give her the highly inappropriate kiss that he'd promised? Or would he tire of her long before then? It was the unknown that kept him interested in the game.

  “Are you even listening to me, Townshend? Or are you woolgathering like one of the old dowagers sitting in the ballroom?”

  Turning his eye to his friend, Townshend replied acerbically, “Hearing about your love life leaves something to be desired, Devon. After all, it seems the same story over and over again. Just add a new girl.”

  Regardless of his tone, Devon laughed anyway. Knowing his friend could be a stick in the mud, he never took anything too personally. “Seems to me that someone here needs to find a woman, and fast. God, Townshend, I would not think it possible for you to be more morose than usual. Which chit has you done that to you?”

  Doncaster, who still hadn't decided if he wanted to pursue any of the girls, answered for him. “Dear God, Townshend. Still after the Hammersmith chit? Seems a damn waste of time, since you would never marry her.”

  Conway concurred. “Even if you wanted to, your mother would never allow it. I suggest you start looking at some of the more... appropriate young ladies.”

  At this, Townshend felt a flash of anger so deep, his face started to flush. What he couldn't fathom was whether he was angry over the fact that they insulted the girl, or if because they were correct. His controlling mother would harangue him for the rest of his life if he married someone not worthy of his title. Even though they were correct, Townshend couldn't help throwing it back at his friend.

  “Yes, Conway. Perhaps I should pursue someone more appropriate. Say, you've not offered for Lady Sarah yet, have you?” Lifting his eyebrow in challenge, Townshend gave a hard stare at Conway.

  Now it was Conway's turn to be angry. “You know damn well she is mine. There will come a time when I will offer for her. Just not now.”

  “Why is that, Conway?” Devon asked, punching him in the arm and trying to lighten the mood. “Afraid she will refuse you?”

  Conway's head fell in obvious shame, letting his friends know that Devon had guessed correctly. Each man looked at the others in turn, surprised by such a confession. They were a group of men who rarely admitted defeat, let alone experienced it.

  “You cannot be serious, Conway. What could the chit possibly want?” Doncaster asked, genuinely perplexed that any woman would refuse an offer of marriage from any of them.

  Taking a deep breath, Conway confessed. “She loved another, but the poor bastard died. She has asked for some time before I go to her father. I have every hope that she will eventually come around.”

  “And if not? You would have wasted a great deal of time on her.” Townshend was relieved to have the focus shift to someone else.

  “What would I do instead? I could still take a mistress if I wanted.”

  Devon, sensing that the whole conversation was getting out of hand, tried to turn it around. “Maybe we should all get into the ballroom and dance with a few girls. No sense fighting each other.” Turning away, the man walked through the terrace doors and went in search of a pretty girl to dance with.

  Doncaster followed soon after, but Conway and Townshend remained. Neither man had any interest in dancing with other women, so instead, they would hide on the terrace for as long as they could. Both men were leaning casually against the side of the house. Silence fell between them, until Townshend finally had to break it.

  “I would never try to steal her away from you, Oliver. I can be a cad, but never to my friends.”

  Conway sensed that something troubled his friend more deeply than his attempt at stealing Sarah. “How do you feel about Lady Penelope? Would you have won our wager by now?”

  “I kissed her in her greenhouse today.” His trenchant statement failed to hide his true feelings.

  “And that is a bad thing? You clearly would have won the wager, as I have only danced with Sarah.”

  “It is not as though I could marry her, Oliver. As you well know, my mother would not approve. And since she still controls the purse strings, I am totally at her mercy.”

  It was an indecent secret that Townshend shared with few people. The title he held came with little to no wealth. The last few viscounts had wasted the money on petty things, like whores and gambling. With the exception of one entailed estate in Shropshire, his title provided nothing to him.

  On the other hand, his mother's family were as rich as Croesus. His grandfather, his botany tutor, had made ridiculous sums of money in shipping. It was this wealth that had first attracted his father to his mother. And because of her unhappiness in her own marriage, the dowager viscountess was determined that he be just as miserable in his marriage, should he ever choose such a path.

  It was also the reason that he had no money of his own. It was true that he would inherit the vast fortunes and estates that came from his grandfather's hard work, but only upon the death of his mother. Since the old girl was still active and healthy, it could be years before he could control his own destiny.

  “Are you so certain? After all, she is the daughter of an earl.” Conway already knew the answer to his question, but one never knew if things had changed.

  Townshend balked at the idea. “Certainly not. My mother was not born into aristocracy, so she is the most critical of it. Any wife of mine would need to be of a certain caliber that Penelope could never achieve. She is simply not meant for such a position in society.”

  Knowing that his friend of many years hadn't looked at a woman the same way he looked at Penelope, Conway appreciated how desperate the situation was. Always the most serious of the group, the friends often joked that Martin would marry the most frivolous of women. As it turned out, he didn't want frivolous. He wanted a partner, someone he could hold a conversation and participate through life with. His mother, on the other hand, could never look below the surface to what lay deeper inside.

  “There is no reason why you cannot dance with her, my friend. Enjoy what you have for now. Carpe diem.”

  Giving his friend a sad, half smile, both men entered the ballroom, looking for their prospective partners among the din. Why worry about tomorrow, when there was today to live for.

  Chapter 13

  Over the next few weeks, Oliver spent as much time as he could with Sarah, without causing her father to have a “talk” with him. Lord Weston would be approaching him soon enough, expecting him to make an offer. If that time came, he would offer for her, wondering if she would accept him. In all their conversations, they avoided the topic of marriage. To Oliver, it felt like the elephant in the room, while he suspected that Sarah could care less. With the house party quickly approaching, something would happen. He was certain of it.

  Fortunately, Oliver had received an invitation and promptly responded to it. A whole week of being able to get Sarah alone with him, truly alone, was too much to pass up. He thought that he might just finally demonstrate different kisses to her on this trip. If she resisted, he would relent, but damn if he wouldn't give it his all first.

  He consulted with his valet on what to pack, then went in search of his friends at their clubs. He would require their assistance at the party in order to get the alone time he wanted. They had long since resigned themselves to the fact that he was a lost man, well on his way to being shackled. Walking along the street on the way to his destination, Oliver could do nothing but smile over the prospect.

  ********

  Ginny'
s maid was fussing over her wardrobe as she sat by the window watching the woman. Trying not to laugh, the maid continued her packing, talking to herself over everything that was needed. Although Ginny had traveled quite a bit during her time, she had never went anywhere that if she forgot something, she couldn't replace it. But, in 1830, she guessed it wasn't all that easy to go to the store and pick up another pair of stockings.

  “MaryAnn, are you sure I can't help you in any way...” Before finishing her sentence, the maid turned and glared at her. Obviously, she was ruining her concentration.

  “You can help me by going about your business, my lady. I have much to do here.”

  Pressing her lips together to keep from laughing, Ginny got up and left her bedroom. Knowing that Sarah would have been worthless to her, she could hardly explain to the maid that she wasn't the spoiled, little half-wit she used to be. With nothing else to do, Ginny sought out her sister.