Page 43 of Snapdragons
Manipulating.
Lord Aldric’s words had stung, and she was beginning to realize why. Because there was some truth underlying his accusation. And Niles Greenberry knew it.
Chapter Fifteen
Penelope rode out the nextmorning on Midnight, needing distance from the house and quiet in which to attempt to sort out her thoughts. Liam intercepted her on a borrowed mount of his own and joined her on the ride, eliminating her chance for self-reflection. All the Seymours were excellent riders, and Liam was no exception. Even if Penelope had decided to gallop off and leave her brother behind, he would easily have caught up to her.
“Mr. Layton is not interested.” Disappointment flavored the unexpected declaration.
“I’ve told you that any number of times,” Penelope said. “Why have you suddenly decided to believe me?”
“It is notyourword I am depending on in this matter.” There was a stiffness to his posture that was strange for him, especially on horseback.
“Then,whoseword?”
Liam angled his chin upward in a show of confidence that rang hollow. “I asked Mr. Layton.”
Penelope pulled back on Midnight’s reins, the horse stopping on the instant. “You asked him directly if he wanted to marry me?”
“I needed to know the truth of our situation.”
“Liam, are you mad? We will be seen as ridiculous and uncouth. We are already terribly far beneath the touch of our current companions; behaving in such an impertinent way will highlight that, not reduce it.”
Her brother’s jaw tensed. “I made headway with the gentlemen last evening.”
“I was present last evening. Nothing that happened would lead me to believe Mr. Layton would welcome such a bluntly personal discussion.” Good heavens, she couldn’t believe Liam wouldmake such an enormous misstep.
“I watched you last evening as well, Penelope.” His brows rose in anticipation.
She didn’t take the bait.
She didn’t need to.
“I don’t know what you and Lord Aldric spoke about,” Liam said, “but it was obvious even from across the room that there is no chance of the duke’s son being interested in you.”
“Another thing I told you myself before last night’s gathering.” Midnight skittered a little beneath her, most certainly sensing her growing tension. “You don’t intend to ask him to marry me, do you?”
“Why are you being so confrontational?” Liam turned his mount a little.
“Liam, you asked a gentleman we barely have the standing to speak to if he wanted to marry me. That blunder will undermine everything I am attempting to do.”
His gaze dropped away. He winced. But the moment of regret didn’t last. “And what exactly are you attempting to do, Penelope?”
“To know Mr. Greenberry better and give him a chance to come to know me,” she said. “I am attempting to salvage the arrangements you worked so hard to bring about.”
“I don’t need you to do my work for me,” he muttered petulantly.
“I am trying to workwithyou.”
The petulance turned to frustration. “I am the head of our family. Why do you never let me be the head?”
Where was this coming from? “I have never undermined you.”
Liam motioned vaguely all around them. “The fact that we are here is proof that you browbeat me with alarming regularity.”
“Weagreed that discovering Mr. Greenberry’s reason for defecting was worth the effort of coming here.”
Liam shook his head. “Youinsisted he ought to explain.Youinsisted we make this journey. All this afteryouinsisted I search the world over for a gentleman who would agree to the terms you demanded. And I capitulated every time.”
