Page 7 of Snapdragons
“Your family’s reputation as preeminent horse breeders and trainers is quite impressive,” Mr. David Greenberry—father of the missing Mr. Greenberry—said into the uncomfortable quiet.
“Thank you, we have worked hard to become so,” Liam answered, though Penelope did far more to continue that tradition than he did. She’d learned long ago to let her father, while he’d been alive, and now Liam, take credit. Liam grew easily embarrassed when he thought his sister was outshining him in matters generally seen as belonging to the men in a family. Her pride in what she had accomplished didn’t require him to suffer indignities.
It was, truth be told, for the best that in the matter of their horses, Liam take the credit anyhow. The Greenberrys struck her as a very traditional family. She couldn’t imagine they would look with approval on a lady being directly and deeply involved in a business endeavor that fell outside the generally accepted bounds of accepted behavior. The situation was already precarious with Mr. Niles Greenberry so conspicuously absent. She couldn’t afford to make a horrible impression on his family.
And in that was another reason she needed to marry. Having a gentleman attached to the equine efforts she intended to continue at Fairfield would give them a legitimacy that would be lacking if she alone were seen to be undertaking them. And it would preserve her reputation, allowing her to have a place in Society, to perhaps have friends.
“I hope when Niles returns,” the younger Mrs. Greenberry said to Penelope, “that you will have the opportunity to ride with him. He is quite an adept horseman.”
That was revealing. “Which means his delay isn’t likely to bethe result of a riding mishap.”
“He will return soon enough,” the monarch of the family declared over the rim of his cup. “The Greenberrys have been married in the chapel here for generations. He will be the next.”
Penelope studied him. He took note of her scrutiny. For just a moment, his confidence remained undented. But that moment gave way to a dropping of his eyes to his plate.
This family had reason to believe the prodigal prince stayed away intentionally and, worse yet, didn’t actually intend to return and do his duty.
Her partial panic grew.
“We had hoped your mother would be making the journey to Cornwall,” the queenly Mrs. Greenberry said, clearly thinking it a casual conversational topic.
’Twas anything but.
“Our mother intends to make the journey closer to the wedding day.” Liam’s answer was accurate if incomplete.
Mother had bemoaned the inconvenience of traveling to Cornwall, something her only daughter’s wedding apparently did not justify. And she had further complained that none of her particular friends would be there, a more important consideration than whether her own children would be. Penelope didn’t think her mother was truly selfish... merely inconsiderate.
That was what she told herself, at least. Just as she told herself that Liam wouldn’t be required to search out another match who would inevitably snatch away all her dreams for her future. The banks and the stallion and the preparations needed at Fairfield would not wait forever.
Mr. Niles Greenberry was, as her brother had stated, her last option. Heronlyoption.
She needed to find out where he was.
Chapter Three
Pledwick Manor, Yorkshire
“I should know better thanto concoct schemes with you.” Niles sat slumped in a chair in Pledwick Manor’s formal drawing room. “Every time we have done so in the past, it has ended in disaster.”
Digby Layton, whose estate Niles had essentially been hiding at, scoffed in the overly dramatic way he had long ago perfected. “On the contrary, we’ve had some brilliant schemes. Don’t forget that time we ‘borrowed’ Timothy Baker’s chaise-cart. That didn’t end in disaster.”
“No. It ended with the cart on the roof of the library at Trinity Hall.”
Digby’s smile turned into an absolutely wicked grin. “Yes, it did.”
“Stanley was so proud of that.” Niles laughed lightly at the memory.
“Rightly so. The man was an inarguable genius in matters of mathematics and physics. Being able to not only calculate how to do that but to execute it flawlessly...” Digby shook his head, clearly still in awe of what they’d managed.
Niles’s spirits fell a little. “I miss him.”
“So do I.” Digby’s gaze unfocused, and his mouth turned down a bit. But his quiet contemplation didn’t last more than a moment. “No matter that we aren’t the planners he was, I think Stanley would approve of you doing all you can to avoid a path you fear will bring you misery. And not only for your own sake. He would remind you that Miss Seymour, no matter that she is agreeing to this arrangement, would not be rendered happier by having a husband who is miserable.”
Niles rubbed at his forehead. “But to simply refuse to gohome... that feels rather cowardly.”
“Oh, it is.”
“That’s very helpful, thank you.” Niles made the dry comment as he stood. “I think I would be more at ease if I’d heard from my family. I can’t imagine they would simply shrug upon reading my letter and say, ‘Well, that is that.’ And Miss Seymour will have been in Cornwall for at least a week now. Some word should have arrived.”
