Page 75 of Snapdragons
Penelope’s eyes darted to Niles, worried she had embarrassed him.
But though a hint of color stole over his face, he laughed. “Have I mentioned the Gents are troublemakers?” he asked out of the side of his mouth.
“I assure you, I sorted that out on my own.”
Niles’s arms dropped away. He motioned her into the room. That she saw levity on all their faces helped quell her own embarrassment. But Lady Jonquil watched her with unmistakable curiosity, which kept Penelope’s uncertaintyfirmly in the forefront.
Lord Jonquil motioned her over with his head, both his arms being used to hold his infant son. “Julia, this is Miss Penelope Seymour. Miss Seymour, this is my wife, Julia, Lady Jonquil.”
“A pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Jonquil.”
“And I you. Nearly every person in this room has written to me about you, and that has made me very anxious to meet you.”
They’d all written about her?
“I’ve made you nervous.” Lady Jonquil reached out and set her hand on Penelope’s arm. “Don’t be. If I’d come intending to toss you out of the house, I’d have done so already.” She sounded perfectly serious, yet if Penelope was not mistaken, there was laughter in her eyes.
“You’re teasing me,” Penelope said.
Lady Jonquil smiled broadly. “A specialty of everyone here. But I suspect you’ve discovered that already.”
“I have.”
Lady Jonquil hooked her arm through Penelope’s. “Though Puppy will certainly object, I mean to kidnap you for the remainder of the evening.”
“For the record,” Niles said from just behind her, “I do object.”
“And also for the record,” Lady Jonquil tossed back, “I’m doing it anyway.” She led Penelope away from Niles and toward the sitting area, where Nicolette and Violet were sitting.
“Now I’m confused,” Penelope said.
“About what?”
“About why it is thatyouaren’t the one they call the General.”
“Because the name was already taken.” Lady Jonquil sat. “But everyone knows who isreallyin charge in this group.” She looked at Lord Jonquil once more, her gaze flirtatious and her smile besotted. “Isn’t that right, my dear?”
“Sweetheart, I would agree to anything in the world you chose to say right now simply because I am so desperately happy thatyou are here.” He passed behind the sofa on which she and Penelope sat, pausing directly behind his wife, then bent and kissed her. “Though I do hope you will allow yourself to rest tomorrow. That was a very long journey to undertake so soon after your confinement.”
The tiny baby in his arms fussed a little at the change in position. Lord Jonquil adjusted the little one, who quickly stopped squirming. Across the room, Mr. Layton was pointing to various accoutrements, listing their names for the older of the two children. “Philip, this is a cravat,” he said slowly and clearly. “Brass button. Emerald cravat pin.” He spoke precisely the way one did when trying to teach a child a new word.
Lord Jonquil continued walking past the sofa, gently rocking his baby in his arms.
Niles and Mr. Fortier stopped Lord Jonquil when he approached them to have a better look at the baby.
“I hope it will soon be my turn to hold little Layton,” Mr. Fortier said.
“Only after I have my turn,” Niles countered.
Lord Aldric sat near Mr. Layton, giving the undeniable impression of hoping to have the older boy’s attention at some point.
This was a different side of the Gents than she’d yet seen. While she’d always assumed there were gentlemen who weren’t annoyed by children, she’d not personally had any experience with them. Her father had been an involved and interested parent but only after Liam had reached school age and Penelope had been approaching young womanhood. None of Liam’s friends had ever shown any paternal or avuncular inclinations. And children were never present during society gatherings in Dublin, so she’d not ever seen her male acquaintances in that city interact with children.
“Now, ladies.” Lady Jonquil glanced at them with aconspiratorial expression. “Please tell me the three of you are not still Miss and Mrs.-ing each other.”
Violet waved that off. “Certainly not.”
“Perfect.” Lady Jonquil turned to Penelope. “I am Julia, and I hope I have leave to call you Penelope.”
