Page 59 of Persuading Penny
EIGHTEEN
He’s leaving latertoday. How much later today? Tonight? This evening? After dinner? After lunch? When?
A wave of panic swept over me, and I was suddenly blind as I stood in search of what I should do.
Go to him. Yes. That’s what I had to do. Go to him.
Where? Was he in town with Bridget? Yes. Bridget! What had happened to Bridget? What about the rumors that he was to propose to her? Had she rejected him? Was that the reason for this sudden declaration of love for me?
Damn. Was I just his consolation prize?
No. Cliff wouldn’t do that.
Would he?
Either way, I had to know. I had to see it in his eyes. I had to see for myself if he really loved me or if he was just toying with my heart.
As my mind raced, I wondered if he could be at Tillsbury Estate with the rest of the cast.
No. No. I was suddenly certain that he was at Copperfield Corner. Yes. That’s where he must be. Surely, he wanted to say his goodbyes to his brother and sister-in-law, his nephew and niece.
I rushed to the house to change. I’d gotten up so early and had thrown on a shapeless beige shift dress. I had to find something more...suitable.
“So?”Dad said as I entered the house. “What does the Seagram boy have to say?”
“I have to go change, Dad. I’ll tell you all about the letter later.”
“Ah. That’s my girl. Go make yourself presentable and go meet with the boy. Tell him how your father fully approves.”
I glanced at Aunt Sally. What had she told him exactly? Had she not mentioned the rumor of a Seagram who wanted to take advantage of a young woman?
Standing behind my father, she looked at me, a knowing smile on her lips. She winked and I had the sense from her that everything was going to be all right.
Not trusting myself to say more, I rushed up the stairs and headed to my room. Jeans were always suitable for any occasion.
Yes. Jeans would have to do. I pulled the shift dress over my head, stepped into my jeans then threw on a green blouse with frilled sleeves. Cliff would always say how green really made my eyes pop.
After putting my shoes back on, I ran down the stairs.
“Hey. Hey. Where’s the fire?”Dad called over his shoulder from where he sat in his recliner. “Honey, if you run to that man with this degree of desperation, you’re likely to scare the man to death. Calm down. You want to saunter up to the man, not spring to him.”
“You heard it straight from Romeo’s mouth,” Aunt Sally said. Seated on the sofa beside my mother, the two women looked at one another, clearly amused by my father’s view of romance.
“Never mind him,” Mum said. “Go out and have fun.”
I rushed to the two most important women in my life and gave them a kiss, then went to my father and kissed his balding head. “I love you, Dad.” I looked back at my mother and Aunt Sally. “I won’t be late. Before dinner. I love you all.”
With a quick wave, I ran out of the house to my car.
Please be there, I muttered as I started my car and drove off. Again and again, I pleaded to the heavens that I should find Cliff at my childhood home.
I drove a little faster than I should but remained cautious in my haste. Finally, I turned the final bend in the road and came to the familiar home.
My heart fell. His brother’s car was there in front of the house, but Cliff’s Rover was nowhere to be seen. For a moment, I considered turning the car around to go into town, but Georgina spotted me and ran up to the car.
I carefully pulled up next to her father’s car and got out.
