Page 93 of The Beauty and the Boxer
The earl’s sister was a beautiful youngwoman, though Penelope couldn’t help but notice how terribly sadshe looked, even when smiling.
“Run along, Lydia, I wish to speak to ournew sister for a moment in private,” Catherine said.
“But I wanted to talk, too!” Little Lydiawhined.
“Later, dear,” she said as the youngestPowell walked off, pouting. Catherine turned to Penelope. “How areyou doing, Lady Penelope?” she asked softly.
“Very well, thank you.” Penelope lied.
“I do hope so. If you don’t mind my saying,you’ve seemed quite preoccupied this whole day.”
Penelope’s mouth fell a little open.
“I’m… I’msorry—”
“Oh, no, don’t be sorry. I suppose that wasa terribly rude thing to say, but I think you misunderstand. Orperhaps I’ve misspoken. What I mean to say is you should have noworries regarding your marriage to Edward. He is a good man and Ijust thought to reassure you since I thought perhaps you might needto be reassured.”
Catherine smiled hopefully and Penelope felta little part of her heart break. She hadn’t realized how much sheactually needed to speak to someone and yet how could she? This wasthe earl’s sister.
“Thank you,” she tried, keeping her voicesteady. “That’s very kind of you.”
“I hope that we might become friends in thecoming months. Edward has spoken fondly of you. I hope you’ll bepatient with him, too. The dear has a bit of a control issue. Oh, Iknow it isn’t my place, but I thought I’d warn you, though I’m sureyou’ll hold your own against him.”
“He has mentioned me?” Penelope asked,practically ignoring every other word she had said.
Catherine smiled, though it didn’t reach hereyes.
“Of course.”
“He barely knows me,” Penelope spoke, hervoice nearly a whisper. Quickly wishing she hadn’t said anythingwhen she saw Catherine’s smile falter.
“Edward has always been a brilliant judge ofcharacter and I’ve no doubt you are just as lovely as he’s said youare.”
“He said I’m lovely?”
“Why, yes.”
Penelope felt suddenly ashamed that she hadno idea how Edward felt about her. Her discomfort must have shownon her face because Catherine took her hand.
“This will be a great match,” she said,squeezing her fingers. “I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so,” Penelope said quietly asCatherine squeezed her hand once again before letting go to turnback into the crowd.
The throngs of people began to leave thenand before Penelope knew it, she had been bustled off by ahousekeeper and a pair of young giggling maids upstairs to beundressed and then redressed into a very prim lace night rail. Ithad taken her maids nearly as much time putting her into this as ithad her wedding dress. When the maids had gone, she waited insilence for a short time before the door to the adjoining roomopened. Penelope stared straight ahead, terrified.
The door opened silently as Edward made hisway into the room, pulling off his cravat as he did so. He gentlykicked the door with the heel of his foot so that it closed with asoft thud and came confidently into the room until his eyes lockedwith Penelope’s and his smile disappeared.
Oh Lord, she thought. This was it.
“My, do you look frightened,” he said softlyas he sat on the bed, abandoning his task to undress. “You needn’tbe. I won’t hurt you.” She couldn’t speak, acutely aware of thedepression his weight made in the bed. “Frightened the speech outof you? Oh, no, that will never do.”
Suddenly he moved, which made Penelope allbut jump up until her back was pressed against the headboard, handsclutched to her chest in an attempt to save her virtue. He hadswung his legs on to the foot of the bed, bent his arms and placedthem behind his head that rested on an overstuffed pillow that laidnext to her, looking up at the canopy as if he was lying in a fieldand not on his wedding bed. Penelope’s heart was beating in herthroat as she stared at him. What in the world was he doing?
Moments passed and he didn’t move. Eyesclosed, he inhaled deeply, exhaling just as slow, never moving savefor the rise and fall of his chest. They stayed in stillness for awhile as Penelope’s heartbeat began to steady, her eyes locked onthe man she barely knew. Minutes rolled by and still he did notmove and for a moment she wondered if he had perhaps fallenasleep.
Slowly, she leaned over him.
“Hello?” she whispered.
