Page 19 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
Hope spread butter over a warm roll. “What was I saying about clever and canny women?” She grinned at her. “Now, pass the bacon.”
A short time later, Penelope hustled out of the house and into the carriage. The countess followed at a more leisurely pace. She spoke to the footman who would be attending them and then climbed in after her friend, raising a brow as the door closed and they set out. “Here we are, then. Alone. Why don’t you tell me the third reason you were in such a hurry to leave this morning?”
Penelope merely gazed at her in innocence.
“You are trying to avoid Sterne, aren’t you?”
She sighed. “Am I so obvious?”
“You are both obviously prancing on eggshells about each other. I cannot decide if you are on your way to becoming enemies or lovers.”
“He cannot decide either,” she said bitterly.
The countess’s eyes lit up. “Oh! So, there is something there. I thought so.” She sat back. “Tell me all,” she commanded.
Penelope hesitated a moment, then she threw caution to the wind. She told her friend everything, right up to their encounter in the private parlor of the first night’s inn.
He’d been going to kiss her, hadn’t he?
He had.
She knew it. She’d felt it in her bones, in the warmth curling in her belly, in the tender expression on his face and the soft brush of his fingers on her skin.
He had definitely been about to kiss her.
“Wasn’t he about to kiss me?” she asked the countess. Hang deportment, she let her spine bend and threw herself back against the bench, staring at the ceiling past the brim of her bonnet. “I’m so confused.”
“It certainly sounds as if he meant to kiss you. Did you wish him to?”
“Yes. No?” Her hands lifted, then fell limply back to the seat. “I don’t know.”
“Hmm. You don’t know what you want from him.”
“I know what I don’t want,” she said, sitting up straight again. “I don’t want him to act like it never happened, which is exactly what he’s been doing!”
“Of course, you don’t,” Hope soothed. “It’s most disagreeable of him. But honestly, there is only so much you can expect of men in these matters.” Pursing her lips, she gave Penelope an extremely direct gaze. “What do you want fromlife, dear?”
She blinked, taken aback at such a question. What did she want? “I want someone who will look at me the way he does, when he comes upon me unexpectedly,” she whispered.
The countess’s expression softened. “He does rather light up when he sees you.”
“Yes, but then, after a few moments, it’s as if he talks himself out of that feeling, or perhaps he thinks better of it. The light always dims, and he moves away.” She gazed out of the carriage window. “I want someone who stays. Someone whowantsto stay, alight and happy.” Closing her eyes again, she thought of her parents. “I have had quite enough, of not being enough.”
“Very good, Penelope,” Hope said with approval. “That was a very honest answer—and one you should keep in mind. But there are also other questions to consider.” She paused as the carriage slowed. “Ah, here we are.” She raised a brow. “We will talk more of this later.”
* * *
Sterne slippedhis arms into his coat and let his man smooth the shoulders. He’d risen early to work on his latest article, but Derby had soon come in with a missive from his mother. Asummonsfrom his mother. He’d read it, tossed it aside, stood, and informed his valet/manservant that he was to have free rein this morning.
Derby was thrilled. The servant had done a fine job, too. Sterne eyed himself in the mirror critically. Shining boots, biscuit trousers, white linen and his favorite coat of deep, forest green. He quite looked the part of a man—
He paused and both men cocked their heads at the sound of booted feet pounding up the stairwell. A moment later, an insistent knocking started on the outer door of his apartments.
Derby tugged down his waistcoat and went to answer. The next thing, Sterne’s bedroom door flew open and a large form breezed in.
“Sterne!”
“Whiddon.” He grasped his friend’s arm and thumped him on the back.
