Page 34 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
“Excellent!” The shine in her eye did not match her tone. “I shall be sure to call.” Stepping back, she lifted her chin. “You will tell her?”
It sounded like an order, not a question. Penelope merely nodded as Sterne urged the horses to walk on. “She’s as unpleasant as ever,” she said in a low voice.
“I’m sure you don’t know the half of it,” Sterne muttered back. “But never mind her. Keep your eye out for Lady Tresham.”
She did, but was distracted by the clusters of fashionable people. Would she be one of them, next spring? She didn’t think she had it in her to giggle and simper and whisper.
She swiveled in her seat to see who Lady Lowell might have gone on to speak to, and abruptly caught the eye of someone watching her intently. She started, it was so unexpected. The girl, very slender, with a pointed chin and thin, blonde hair, looked just as alarmed. She ducked behind a crowd of ladies and disappeared.
Penelope frowned. The girl looked familiar . . .
“There! Look ahead,” Sterne ordered. “See the landeau in the midst of the crowd?” Sterne nodded in the direction he meant for her to look. “Isn’t that Lady Tresham?”
She turned to look. “I believe it is.” Penelope glanced back once more, but the blonde girl had disappeared. She shrugged and stared again at the landeau. “That must be Mr. Millbank, with her.”
The couple sat, resplendent in the open coach. Painted bright yellow and trimmed with black, it stood out, even amongst the crowd of people and riders clustered around it.
Sterne began to edge the gig closer. Penelope watched the widowed Lady Tresham smile and converse with the throng, almost as if she was holding court. The gentleman, her betrothed, one must assume, had bent low over the side and was involved in an intense conversation with a man standing close.
Lady Tresham’s smile froze, though, as they drew closer and she spotted them. Her eye landed on Sterne and she broke away from her admirers and bent forward to say something to her companion.
He nodded but continued his conversation.
Lady Tresham tapped him with her parasol. She spoke again.
Mr. Millbank glanced over and smiled lazily and straightened a little.
“She’s going to run,” Penelope said suddenly.
“I cannot get any closer, not until that phaeton ahead moves away,” Sterne said in frustration.
Penelope leaned down and spoke to a gentleman not far away. “Excuse me, would you give me your hand?”
The stranger looked startled but stepped forward quickly and she was on the ground before Sterne could do more than make a grunt of protest. “I’ll squeeze through before she can get away,” she called up.
She wound her way through the crowd around the landeau. Soon enough, she managed to wiggle through until only a young lady in a high plumed, green bonnet stood in her way. Penelope could not squeeze past her, or even see past her. At last, in frustration, she let down the folding step and stood upon it. “Lady Tresham!” she said brightly. “How wonderful to see you again,” she said, over the bouncing green feather.
The lady left off vying for her betrothed’s attention and gave Penelope a resigned look. “Miss Munroe. How unexpected.” She glanced down to where she stood on the step. “And so very intrepid. What are you doing in London?”
“I’m here with friends. I’m so glad to have the chance to see you.”
“Has Keswick brought his bride to see London? Have you tagged along?” she asked, disapproving.
“No. Glory and Keswick are still in Ireland.”
“Good for them,” she said with honest approval. “I do believe a long bridal trip is something every couple should experience, if they can.”
“Oh, she does believe so,” Green Bonnet said with enthusiasm. “It’s what you plan for yourself, as well, isn’t it, my lady?” The younger lady leaned in and said confidingly, “Lady Tresham has told me that the bridal trip is more important than the wedding, in terms of a successful match.”
“Has she?” Penelope quirked her mouth toward Lady Tresham, who merely shrugged.
“Yes. And based on their plans to tour so many beautiful places, I believe she will be very happy indeed with Mr. Millbank,” Miss Green Bonnet enthused.
“Indeed. We must hope so,” Penelope said, truthfully.
“Did I hear her say that you are here on a bridal trip?” the young lady asked Penelope.
“Oh, no.” She looked to Lady Tresham. “Lord Tensford had business in Town. He and the countess were kind enough to bring me with them.”
