Page 35 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
Just the slightest start at Tensford’s name. That’s all that betrayed her. But Penelope caught it.
“How nice for you,” Lady Tresham said coolly.
“In fact, Lady Tensford and I were hoping to see you, while we are here. When I caught sight of you, I knew providence had intended for us to meet. You see, we went to your home and found that the address the countess had for you was outdated. Will you share your new one, so that I might take it back to her?”
“Of course. How pleasant it will be, to visit again.” There was not even a note of sincerity in the woman’s tone. “Please, ask her to call upon me in Harley Street tomorrow afternoon.”
Green Bonnet laughed gaily. “Oh, my lady! Your excitement over the approaching wedding has overset you! Your rooms are still on Sneade Court are they not? And even if they did go to Mr. Millbank’s home in Harley Street tom—”
“Yes, of course you are right, my dear,” Lady Tresham interrupted. “I am not wed yet, in truth, although of course I am, in my heart.” She patted the girl’s hand. “Now, you may be sure I will write to you, but for now, Mr. Millbank and I simply must go and see to the wedding and travel preparations. Goodbye, my dear.” She listened and nodded as the girl made her heartfelt farewells, and when Green Bonnet had moved away, Lady Tresham looked to Penelope with a fixed smile upon her face. “Do ask the countess to find me in Sneade Court. I shall look forward to seeing her tomorrow.”
“I will tell her. Good day, Lady Tresham.”
The woman gave her betrothed a surreptitious kick.
“Yes, yes! We’re off.” Mr. Millbank gave a nod to his friend and a general, encompassing wave to the rest of the crowd. “Goodbye,” he called to the lingerers. “Farewell!”
Penelope stepped down. Folding the step back into place, she waved and thoughtfully watched as they drove away.
“Miss Munroe!”
She turned. It was far easier to make it back to Sterne’s gig as the crowd dispersed. He scooted over on the seat and gave her a hand back up to the bench and she quickly told him what had transpired.
They looked at each other for a long moment.
“You know what this means?” he said.
“They’ll be long gone by tomorrow,” she said grimly.
He nodded.
“We’d better go now,” they said together.
Chapter 9
Sterne had to bite back a grin as he carefully steered them through the crowd. He’d never had a connection like this with a woman. Miss Munroe must be truly unique. She had a kind heart and a quick mind. She didn’t retreat into an uninterested daze when he spoke of his rituals, or react with distaste and disdain, even when he applied his theories to the behavior of theton. And when it looked as if they might lose their quarry? She reacted with direct intent and common sense. She hadn’t let the strictures of Society bind her, but neither had she quite over-stepped them. She had got the job done. He admired her.
You and I are the same.
He pushed the echo of his own words away.
“We’ll head east when we leave the park,” he said, to distract himself from any dangerous dwellings on her admirable qualities. “I believe Sneade Court is near Green Park.”
She nodded.
Drawing a deep breath, he girded his loins. “It would appear I owe you an apology. Certainly, Lady Tresham is behaving like she has something to hide.”
She merely nodded again.
He waited.
“You have gone quiet again, Miss Munroe,” he said at last.
“Penelope,” she said forcefully, turning to face him. “Don’t you think you could call me by my first name, at least in private? We kissed this morning.”
Devil take it. Yes, they had kissed. He’d kissed her like he’d been thirsting for her. Like he’d been left staked in the desert for a month and she’d been a cool, clear pool of water. He’d wanted to dive into her.
“It seems strange to go back to formality, after such a thing.”
