Page 30 of The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
“So, Marquess Witherton,” Lady Penelope said a bit sadly.
“I wish it was not so, but my father will not be dissuaded,” the lady said, and she could hear the regret in her voice. “I truly love Edward, but…my father made up his mind, and I am tied to what my parents say.”
Heath placed his back to the wall and leaned on it as the Lady continued. “I wish I was like you, Lady Penelope, you might not know it, but your independence is something I wish I could have.”
If only you knew, Heath shook his head slowly, she might look strong, but she is very fragile underneath.
“My independence?”
“You would not be afraid to run to Gretna to marry the one you loved, would you? That’s what I mean, I don’t have that strength.”
A poignant silence stretched, and Heath could picture Lady Penelope’s pink face and her eyes down to her feet. She did not take compliments, however backward, well.
“And you cannot refuse Marquess Witherton?” Lady Penelope finally asked, while the strains of music for the next dance floated up to the stairs. He hated having to interrupt the two, but he had to. Pushing off from the wall he knocked the door loud enough to get their attention and entered with the sudden silence.
“Forgive me for the interruption, My Ladies,” he said with a bow. “Lady Penelope, you are needed for your next dance. And I would assume you also, My Lady.”
Penelope’s companion stood with elegance, and the folds of her silk dress fell with grace. “He’s right, Lady Penelope.”
She was about to leave when Lady Penelope reached out for her. Her swallow was visible, and her voice wavered, “Helena, er, Lady Cheltenham, may I visit you?”
“Yes,” Lady Cheltenham added without hesitation while rooting in her reticule and producing a card. “Here is my direction. I am in London for the next few months with my mother. Please come whenever you want.”
Taking the card, Penelope smiled and nodded, “Thank you.”
Heath stepped aside as the lady swept by him with a smile, and then he went to Lady Penelope who was securing the card into her reticule. Heath smiled, and she looked up in time to catch him in the act. She flushed.
“What?” she looked defensive.
He shook his head, “Nothing, My Lady.”
Narrowing her eyes, Lady Penelope said with a slight huff, “You are not fooling me, Mr. Moore. I can see…something in your eyes.”
“And I wonder what that could be, My Lady?” he asked, daring to be facetious.
Her eyes rolled as she went to the stairs, and Heath hurried to offer his arm to her. She took it and they descended the staircase easily. However, by the time they got to the ballroom, the dance had already started, and Lady Penelope went off to make apologies to her slighted partner.
The room was full, but Heath noted two absent persons, Lord Hillbrook and an older man Lord Allerton had told him was Duke Quinton. Looking over to where Lady Penelope was sitting, he decided to take a quick look over the ballroom from the upper levels. Turning back to the staircase, he went back up and took the corridors over the large room.
The windows on this level were closed, and Heath breathed a sigh of relief. No one would come from those. There were only a few rooms up over the ballroom, meeting rooms or libraries most likely. Eased that no attack could come from there, he went back to the ballroom and saw that Lady Penelope was on the floor as a new dance had begun.
He was headed to a place near the refreshment room when his attention was drawn to the men who were inside.
“…must speak for everyone when I say that Allerton must have worked a magic charm or bargained with the Devil to get that sister of his out from seclusion,” one said.
“I believed she had gone to a nunnery,” the other laughed. “I don’t think I was off the mark though. Like a fine wine, she’s grown into a beauty.”
“Fit to be sold off,” the first said coyly. “I heard the old man was rich and smart enough to leave a part of her dowry in investment and the rest in the bank to gain interest. Even if that was five-thousand-pounds, three years ago, think of what it would be today.”
Heath’s stomach soured. These men only saw the lady for the money they could get for her. Did they even think of getting to know the lady?
“I wonder if she’s truly talented on the horse as they say,” the second said coyly, “Not many a lady can ride better than a man. Mayhap she could enter those competitions and earn her keep as I suspect she’s not good enough for anything else.”
His fists clenched.Perhaps a facer would be good enough for you.
“My good man, how perfectly heinous of you!” the first man guffawed.
“Posh. Layton, I know you were thinking the same thing, I just said it aloud,” the first snorted.
