Temptation: 3 (Timeless Series) (19 page)

“Well, she seems happy all of a sudden.” Catherine stared at the door her mother exited with a confused look. Shrugging, she turned to Penny. “Come on. Let’s change and I’ll show you one of my favorite places to ride. Do you jump?”

Penny laughed with pure abandon. Imagine! After weeks at sea, she had the opportunity to ride a horse.

“Parker, I can’t believe you managed to get all of us together again,” Elizabeth said later that evening at dinner, drawing Penny’s attention.

The boisterous affair included all of her children, even Sarah, Rebecca, and their spouses, who’d shown up unexpectedly.

Elizabeth exhaled an audible sigh as her contented gaze roamed around the table, resting briefly on all those present. “However did you do it? You must’ve been busy today.”

“I needed a diversion.” Parker glanced at his mother, his satisfied expression in place. “An enjoyable horseback ride was a nice change from being cooped up on a ship for weeks, but nothing compared to seeing the joy on your face when you found everyone at the dinner table.”

“Imagine my surprise when I saw his ugly mug in front of me after opening the door this afternoon,” Rebecca replied, sticking her tongue out at Parker when he grunted. “Short notice aside, it was a perfect idea. I wouldn’t miss dinner for the world.”

“Hear, hear,” added Sarah. “It’s not often we can sit at the table and have Mother consumed with something other than the two of us providing grandchildren.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “Neither of you are cooperating, I might add. Catherine’s a lost cause, and since Lucas and Parker are avoiding marriage, you two may be my only hope. You do know that I’m not getting any younger?” Elizabeth stopped long enough to pass a bowl to Sarah on her right. “So, Miss Layton. Parker tells us you’re to be married?”

Penny nodded and swallowed a bite of delicious smoked ham. “Yes. Our original plan was to meet in San Francisco, but Parker convinced me that I should wait here and travel across the country with my fiancé’s escort.” She sat taking in all the interactions of the large, rowdy family, amazed that Parker’s two married sisters shared such similar good-looking features with the men—fair complexions, reddish-blond hair, and blue-gray eyes. All of the Davises were tall, towering over her five-foot-two-inch frame.

“Thank God,” Lucas grunted. “Markham and Geoff would have my head if I let anything happen to you.”

“You have no idea how right you are.” When Lucas looked up with raised eyebrows, Parker added, “Her intended is none other than the duke’s brother.”

“You and Geoff?” Dropping a forkful of food, Lucas turned toward Penny with a stunned expression.

“It was meant to be a secret,” Penny hissed, sending daggers of annoyance at Parker. She glanced at Lucas. Smiling sweetly, she said with more calm than she felt, “Since you now know, I’m hoping you’ll honor my privacy and keep the news from Geoff’s brother.”

“So that’s the way the wind blows.” Lucas gave a soft whistle, eyeing her thoughtfully. “Markham doesn’t know?”

Penny squirmed under Lucas’s scrutiny. Fear streaked through her at how easily her plans could be thwarted if the duke were to find out too quickly. She grabbed the bowl of potatoes Rebecca handed her and added a helping to her plate, thinking of how she could gain his support. “No,” she said, deciding on the truth. “The duke doesn’t know. Our impending marriage is between Geoff and me and doesn’t concern him. I really would appreciate your silence on the matter.”

“I hope you’ll honor her request, Lucas,” Parker chimed in, as if just realizing the consequences of his revelation. “It’s really none of our affair.”

“I’m not in the habit of keeping things from my business associates.” Lucas heaved a heavy sigh. “I’ll not offer any information. But if asked, I won’t lie.”

“See?” Parker grinned, adding a conspiratorial nod. “Your secret is still safe. You can remain here, and Lucas can relay the information of your whereabouts to your intended.”

“I can pay you,” Penny offered, relieved to be staying with such a welcoming, loving family until Geoff came for her. Unwilling to think about what would happen should the duke discover their plans, she focused on how safe she felt here and pushed all negative thoughts away.

Lucas brandished a hand in dismissal. “We wouldn’t dream of taking money, would we, Parker?”

“No. You’re a welcome guest in our home as long as you want,” Parker agreed.

“I don’t expect charity. I can work.”

Turning to his mother, Parker laughed.
“Told you she’d be a little stubborn.” Then his jovial gaze moved to Penny’s. “You’re certainly not working for bed and board and we wouldn’t hear of you paying for our hospitality. Consider yourself family.”

“Thank you,” she murmured. Paying close attention to the beautifully set table, she resumed eating, uncomfortable with the feeling of warmth his sincere offer generated. She fingered the exquisitely cut crystal goblet. The sterling silver place settings and fine china, a rose pattern she recognized as one of the most exclusive, could grace any table of a peer of the realm. This room featured dark blues and
golds on the walls and in the upholstery, which matched the tasteful and expensive dark wood furnishings. She also recognized authentic Chippendale when she saw it. Though Parker told her he was a common man, there was nothing common in the man or in this room.

“We had a wonderful ride this afternoon,” Catherine said. “I’d venture to say she’s as good a horsewoman as I am.”

Penny sensed Parker’s gaze, but she wouldn’t look at him while Catherine elaborated about their excursion, one she hadn’t wanted him to know about. Not when he’d given the kind offer of his home for as long as she needed, and she’d turned down his earlier request.

“I thought you were too tired to ride,” Parker said.

“I felt better after I rested.” Penny shrugged and concentrated on her plate, praying the heat hitting her cheeks wasn’t a blush of embarrassment.

“So that means you’re not avoiding me and will in fact ride with me sometime?” he asked, lifting an amused brow.

His perception annoyed Penny. Wanting nothing more than to disavow his claim, she met his laughing blue-gray gaze with her head held high. “Surely you’re suffering from delusions. I’m not avoiding you,” she said, her clipped English accent becoming more pronounced.

“Good, then you’ll join me tomorrow afternoon when I return from my meeting.” He eyed her thoughtfully, the gleam of amusement flashing brighter.
“Around four? Is that acceptable?”

Her eyes sparked anger, but Parker ignored her signal. She clenched the
fist draped across her lap and bit her tongue to keep from telling him what she really thought of him and his idea of a ride. When her nails cut into her palms, she relaxed her hand and nodded, offering a frozen smile. “Of course.”

“Since you’re not avoiding me, I expect a game of chess in the library after dinner.”

Penny stiffened, the excuse of retiring early due to tiredness on her lips, yet something in his taunting stare stopped her cold. Despite the strong urge to say no, the urge to wipe that smug, knowing leer off his face and prove him wrong was stronger. “Fine. Prepare to lose.”

Parker’s grin was quick. “We’ll see who loses.”

Irritated, she refused to look away first.

Finally he shook his head, chuckling.
“Should be interesting.”

Penny glanced around the table to note the others’ attention riveted on their discussion. “I’m so sorry. I sometimes forget myself,” she said, filled with shame because she’d acted so rudely.

“No need,” Elizabeth said, patting her hand. “Parker has a habit of getting his way and I assure you, it can be most annoying at times.”

Nodding, Penny picked up her fork and ate without saying another word as conversation continued around
her.

“Penny?” Elizabeth was glancing at her and Penny realized she had addressed her.

“I’m sorry,” she said, offering an apologetic smile. “I was daydreaming and didn’t catch that.”

“I said, since you’ll be in the library.” Elizabeth then directed her gaze toward Parker. “We’ll have our after-dinner drinks in there before everyone leaves.”

“Sounds perfect.” Parker nodded before turning to Penny and offering another dangerous grin. “Though we won’t have time tomorrow, maybe we can take a ride to see your friend Miss Bowers on another day.” He added, glancing at the others, “Her sister’s farm isn’t but an hour’s ride.”

In a heartbeat, Penny’s unease vanished and she bestowed on him her most enchanting smile. “Thank you, Parker! I would love to see Mindy.”

“How solicitous of you, Parker,” Elizabeth said, still watching him intently.

He cleared his throat.
“Just being hospitable, Mother.”

“You’ve always been too busy to go visiting before this.”

“I’m still busy.” He shook his head and directed his next words more toward Penny. “And will be for the next week with business. Besides meeting with President Grant and Jonathan Morgan, my superior, I need to meet with my farm manager.”

“I can wait. You can’t know how much it means to me to be able to see her. She’s my family.” Penny glanced around, realizing what she’d just said and added,
“Not that you all aren’t like family, too. It’s just that I’ve known Mindy all my life.”

“Of course, we understand how you feel.” Elizabeth reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Her generous smile reached her eyes. “One cannot have enough family like your Mindy. Having someone to love makes the hard times we all face in the world easier to bear.”

“I never thought of it like that before, but you’re absolutely right,” Penny replied, thinking it an accurate sentiment. “Mindy was there for me when I lost my parents. In fact, she and Geoff have always been there for me.”

She chewed on a bite of creamed spinach as another thought struck. From the moment she’d boarded the ship, she’d felt safe and secure for the first time since her parents’ deaths. It was a good feeling. Safety and security had been something she hadn’t even realized she’d taken for granted in her young life, assuming it her due, owed to her because of her station. She’d never had to think about things like that before. Over the course of the last year, her eyes had been opened to the hardships in life, especially for women who were at the mercy of men. Sitting at the table now, she felt doubly lucky to have this family’s support.

“It’s nice to know she’s close by,” Lucas said, interrupting Penny’s thoughts. “You two certainly kept things lively on our voyage. My men have never been so entertained, myself included.”

Penny kept her smile in place and didn’t add any more to the conversation. Soon, talk revolved around the farm and all that had taken place since Parker’s last homecoming.

~~

When dinner ended, Parker trailed behind the large group retiring to the library. The tall windows on either side of double doors were open, allowing the late summer breeze to freshen the room. His mother loved color, a detail exhibited in full view out the double doors opening to the large wraparound porch leading to a garden in full bloom, adding bursts of reds, pinks, blues, and yellows to the green bushes and trees in the background.

Within minutes, he set up the chessboard and nodded to Penny. “You ready?”

The smile she provided said, “Prepare to lose.”

He smothered a laugh and sat, determined to do the opposite.

The fierce battle they engaged in still continued an hour later when his two sisters, along with their spouses, stood and bid their good-byes.

Once they left, Lucas rose. “It’s been a long day, plus I have to be up early to make my ship.” He gave Catherine a quick hug and a kiss before turning to his mother. He kissed Elizabeth’s forehead, pulling her into a bear hug. “I love you. If I don’t see you on the morrow, I’ll be back as quickly as possible.”

“Sleep well,” she replied, hugging him back. “I’ll make sure I’m up to see you off.”

“I’m leaving before dawn, Mother. No need for you to rise so early.”

“Then have a safe journey,” Elizabeth said wistfully, sitting back down as Lucas turned to Penny.

“I’ll see you when I return. I’ll also let Geoff know you’re safe and where to find you, using discretion, of course,” Lucas offered, interrupting their play. Parker stood. The two men shook hands and gave each other a brief hug.

When Penny stood, she was engulfed in Lucas’s embrace. “I’m glad you decided to stay, rather than travel by yourself,” he said. “You’ll be safe here.”

“Thank you.” She smiled shyly. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me, and I’m sure Geoff will be happy to know I’m safe and sound.”

Parker’s irritation rose. The name of her intended, spouted so earnestly from her lips, chafed like a hair shirt. Though she’d done nothing to indicate otherwise, he couldn’t believe she actually meant to follow through on her plans. She was a stubborn one, he’d give her that. He just needed some time alone with her to help her see the error of her ways.

He glanced up and caught his mother’s knowing grin. Parker straightened and placed an answering smile on his face, effectively disguising his rising annoyance.

“Come, let’s get this game over with,” he said a little too abruptly, so only Penny could hear.

Nervously biting her bottom lip, Penny’s focus flew to his face and she spent a few moments searching his expression. “We can finish at another time, if you’d like,” she finally murmured.

Noting her subdued demeanor, he sighed and added a little more politely, “I’d prefer now, if you don’t mind.”