The Unexpected Bride (22 page)

Finally, a seemingly innocent question gave her the answer. ‘I suppose you see little of Darleston during the day? In his club, no doubt? Will he be joining you here?’

‘I shouldn’t think so,’ said Penelope, wishing to herself that Peter
would
appear. No sooner had she thought this than her quick ears heard a carriage draw up beside them.

Gelert uttered a blood-curdling snarl and Penelope could feel the fur on his neck rise up, bristling. She could only think of one person likely to bring that response from the dog. She knew a moment’s fear, but fought it down and said calmly, ‘How do you do, Mr Frobisher? I believe you are acquainted with Lady Caroline and my sister.’

Jack Frobisher was stunned. How the devil had she known? He could see from the look of shock on Caroline Daventry’s face that she had not told Lady Darleston who was approaching.

Sarah mentally applauded this stroke. Gelert’s reaction had not been lost on her, and she could see that Penelope’s confident identification of Frobisher before he had even spoken had momentarily shaken the man. Determined to make her presence felt, she moved up beside her sister and said, ‘Good afternoon, Mr Frobisher! I see that your arm is better.’

Jack Frobisher stared at her in acute dislike but said politely, ‘It is indeed, Miss Sarah. I hope you are enjoying the sights of London.’

‘Oh, yes. Of course one sees so many odd things, and people!’ said Sarah sweetly.

Jack’s eyes narrowed. ‘Your sister has not altered by a hair’s breadth, Lady Darleston. But you! Allow me to inform you that I have never seen you looking so well. Your new station in life seems to agree with you!’

‘Such a welcome addition to your family, is she not, Frobisher?’ said Lady Caroline.

‘Indeed she is! And will you not honour me by taking a turn around the park in my curricle dear Cousin? I am sure Lady Caroline will be only too happy to chaperon Miss Sarah.’

Penelope’s stomach turned over. Common sense told her that he could not possibly kidnap her in full view of the Ton, but a carriage accident…? Besides, the thought of being alone with Frobisher under any circumstances terrified her. How to get out of this politely and avoid scandal! She wondered desperately just how many people were listening. What would happen if she let Gelert go?

‘How kind of you, Mr Frobisher, but I must decline. It is time that my sister and I were returning home.’ She hoped that would do the trick.

‘But, Cousin, I should be only too happy to drive you to Grosvenor Square!’ said Frobisher suavely.

‘Oh! I would not dream of expecting Sarah to walk while I am driven home!’ said Penelope firmly, breathing a mental sigh of relief. Surely this excuse was unexceptionable!

Frobisher pressed on. ‘But Miss Sarah could not be so churlish as to deny me the pleasure of your company!’

‘Of course not!’ said Sarah with alacrity. ‘Especially as here come Darleston and Mr Carstares, who will doubtless escort me home!’ For there
were
Peter and
George, a hundred yards away, striding towards them purposefully.

Penelope, whose breath had practically stopped at Sarah’s first words, recovered her self-possession and said innocently, ‘No doubt Darleston has come to escort us home. Perhaps another day, Mr Frobisher!’

Frobisher bit off an exclamation of annoyance, changing it to a sneeze. Lady Caroline was far more successful in concealing her disgust.

‘How delightful!’ she exclaimed. ‘I declare I’ve not seen Darleston for an age.’ Her mind worked fast. Curse the man! How like him to appear just when one would wish him not to! Had he been tipped off? Or was he merely doting on his insipid bride!

Peter approached the little group swiftly, mentally schooling himself to hold his temper in check. Fury that his ex-mistress should have had the effrontery to approach his wife almost choked him. Leaving aside his suspicions of Lady Caroline’s motives, the thought of Penelope having anything to do with the woman was unbearable.

And Penelope, how much had she guessed? He knew how quickly her mind worked, how sensitive she was to people’s moods and thoughts. She frequently read his thoughts with unnerving accuracy. Could she possibly have divined the situation? Even at this distance he could see that Penelope was frightened: something in the way she was gripping Gelert’s collar and holding herself. At this point he saw who was in the curricle beside the three ladies.

George spotted Frobisher a split second later and spluttered, ‘Good heavens! D’you see who’s with them? Thank God for Sarah!’

‘As you say, George. What an impossible situation
for Penny! She can’t administer a snub to either of them in public without causing a scandal. Hurry up, George, before she’s tempted to let the dog go! For some reason apart from this business she is scared of Jack!’

He saw the party turn towards him and raised his hand in greeting with a polite smile firmly affixed to his face. A strong odour of scent assailed him; it was with difficulty that he bit back an exclamation of disgust. One look at his wife’s face informed him that she shared his distaste.

She was turned towards him, a welcoming smile mingled with heartfelt relief. ‘My lord, and Mr Carstares, how lovely! I was just telling Lady Caroline that you would not be joining us here! And here you are, making a liar out of me. You are acquainted with Lady Caroline, I believe? And your cousin, of course. He was so kind as to offer to drive me home, but now you are here he need not trouble himself.’

Peter nearly exploded! No wonder she had looked so upset! Well did he know the gossip that would have ensued had Penelope allowed the Ton to see her distaste and fear.

‘Of course. Lady Caroline, what a surprise to see you.’ He bowed as he spoke. ‘Cousin. I trust you are well?’

‘Never better, Darleston. Believe me, conveying my new cousin home would have been an undiluted pleasure!’

Lady Caroline responded archly, ‘Why, Darleston, you cannot have supposed that I would be the least backward in any attention to your wife!’ Her tone was sweet but there was an edge to it which warned Darleston that the woman was up to something.

‘Not at all, Lady Caroline. I am sure if I had given the matter a moment’s thought I should have expected to see you!’ The implicit suggestion that he had
not
considered her worth a moment’s thought was wasted on neither lady. Penelope, however, was far more successful at concealing her reaction.

Lady Caroline’s eyes blazed suddenly but she managed to respond with an artificial titter. ‘My dear Darleston, I do not expect to be remembered among so many! And now I really must go. Mr Frobisher, you may escort me home.’

‘With the greatest pleasure, dear Lady Caroline!’

Lady Caroline left with her escort and Peter turned to face his wife. Before he could say a word, she asked, ‘Does Lady Caroline always wear that much scent, Peter?’

‘Frequently. Perhaps we had better discuss this at home.’ Penelope could hear the suppressed anger in his voice and decided to drop the subject. Sarah, who had intended to ask her brother-in-law to explain everything, took one look at his face and came to the conclusion that she could just as well ask George later on.

George looked solemn, but not nearly as grim as Peter. She peeped at him from under her bonnet and caught his eye.

Involuntarily his expression lightened, and he flicked her nose with a careless forefinger. ‘Well done, brat!’ he said softly.

Sarah’s heart rose at the knowledge that she had done the right thing.

They walked home without much conversation. Penelope was very subdued to think that Peter was angry, although she could not think what she could
have done to have avoided the situation. She was also curious as to how Peter had known what was afoot. That Sarah had something to do with it she was certain.

Upon reaching the house, Peter said, ‘Come to the study, please, Penny. I need to speak to you privately.’ Then, turning to his sister-in-law, ‘Thank you, Sarah! I’m buying that book, so let me hear no more rubbish about
sponging
! See you at dinner, George.’

They went into the study together and Penelope immediately asked, ‘How on earth did you know, Peter? I’ve never been so glad as I was when Sarah said you were there! What did she do?’

‘She sent Roger around to White’s,’ he replied shortly.

She waited patiently for Peter to speak again. He was silent for a moment, and then said, ‘I would prefer you to take steps to avoid any further conversation with Lady Caroline. If she approaches you again, refuse to acknowledge her.’ His voice sounded flustered.

Penelope considered her reply. ‘Won’t that cause gossip?’

‘Not as much as if you recognise her,’ said Peter shortly. He felt uncomfortable, even hypocritical.

Penelope’s next question took him totally by surprise. ‘Why, Peter? Because she was your mistress?’

Outraged that she would dare to question him, he turned to her, saying coldly, ‘You forget yourself, Lady Darleston. It is no concern of yours if she was, or is still, my mistress!’

Penelope was fully aware that she had gone too far. She did not resent his past involvements, or his remonstrance, but the suggestion that he might still be involved with Lady Caroline made her feel physically
sick with jealousy. Close to tears, she did not trust her voice for a moment.

Then she said carefully, ‘I beg your pardon my lord, please excuse me. I…I…have something to attend to.’ She rose to her feet, knowing that she was going to cry, preferring, in her pride, to conceal her pain.

Accompanied by Gelert, she left the room for the privacy of her bed-chamber. Even there she tried very hard to hold back her tears. ‘Watering pot!’ she said angrily. ‘I won’t cry! I won’t!’ But the sudden thought of Peter making love to Lady Caroline as he did to her was too much for her precarious self-control. She sank onto the day-bed, buried her face in her hands and wept despairingly.

When Peter walked quietly through the open connecting door ten minutes later she was still crying. Gelert was snuffling at her desperately, pawing at her gown, whimpering in sympathy. Peter was already feeling the lash of his conscience, and had come to apologise, but the sight of Penelope weeping so bitterly shocked him. He hesitated in the doorway, wondering if he should go away. Then he remembered the terrible night before the attempt on her life down at Darleston. He had left her to cry herself to sleep then, after hurting her. He couldn’t do that to her again.

Gently he spoke her name. ‘Penny?’ She started up in shock. The pain he saw in her face told him just how great was his power to wound her.

‘Go away!’ she said furiously. He ignored that. Three quick strides took him across the room and he was beside her, holding her tightly.

‘Sweetheart, you mustn’t cry! I’m not worth it! All I seem to do is hurt you. I’m sorry, Penny, you had every right to ask that question. Caroline Daventry
was
my mistress. She is not now. I swear it.’ He could feel her shaking in his arms and cursed himself for the cruel thing he had said. He knew that Penelope felt more for him than mere affection. He also knew that she would cut out her tongue before admitting to anyone that she loved him. Tenderly he stroked her hair, holding her until her tears at last abated.

‘Better now, Penny?’ She nodded, still not trusting her voice. He continued with difficulty. ‘You had better know the whole story. Lady Caroline considered herself as a likely candidate for the role of Countess of Darleston. She tried to have an advertisement of our engagement inserted in the
Gazette.
Fortunately the editor had the sense to check it with me first. It was that coupled with the proximity of Jack to the title which prompted me to marriage.’

‘Why didn’t you wish to marry Lady Caroline?’ The question was little more than a whisper and Peter took his time in answering it.

Finally he said, ‘Because, even if I didn’t know it, I wanted my wife to be like you. Not a second Melissa. Caroline only wanted to marry me for my money and title. She does not care for me in the slightest, nor I for her.’

‘But you married me without love,’ said Penelope.

Peter was silent. What could he say? He knew she loved him, but would never say so. His own feelings were still confused. He was fond of her, she roused him physically as no other woman ever had. But did he love her?

At last he said, ‘There has never been any pretence between us. Lots of misunderstandings, but no pretence or lies, and we have come to care for each other. I doubt that you could lie to anyone, and I know that
I could never lie to you. Penny, I am glad I married you. You have made me feel whole again.’ He wished he could say more, but he knew she would not believe a declaration of love even if he could bring himself to lie to her.

‘Now, tell me all about it. Did you get any hint that she might wish you harm?’ he asked.

Penelope described the whole incident while Peter listened carefully.

‘Do you think she is really in league with your cousin?’ finished Penelope. ‘She wanted me to drive with her tomorrow but I said I was driving out with George.’

‘Good, I doubt she would dare try anything when you were known to be in her company, but it would certainly raise some eyebrows if you were to be seen with her again. She may well be in league with Jack. Certainly I have given her reason to hold a grudge, and if she is working with him then Jack is no longer in complete control. That makes the situation far more dangerous. Caroline is much smarter than my cousin. Besides which we could probably make Jack alone back off. I don’t think his desire for money would make him risk his neck.’

‘What about Lady Caroline?’ asked Penelope.

‘I’m not sure of her involvement,’ answered Peter slowly. ‘She has a tendency to hold grudges and I have known her to go to extreme lengths to pay one off. Jack by himself would be more likely just to demand money from me, as he has done in the past. He has no real quarrel with me apart from the fact that we dislike each other!’

‘He has a quarrel with me,’ confessed Penelope. ‘Remember I told you that Gelert bit him? It…it was
because he…he tried to kiss me once and I hit him in the face. It was awful. When he wouldn’t stop I screamed, so Gelert came in and attacked him.’ Peter could feel her distress. She was shuddering at the memory as she continued, ‘He told me then that he wasn’t finished with me, so maybe he would help her to get back at me.’