Wicked Wager (26 page)

“What about you, Adrian? How do you benefit by seeing your cousin and ward married to a murderous rogue?”

“I told you, I get to stay alive. Besides, I’m certain I can convince the gentleman to let me handle the horse business. He’s a city boy. He knows nothing about livestock.”

Neither do you, you worthless fool,
thought Penny. But she didn’t say it. Right now all she wanted was to be away from Adrian and his evil plotting.

Chapter Seventeen

He dreamed of Penny, her soft skin, her silky warmth…He reached out for her…

Opening his eyes, Marcus immediately felt bereft. The other side of the bed was empty. Penny was gone.

He knew a sharp stab of disappointment. His plan had been to lie abed with her this morning and make love to her slowly and leisurely. Then he would simply hold her close for a time, savoring the wonder of knowing she was his.

Except she wasn’t. Not yet.

He got up and went to the chair where he’d left his clothing. His shirt and cravat were hopelessly wrinkled. And he needed to bathe. Lovemaking may make Penny smell more delectable, but he doubted the same was true of him. He pulled on his small clothes and trousers, then his shirt, leaving it unbuttoned. Barefoot and carrying his jacket and boots, he left the room and returned to the spare bedchamber where he’d moved most of his clothing. After ringing for Bowes, he changed into a dressing gown.

Bowes knocked, then entered.

“Have a bath drawn, Bowes.” As an afterthought, he added, “I suppose Penny’s already down at breakfast?”

“Actually, sir, she left without eating.”

“Left?” Marcus gazed at the manservant in surprise.

“Yes, sir. It appears she had Jeremy bring the carriage around at least an hour ago.”

“Did she say where she was going?”

“No, sir, she did not.”

“She’s probably off to James’s to see Lily and the baby.”

“That would make sense, sir.”

After a quick breakfast, Marcus also headed to James’s townhouse. He was a bit irritated he’d had to take a hired hack. Penny might have waited for him. Or woken him to let him know her plans.

When reached the townhouse, he paid the driver and marched up the walk. Vincent greeted him at the door. “A pleasure to see you, Mr. Revington. If you’d like to wait in the withdrawing room, I’ll let Mr. Ludingham know you’re here.”

“And Lily and Penny as well.”

“Miss Montgomery isn’t here, sir.”

“She’s not?”

“No, sir. We haven’t seen her since yesterday.”

“I see.”

While he waited for James, Marcus puzzled on where Penny could be. He couldn’t imagine where she might have gone in the carriage, especially so early in the morning.

“Good morning,” James entered the room and greeted him. “You’re out and about early.”

It might be better not to let James know I’ve come here looking for Penny.
“I wanted to see how Lily and baby were getting on.”

“Charles seems to be settling into more of routine. Slept most of the night. Where’s Penny? I’m sure Lily would like to see her.”

There was no help for it; he’d have to admit the truth. “I don’t know where she is. I was wondering if Lily might have some idea.”

“We can ask her when she comes down. Ah, here she is,” James added as Lily joined them.

Lily smiled warmly at Marcus. “Good morning, Mr. Revington. I have to thank you again for all you’ve done for me. It’s so generous of you to buy me new clothing. I hope someday I can find a way to repay you.”

“You’re welcome, Lily…and do call me Marcus. By the way, when you were with Penny yesterday, did she say anything about having plans for today?”

“Why, no. That is, she didn’t mention anything. I’m surprised she’s not with you now. She said she would come over today so she could see me in my new garments as soon as they arrive.”

“I’m sure she’ll be here soon.” Marcus was truly puzzled now. The only time Penny had gone anywhere without telling him was when she went riding. But she wouldn’t take the carriage if she were riding.

“Maybe she went back to the modiste’s,” James said. “She might have seen something she later decided to purchase. I know my sisters are like that. They go shopping and fall in love with something and then go back for it.”

“The modiste’s? I wonder…” murmured Lily.

“Did you think of something?” asked Marcus.

Lily gave him a strange look, then smiled quickly. “Oh, no, nothing at all.”

Marcus stared at her, feeling certain she
had
thought of something. Why was she pretending otherwise?

“Have you eaten, Marcus?” Lily asked. “When I came down, Vincent said breakfast was ready to be served.”

“I had a light repast before I left the townhouse,” Marcus answered.

“Well, I’m hungry,” said James. “Let’s go into the breakfast room. I’m sure we can find something to tempt you.”

Although he had no appetite, Marcus ate some coddled eggs and toast. He didn’t want James to realize how concerned he was about Penny.

They were almost through with breakfast when Vincent appeared at the door and announced, “Miss Montgomery has arrived, sir.”

“Send her in, of course,” responded James.

Penny came in, smiling broadly. “What a delightful day. I just had Jeremy take me for a turn in the park. You should see the hyacinths in bloom. They’re simply stunning.”

“You’ve been at the park all this time?” asked Marcus.

Penny glanced at him briefly. “Of course.”

“You might have waited for me to go with you.”

“I suppose I should have.” She met his gaze for a bare heartbeat, then looked away.

She lying. Just like Lily. What are the two of them hiding?

Penny joined them at the table but ate little. Marcus’s suspicions grew. If she’d skipped breakfast to take a turn in the park, she should be hungry now.

There was easy way to get to the bottom of this, he decided. He’d simply question Jeremy.

Marcus got his chance a short while later when several boxes from Madame Dubonet’s arrived and the two women went upstairs so Lily could try on her new garments. Marcus excused himself and went out to the carriage where the footman was waiting. The young man snapped to attention. “Good morning, sir.”

“I hear you had an early one. Took Penny for a ride in the park.”

Jeremy hesitated, then responded, “Is that what Miss Montgomery said?”

“Yes. But I know it isn’t true. I don’t believe she’d get up so early merely to take a drive in the park. And if she did decide to view the early summer foliage, I’m fairly certain she’d do it on horseback rather than from an enclosed carriage.”

A muscle worked in Jeremy’s jaw. “Yes, sir.”

Marcus moved so he was directly in front of the footman. “Where did you take her, Jeremy? And before you respond, you might recall that I’m the one who pays your wages.”

The footman let out a sigh and shook his head. “She went looking for her cousin, sir. A Mr. Adrian Withersby. When she didn’t find him at the address she had for him, she asked me to take her to the club area of Pall Mall.”

“You took her there?” He felt a surge of anger.

“I took her there, yes, but don’t worry, sir, I didn’t let her leave the carriage. I made her wait while I went in and found Mr. Withersby.”

“When you brought him out to her, what did they discuss?”

“I didn’t hear, sir.” He gave Marcus a helpless look. “I thought since he was her cousin…” He sighed and then continued, “I would never knowingly take her into danger. I hope I didn’t do wrong, sir. But you did tell us Miss Montgomery was to be our mistress, sir. And that we are to try and please her and accommodate all her wishes. I didn’t think there was any harm—”

Marcus put a hand up to halt the footman’s agonized explanations. “I don’t blame you, Jeremy. I know Miss Montgomery can be very convincing. How well I know that.”

Marcus left the footman and walked back to the house, deep in thought. Last night, he’d accepted that he was in love with Penny and told himself she was coming to care for him, too. But now he wasn’t nearly so certain of her. The thought of her being in contact with Withersby unnerved him. From everything she’d said, she disliked her cousin and avoided him as much as possible. What could she possibly have to discuss with him?

As he returned to the library, he decided to take the matter up with James.

His friend looked up from the desk where he was doing paperwork. “What have you been up to, Marcus?”

“I learned something rather disturbing from my footman. I found out Penny met with Adrian Withersby this morning.”

“Her cousin? That wretch you won Horngate from?”

“Indeed. The very one.”

“But why? What could she have to say to him? I thought she heartily disliked the man. And who can blame her, after what he did to her?”

“Exactly.” Marcus turned and paced across the room. “It makes no sense. Unless what she told us about her relationship to Withersby was false.”

“What do you mean?”

Marcus turned and paced the other direction, deeply disturbed by the thought that had just come to him. “You remember how Penny behaved in the beginning. How she went to great lengths to discourage me from marrying her, presenting herself as a gawky, mannerless hoyden who would be an embarrassment to me?” He paced back the other way. “Obviously, that was mostly pretense. While Penny is hardly a sophisticated city deb, she’s nowhere near as naïve and gauche as her behavior suggested.”

“That’s true. Although we’ve never discussed it, Penny’s attitude toward you has definitely changed from what it was in the beginning.”

“Exactly. I must admit I never questioned the change,” said Marcus. “If I thought about it at all, I assumed her behavior had altered because she no longer abhorred the thought of being my wife, but had actually began to embrace the idea.” He met James’s gaze. “Perhaps it was conceited, but I assumed as she’d gotten to know me better, she’d stopped thinking of me as the ogre she was forced to wed and begun to warm to me. But maybe my assumption was wrong. Maybe her behavior changed because her plans have changed.”

“In what way?” James asked.

Marcus paced back and forth before answering. He hated to voice these thoughts, as if saying them aloud would make them more real. “What if Withersby was the one who told her to convince me not to marry her, and now he’s changed his mind?”

“Why would he do that? Once you marry Penny, you gain control of Horngate. Withersby can’t possibly want that.”

“No, I suppose not.” Marcus stopped pacing. “But something’s going on. Something that involves Withersby.”

“Maybe Penny met with him for some reason that has nothing to do with you.”

“Then why did she lie about it?” Marcus retorted, feeling even more agitated. “If the meeting was completely innocent, there would be no reason for her to make up this story about going to the park.”

“Hmmm. I can see your point. Still, I think the simplest way to clear this up is to confront her.”

Marcus nodded. “You’re right. That’s exactly what I should do.”

****

“You look beautiful,” Penny said as Lily stepped out of the dressing room in the upstairs bedroom and twirled around in her new gown. “In that dress you’re bound to turn the heads of all the single men in London.”

“I only want to turn the head of one.” Lily dipped her head and her cheeks colored.

Penny smiled. “I don’t think you need new clothing to make James notice you. It appears he is already quite smitten.”

“You truly think so?”

“Yes. I do. But I expect it will take some time for him to get used to the idea. From what Marcus tells me, James has a whole list of attributes he thinks he wants in a wife. It might take a bit for him to realize that lists don’t matter much when you fall in love.”

Lily came to sit down on the bed next to Penny, looking troubled. “I’m certain his list doesn’t include a ready-made family…or a wife who has no prospects.”

Penny patted her shoulder. “James may pride himself on his logic and reason, but he’ll ultimately succumb to what’s in his heart. But it may take a little while. You’ll have to be patient.”

Lily nodded. “
My
heart tells me you’re right.” She turned to face Penny. “If you believe so much in the importance of following your heart, I don’t understand why you’re not being truthful with Marcus. He obviously adores you. I can’t imagine why you think you must keep secrets from him.”

“What secrets?” asked Penny, although she suspected she knew exactly what Lily meant.

“About your cousin, for one thing. And also about wherever you went this morning. It’s obvious to everyone you didn’t go to the park.”

“Is it?”

“I’m afraid so. Where were you? What were you doing that you felt you must hide it from Marcus?”

“I was meeting with my cousin.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “Did he threaten you again? Are you in danger?”

Penny sighed. “I’m afraid I’m not the one who’s in danger. It’s Marcus.” She stood as the anxiety she’d fought to suppress bubbled to the surface. She had to tell someone. She
had
to. Facing Lily, she said, “Adrian says if I marry Marcus, he’ll arrange for something to happen to him…something
fatal
.”

Lily gazed at her in shock. “That’s awful! Simply dreadful! You have to tell Marcus…and James. Between the two of them they’ll find a way to protect Marcus from your cousin.”

“How can anyone guard against a vague threat of danger?” Penny asked in an agonized voice. “He’ll never know when he might be attacked or what to look out for. I don’t even know the source of the threat.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not Adrian I’m worried about. I don’t believe he could plot Marcus’s murder on his own. But he says he’s lost Horngate a second time, this time to a man who’s determined to marry me and take over the estate.”

“I don’t understand. What is Horngate? And how can this man marry you when you’re engaged to Marcus?”

“Horngate is a farm in south Hampshire, left to me by my parents. But since I’m a woman, the law doesn’t see fit for me to manage it on my own, so Adrian was named as my guardian. A few weeks ago, Adrian lost Horngate to Marcus in a card game. That’s how Marcus and I came to be engaged.”