Dancing With the Gull (Revenge of the Wallflowers, #14)

Chapter Ten

Penelope was delighted that the Greer family invited hers to a private supper that week. What surprised her, however, was how much her parents had to say about the Greers. The revelations weren’t even directed to her, just her parents talking between themselves in the days before it.

From what Pen gathered, the Greers did not live in Town proper, but on a small estate nearby. She’d not known that. They’d withdrawn many years prior because they didn’t care for the social whirl and rarely attended anything. It was known that they were eccentric, a word that was always said in the same whispered tone, but it was agreed they were the right sort of eccentric because they were staggeringly rich and well-born. Lord Alistair Greer was the younger son of a duke. His wife, Lady Beatrice Greer, was the youngest daughter of another duke. Their son Lord Henry still lived with them, even though he was seen in Town quite often.

Penelope hadn’t given Lord Henry’s family much thought before now. Was that merely because she’d not considered their courtship, as it were, to be real?

As much as she liked Lord Henry, she knew it would be best if she didn’t consider the idea of marrying him. He’d been kind, but she was sure her chattering on their drive had at least exacerbated if not outright caused his condition. She wasn’t quite sure what had overcome him. He said it wasn’t a headache, but she didn’t know what else to think.

It was also clear that as excited as Mama was about the possible match, Papa still had reservations. He mentioned that didn’t care for the reputation Lord Henry had as a young buck, something Mama waved off.

When they arrived at the Greer’s estate, after a twenty-minute carriage ride, Penelope understood why Lord Henry hadn’t attempted to account for all of the dogs. At least ten greeted their carriage, barking and cavorting, their tongues lolling out. Papa ignored them, Mama avoided them, but Penelope knelt down to let the dogs all greet her with sniffs and wriggling happiness. It was a motley crew of various breeds, rather than the preference for a type that she’d seen among most families of their station.

“Penelope,” her mother admonished, sotto voce, to make her hurry forward.

Before long they were welcomed into the large front hall where still more hounds wandered while the footmen took their outer garments. An elderly butler ushered them slowly down the hall to a parlor, announcing them in a reedy voice.

Penelope took note of Lord Henry immediately. He looked every bit as polished as he always did in Town, even though a tall, wiry dog was leaning into his leg while he absently scratched its head. The couple near him were clearly his parents. Lord Greer was not quite as tall as his son, and more spare, with thinning pale hair and watery blue eyes behind spectacles. Lady Greer was of a height with them, but more solid, like her son. She was draped in a fluttering blue dress at least five years out of style.

Mama greeted Lady Greer like the most bosom of friends. Papa and Lord Greer had a less enthusiastic greeting, but one aligned with their stations. Once all of the greeting proprieties were met, including for herself and Lord Henry, they were almost immediately called into supper. It was to be a meal essentially en famille. Lady Greer waved off the early hour by saying they were, “less formal out here in the country.” Penelope’s parents shared a speaking look, as the estate could still see the lights of London at night.

Penelope found herself seated between her mama and Lord Greer, with Lord Henry across from her. She found the supper quite entertaining, but noted that Lord Henry was quiet. He’d never been one to speak a great deal when it was unnecessary, however, seated between his father and hers, he was even more quiet than usual. She chatted amiably with his father but found it impossible to draw Lord Henry into contributing more than a word or two.

He was, as always, quite pleasant. He smiled and nodded and looked vaguely pleased by everything, while engaging with nothing. Penelope realized she’d often seen him like this, but hadn’t thought much of it because she’d not expected to be the focus of his attention. Now, however, she thought he would at least play at being the doting and attentive beau. Instead, he’d been more convincing in his interest when they’d spoken privately than he was in front of their parents, and he’d shown no true interest in her even then. But at least then his attention to her thoughts, her opinions, seemed sincere. Now he was pleasant and veritably mute. She had to wonder why.

Meanwhile, his parents entertained her endlessly. Their supper conversation ranged from politics to philosophy to natural history, with little rhyme or reason. Her own parents were a bit at sea, being of a more practical bent, but gamely answered the questions posed by the lord and lady.

When the meal was over and they’d not yet withdrawn, Lady Greer looked at her son. “Why don’t you take Lady Penelope out to see the gardens before it is full dark, Henry? I’m sure she would enjoy some fresh air.”

Penelope looked to her father, who nodded his permission. She and Henry rose, and she wrapped her arm in his as he silently led her from the room. They made their way down a short bit of hallway before he led her out onto a terrace.

“Oh, this is quite lovely,” she breathed. The sun was just short of setting and the rather expansive back gardens of the house were awash in golden light.

“Would you rather see it from here, or stroll in the garden?” he asked.

“I would like to stroll, please.”

He nodded. She watched him from under her eyelashes, wondering what he was thinking. He looked more serious now than he had at the supper table, as though something weighed on him.