Chapter Five
The next morning, Penelope smoothed a hand down her skirt as she entered the inn’s public room.
It was bustling with people preparing to start their journeys.
Boisterous conversations filled the air.
Most people wore cheerful smiles, which lifted her spirits.
Though her nerves were still frayed after spending the night in the same room with Edward, she was determined to make the most of the day.
Hopefully, the carriage would be repaired, and they could depart for the final leg of their trip to Miss Eloise’s Finishing School for Exceptional Young Women.
Her gaze quickly locked onto Edward, who sat sipping tea.
He had gallantly insisted she sleep in the bed while he took the chair.
He looked freshly shaven, with damp hair as if he had just stepped out of a bath.
She'd love to see him naked. Before she could scold herself for such a wicked but tempting thought, her stomach growled at the smell of steaming porridge.
The cheerful noise of clattering dishes filled the air.
She had also been freshly bathed and was determined to act as if sharing a room with Edward was nothing.
She lifted her chin slightly and forced a smile.
With the grace of a queen, she moved over to the table where Edward sat.
As soon as he saw her, he rushed to stand. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, husband.” She halted when he pulled out her chair.
Was he doing it because he was being kind or was it to convince the others that they were married?
She heaved a heavy sigh. Now, she was second-guessing every move he made.
Last night, they barely spoke to each other.
She longed for the playfulness and ease they had always shared.
She nodded her thanks and sat at the table. “How did you sleep?”
“Probably as well as you did,” he murmured and grinned her way.
Before she could answer, the innkeeper’s wife bustled over. “Well, well, our newlyweds are ready for their day bright and early,” she exclaimed, plunking down a heaping plate of eggs.
Edward choked on his tea as his cheeks flushed a rugged crimson.
Penelope smiled sweetly, though her toes curled in her slippers. “Yes, indeed. Bright, early, and...”
“Blissful.” The woman winked. “Look at the glow in your cheeks.” She turned to Edward and grinned. “And yours as well, sir.” She fanned herself and giggled. “The heat is radiating off both of you.”
Pen pressed a hand to her face, which grew hotter by the second. “It must be the porridge,” she said weakly.
Beside her, Edward muttered into his teacup, “Not the porridge.”
The innkeeper’s wife leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Don’t you worry, dear. We’ll send up extra food and wine this evening. Newlyweds need their strength. I’d offer to send up hot bricks for the bed tonight, but I doubt if you need it.”
Penelope coughed. “That will not be necessary.”
“Oh, but it will,” Edward said smoothly, his voice suddenly like dark velvet.
He turned and smiled at Penelope, the kind of smile that made her blink at him in shock.
It was wicked. It was husbandly. “You’re radiant this morning.
It’s my job as your husband to keep that glow on your cheeks.
” He added, “We do need to keep up our strength.”
Her jaw dropped. Edward wasn’t one to tease, especially about their so-called marriage. He was supposed to be the serious one. Now he was smirking at her like the devil himself.
“Yes,” she managed, her voice an octave higher than usual. “Yes, darling. Right as usual. Quite…necessary.”
The innkeeper’s wife beamed as she rocked back on her heels. Satisfied, she nodded then bustled off in the direction of the kitchen.
Penelope leaned forward, closing the distance between them. She glanced around their table, ensuring that no one could eavesdrop. “What was that?” she whispered.
Edward buttered his bread entirely too at ease. The hint of a smirk tugging at his lips revealed that he was enjoying her discomfort immensely. “I thought I’d do my part as your husband and let everyone know how much we enjoyed the ‘bridal suite.’”
“By implying I glow from that.” She gestured between them helplessly.
“Yes. From what we did last night.” His mouth curved, wicked as sin.
“We didn’t do anything like that,” she hissed.
“Then why are you blushing like the first red rose of the summer?”
“Edward,” she sighed dramatically.
“That’s the way you called my name last night.”
She nearly dropped her fork in the eggs. “You are impossible.”
“And you,” he said softly, looking at her in a way that made her pulse trip, “are delightful when you blush.” He bit his lower lip as he looked down at his plate, then lifted his playful gaze to hers.
“Especially when your cheeks pinken like they are now. What makes it even sweeter? Knowing that I caused it.”
Penelope busied herself with her eggs, certain the entire room could hear the pounding of her heart. She should be scandalized. Instead, she was flustered. He didn’t say more than two words last night. But now? He was flirting with her as if it were completely natural.
The man sitting across from her wasn’t the Edward she had always known.
He was a handsome and beguiling stranger.
And a provocative one at that.
If there were a heaven, Edward would not receive an invitation at the pearly gates.
There was no doubt about it. He was going to burn in hell.
Particularly, with his behavior this morning with Penelope.
However, all the heavenly angels had to sympathize with him.
When she had walked into the inn’s public room, Edward had been speechless at the sight of her.
She practically glowed with her pink cheeks and ruby red lips that demanded to be kissed.
Even her gown had shimmered in the sunlight, making her appear like an ethereal creature designed to enchant him with a simple smile or wave of a hand.
He’d fought the urge to jump out of his seat and escort her to the table like a proud peacock showing off his precious mate.
Oh, for the love of all fowl everywhere.
He was comparing himself to a gaudy bird that literally shrieked when it wanted attention.
His nostrils flared as he forced himself to calm down.
The only reason for his behavior this morning was that he was out of sorts.
That had to be the reason. It was simply the fact that he and Penelope were traveling and staying in a strange place.
Not to mention that they were sharing a room last night.
No wonder he didn’t sleep a wink last evening. Every time Penelope tossed and turned in the bed, Edward sat up straight. He’d been watching over her all night, and he felt every contortion in his back this morning from that feat.
“Do you suppose that we’ll stay another night?” Pen brought her teacup to her pink lips as she regarded him.
“It’ll depend upon the progress Joshua reports.” He waggled his eyebrows. “The innkeeper’s wife would be sorely disappointed if we left.”
“Edward,” she scolded softly as she gently set her cup on its saucer. “I had hoped we would arrive at Miss Eloise’s school by tomorrow at the latest.”
Edward nodded behind her. “You’ll have your answer shortly.”
Joshua soon appeared at their table. “Good morning. The blacksmith and the local carpenter just finished repairing the wheel. There was no damage to the axle. If it’s all right with you, ma’am, we can leave within the hour.”
Pen scooted to the edge of her seat. “Oh, that is excellent news.”
Disappointment gradually seeped into Edward, much like spilled honey on a table.
There was no denying this was exactly what they needed.
It meant he could deliver Pen into Miss Eloise’s caring hands and return to the students he tutored.
But the thought of leaving Penelope left him feeling a tad bereft.
That wasn’t true. It left him feeling like a rudderless ship in the ocean, completely empty and without direction.
When she stood, Edward followed suit.
She smiled softly at Joshua and then turned to Edward. “I’ll just go upstairs and get my things together.”
“I’ll follow you shortly.” He watched as she left the room.
“Sir, I did as you asked and kept an eye out for that man,” Joshua said, his voice lowered to barely a whisper. “I didn’t see him last night at all, but this morning, he came strolling through the inn’s courtyard.”
Edward’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure it was him? I didn’t see him in the dining room this morning.”
Joshua shrugged. “He had on the same morning coat as before. As soon as he saw me, he turned and went toward the mews where the other travelers waited for the mail coach instead of going through the front door.”
“Do you think he left on the morning carriage?”
“I can’t say,” Joshua answered. “I would have kept watch, but the blacksmith needed my help along with William’s.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“No need to be. I appreciate your help. Please see to hitching the horses, then pull the carriage around the back of the inn. I’ll have Lady Penelope leave from there.” Edward nodded, then hurried up the stairs.
The best course of action was to get Penelope out of the inn as quickly as possible.
If they left and never saw the man again, then it was all in his imagination.
But to be on the safe side, they would leave as quietly and as inconspicuously as possible.
The only way to do that with Penelope was to hide her.
Everywhere she went, she drew the attention of everyone around her.
Her beauty was the definition of breathtakingly unique.
Yet that nagging feeling of unease refused to leave him as he started up the stairs. If he saw that stranger again, then that meant he was following them.
Or more precisely, he was following Penelope. Nothing good would come from it as it meant one thing. The man was probably in the employment of Lord George Draven and no doubt had planned to kidnap Penelope.
When he reached the top of the stairs, he paused and closed his eyes. Edward would kill him if he tried to take Penelope.
She was his.
He tilted his head toward the ceiling. She would always be his, whether it was in her best interests or not.
Which meant one thing. He had to ensure that she never knew his true feelings.
It was the greatest gift he could give her. It was an undeniable truth. Draven had been correct. She had no future with a simple tutor.