Chapter Twelve #2
He glanced sharply at the earl. “Are you truly planning to step off this mortal coil?” What must the other man be grappling with to even contemplate such an action?
“I don’t know.” The earl’s expression sobered. Shadows haunted his eyes. “I’m struggling just now, especially since you have been unavailable to talk with or at least joke with and take my mind off my thoughts these past few days.”
Damn.
“I’ve been busy.” Surely Birchfield didn’t mean to lay the blame on him?
“With your new courtesan?” One of his blond eyebrows rose in question.
“I’m not ready to talk about it.” And he meant that. It was too dangerous to inadvertently divulge the truth. Afterward, he drained the contents of his glass in one swallow, coughing slightly when the liquor burned his throat.
“Look, Cornelius, my life right now is complicated. You more than anyone know this. Mama is driving me mad with her orders and demands. I fear that Penny will do something rash if she’s not tamed, and if one more thing goes wrong, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Why the hell would he want Penny tamed? She was very nearly perfect as she was? But then he concentrated on his friend’s words. “What happened in the Lords tonight?”
“God, it’s a coil.” Birchfield blew out a breath. “The stodgy old men aren’t willing to agree to new ways of governing. They’re afraid their lives of luxury might evaporate if we make the lives of the other people in England better. I honesty despair of the future of this country.”
“I’m sorry, Birchfield. It must prove frustrating to face that each day.”
“It is.” He nodded. “It wears on me.”
“Keep the faith.” Cornelius set his empty glass on a small, ivory-inlaid table. “Promise me that you wait to ruin Penny’s life until after Valentine’s Day. Every woman deserves that one night to have the world at her feet and hope in her heart.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” the earl asked with a frown. “This behavior is exceedingly odd for you.”
“What do you mean? I’m still the same man as I’ve always been.” Hopefully, his expression or eyes didn’t give too much away of what he’d gotten up to these past few days.
“Caring about anyone beyond yourself.”
Cornelius shrugged. As casually as he could, he rested an ankle on a knee. “I care what happens to you. Should I not?”
“Ha.” Birchfield shook his head. “That’s a given, but why the interest in my sister?”
“Just looking after her as you would.”
“Mmm.” While the earl sipped his brandy, he eyed him with speculation.
Resisting the urge to tug at the knot of his cravat, Cornelius cleared his throat. “Don’t you want Penny to be happy?”
“Well yes, but—”
“Then let her choose the life she wants for herself.” He shrugged. “It’s not that difficult a concept.”
“If I do that, she’s liable to open her own bookshop and live as a widow and alone for the rest of her life.”
“There is nothing wrong with that if she’s content.” It would certainly suit her. Would she still wish to see him, or would their affair eventually run its course? “For once, let her have her head. I fear her marriage to Weymouth took much from her like the war did us.”
The earl frowned. “Nonsense. Her marriage was decent enough.”
“So you say, but have you truly talked to her about it?”
Birchfield’s glance was as sharp as a hawk’s. “Have you?”
Well, damn. He was in danger of saying too much. “Not as much as you’d like to think.” Or as much as he would share with the earl.
Then Penny and the dowager countess came into the drawing room. Both he and Birchfield shot to their feet, and when his gaze met Penny’s, his world tilted, for she was a vision.
The gown of a mauve-colored velvet clung to her curves as if the fabric were caressing her with a lover’s touch.
Her blonde-brown hair had been brushed and fashioned into a quick upswept style to hide the fact she’d been involved in a tryst not two hours before, but it was the easy smile that curved her nearly full lips that held his fascination.
Well, that and the way she carried herself, as if she knew a delicious secret and had only shared it with one other person—him.
The glow in her blue-gray eyes attested to the fact that she was quite satisfied with her life currently.
“You are truly exquisite tonight, Lady Penelope. It’s a wonder that leagues of men haven’t beaten down your brother’s door to ask for your hand.”
“Oh, how sweet of you, Major.” A blush pinkened her cheeks as she joined him and Birchfield at the grouping of furniture.
Then the earl destroyed his honesty by saying, “That is how Montgomery is able to charm so many women into his bed. He flirts and compliments them out of hand until they’re overwhelmed and flattered. No wonder they practically fall at his feet.”
Slowly, Penny’s smile faded. Confusion clouded her beautiful eyes. “Oh. You’re probably right, Johnathan. The major is a rogue.”
Immediate, hot anger filled his chest as he tossed an annoyed glance at his best friend.
“In this case, every word is true. Your sister is beautiful, both inside and out.” Then he gave his full attention to her, closing the distance and scooping up one of her hands.
“I’m now thinking I should have taken my leave instead of giving it to other men because seeing you, even if you were married, would have given me strength.
” Then he raised her gloved hand to his lips and placed a kiss on the back.
The dowager tittered. “Well, he is charming.”
“That he is,” Penny murmured, and when her smile returned, Cornelius’s world tilted sideways again. “Regardless, I’m glad you are back in circulation, Major.”
“Indeed,” Birchfield said. While he took another sip of his brandy, he watched Cornelius with a narrow-eyed gaze.
“Major, perhaps you could escort me to the winter carnival at Vauxhall Gardens next week.” Penny moved closer to her mother. “I’ve been wanted to go, and Johnathan refuses to take me and Mama. Says it’s naught but a way to tumble into scandal.”
“Does he, now?” If the prick wouldn’t do that one little thing for his sister, then Cornelius would gladly volunteer. “I would be delighted to escort you and Lady Birchfield to the winter carnival. I will also be honored to take you both to one of the evening shows if you wish.”
That caught the dowager’s attention. “Why, I haven’t been to the opera in years. My son doesn’t enjoy such things.”
“All the more reason to go now,” he said with a wink, then threw what he hoped was a speaking glance at his best friend.
“What a lovely gentleman you are, Major,” the dowager gushed. “I gladly accept the invitation for both myself and my daughter.”
Penny beamed. “It truly is a wonderful suggestion. Thank you, Cornelius.”
“You are quite welcome.”
During the exchange, the earl bounced his gaze between him and his sister. Did he know or suspect what they’d done together? And if so, what would happen?
For the time being, Birchfield merely nodded. “Yes, thank you for doing this for my family. I know the ladies will have a lovely time, and be well protected besides.”
“Of course they will be.” Cornelius couldn’t help his smirk. It didn’t matter that he wished to charm both Penny and the dowager. In the end, he wanted Penny’s happiness over everything else, and if he could play a small part in that, so be it.