A glance at Lady Charis arrayed in her gown brought Penelope’s temper to a simmer. The naughty neckline dipped to here, and glimpses of her soft arms were seen. The style was simple, but definitely enticing. The only man who might be tempted by Penelope’s gown was a cleric.
Lady Charis’ pretty mouth dropped open as she looked at Penelope. “My brother chose that style?”
“He did.” Penelope sounded grim again. Odd, how often she felt this way lately.
Sensing she was needed, Madame Clotilde beamed a smile, then said, “You shall be a lady of mystery, of tantalizing paradox. You are so lovely and charming, yet you will not expose those charms, enticing the eye and piquing the gentlemen’s interest.”
Lady Charis studied the gown on her new cousin, then looked at her own. “I gather I am no mystery, then, for this gown is quite different.”
“But you look so beautiful, you shall capture every heart at your ball. I will be fortunate to snare even one dance,” Penelope protested.
Not totally convinced, but feeling that Lady Penelope might have the right of it, Charis nodded graciously and the matter was ended as far as she was concerned.
Penelope had other matters on her mind by now. She accepted a ride back to Upper Brook Street, then sought out Cousin Letty. She found her in the morning room with Mr. Oglethorpe at her side, reading poetry aloud in a very pleasant manner.
Doubting that Letty would have the least notion as to what was proper, Penelope appealed to Andrew Oglethorpe. “I need some information, if you please.”
Preening just a bit, happy to be consulted when he knew that Harford was assisting her, Oglethorpe nodded. “By all means.
“Is it proper for a gentleman to pay for the coming-out expenses incurred by a very distant relative?” She smiled sweetly at him, looking utterly guileless.
“Never,” he declared. “Why, if word got out among the ton, she would be ruined. Everyone would assume the worst.”
“The worst being that she was in his keeping?”
“Penelope!” Letty cried in shocked accents.
“Sisters, acceptable,” he said with assurance. “Close relatives, of course. Just what did you have in mind?” He had risen from the sofa when Penelope entered the room, and now he strolled to stand by the window, glancing out at the passing carriages.
“He has told his mother that he will foot a large portion of the coming-out ball for Lady Charis and me, since there will be additional expenses. I gather it was an inducement so she would take me on.” There was no mistaking the chagrin in her voice.
“Well,” inserted Mr. Oglethorpe in defense of the Way Things Were Done, “that was only right and fair, for his mama likes to spend the blunt and he is well to grass. With a bit of ready money, she can do the ball up first-rate, and Lady Charis as well. Stands to reason that a lady of her standing would be running near low tide. Not that her son would ever let her get all to pieces, mind you.”
Glancing first at Letty, then back to Mr. Oglethorpe, Penelope quietly asked, “He is comfortably well-off? Not the least penny-pinched?”
“Well enough, although I expect no gentleman ever has enough.” Mr. Oglethorpe watched the slim, demure figure that paced back and forth across the floor of the morning room. It was impossible to tell what was going on under that modest hat she wore.
“I see.” Penelope wondered if Mr. Oglethorpe knew about the serious loss Lord Harford had incurred. She had expected Mr. Willowby would prattle the story about. Perhaps they were more considerate, seeing as how Lord Stephen Collison gained. She was thankful that she had been able to stop Lord Harford from losing an even larger sum of money. It was unthinkable that Harford go into debt on her behalf. She would pay her own way.
“What will you do, Penelope?” Letty queried in a quavering voice. She clutched the book of poetry in her hands as though to ward off an attack of the vapors.
“Do not worry your pretty head about a thing,” Penelope replied absently, in her own absorption failing to observe the attractive flush that spread across Letty’s cheeks. Glancing at the long-case clock, she added, “I had best hurry before the bank closes. I shall see you both later.”
With those enigmatic words she whirled about and left the room. In moments Mr. Oglethorpe watched her enter a hackney and head off in the general direction of the city.
“I say, you don’t suppose she is actually going to go to the bank!” he said, quite alarmed.
Letty rose and crossed to pat his arm. “My cousin seems to have unexpected depths to her. I have learned in the short time she has been in the house that she is remarkably able to get her way. She is sensible and most organized, you see.”
“But what will she do?”
“Well, she cannot permit Lord Harford to pay for her come-out. You recollect she is exceedingly wealthy and can well afford to foot her own expenses. I have no idea what she will do about Lord Harford, but I expect she will think of something. She is bound to.,’
The two stood at the window, side by side, contemplating a sweet young woman who looked as biddable as a lamb. Then Letty recalled that lambs could be remarkably stubborn at times, and she sighed.
* * * *
Although she garnered some astounded looks when she went to the bank, it took only a brief time for arrangements to be made to Penelope’s satisfaction.
The man who made all these dispositions was only too happy to see that this wealthy young woman desired to pay her bills and not incur debt.
