“Charis and David shall be married here, so she tells me. Since only family will attend, our drawing room will suit admirably.” Many of the ton preferred private ceremonies away from public scrutiny.
“Next in precedence are Jonathan and Penelope. Where do you wish the wedding to be, my dear?” Lady Harford looked to Penny for an answer.
Penny looked askance at the smoothly spoken question. How could she say in front of everyone who was here that the betrothal was only temporary? Although why his mother had not been told, Penny couldn’t understand. She seemed to know everything else that was going on around town and within the near relations. But then, Lady Charis might possibly tattle the tale to her David, and he mention it to another, and so on, but still. .
“Would you prefer a quiet wedding here at Harford House, my dear?” Jonathan inserted blandly.
“Oh, yes, that sounds lovely,” Penny responded gratefully. Since Lord Harford was only too well aware that there would be no wedding, he was the one person Penny might trust to arrange matters so there would be no difficulty later on.
“Are you sure, my pet?” Lady Harford said with a delicate frown. “There is none closer to you?”
“You are my family,” Penny declared, wishing they were to be more intimately connected.
Lady Harford nodded, then turned to Letty. “And you, my dear? I fancy your mother will come up to town?”
“I should rather marry quietly if Andrew does not mind. I have decided I’ll not impose on Mother to come to town.”
Since Letty’s dear mother had made a lifelong study of mastering the art of being imposed upon, nothing more was said on that score.
“I shall take care of the matter at once, my dear,” declared the gallant Andrew, pleased there would be no obstacle in the way of his marriage to Letty after all this time. It seemed as though he had courted her forever.
Penny rose from her chair, placing her cup on the tray before crossing to face Jonathan. “What can we possibly do about Miss Dunston?”
Jonathan looked past her to his mother. “I rather thought we might introduce the young lady to Ernest.”
There was general laughter at this, while Lady Harford nodded with enthusiasm.
“The very thing. I shall give a small ball to announce the betrothals, I believe, nothing elaborate. Gunter shall cater it, so we will not need to hire extra help. Simple; a few flowers, nice music, good friends. I love to play matchmaker!”
“I admire you, Lady Harford. You make it seem so effortless.” Penny suspected it would be anything but.
“You girls shall do the invitations right now, so I can send them off by the footman. I drew up a list this morning, just in the event we might have need of it.”
She shepherded the three girls to a table where a stack of cream cards sat with an abundance of inkwells and pens. Handing them the list she had prepared, she set them to work. Then she urged the two young men out of the room and down the stairs.
“I truly believe that the sooner you obtain those special licenses, the better, especially you, Jonathan. I have heard a rumor that Penelope’s guardian has written that he expects to return to London before long. Heaven knows when that may be. If you do not want your future spoiled, best go at once."
“I’d not have anyone think I marry Penny for her wealth.” Jonathan well knew the most absurd rumors could filter through Society with no foundation other than speculation,. and, in some cases, spite.
“How could anyone get such a foolish notion? I have received no pitying looks, and Silence Jersey has not been here to pry for ages."
“You know the reason we became entangled in the first place was that she thought me in need of funds. That was why she made the bargain, remember?”
At Andrew’s blank expression, Jonathan made some vague explanation, then turned to his mother, whose wisdom he respected.
“That is a problem. Well, surely she is the only one who would think such a thing. You might tell her you have made a fortune on the “Change.” She nodded a dismissive smile while trying not to look worried.
She shooed them out of the house, then strolled back to confer with her housekeeper. Lady Harford was not quite as confident as she pretended. The source for her information regarding Lord Lanscomb was the Countess Lieven; she knew what was going on in the capitals of Europe better than many of the king’s men. It was fortunate that the countess had taken a liking to Penelope, and passed the critical information along regarding the Austrian officials and their traveling companion. No doubt she had gleaned the tidbit while at the Esterhazys’.
Married at fifteen to Count Christopher Lieven, young Dorothea revealed the influence of the patronage of the Empress Maria, who supported her following the death of the Baroness von Benckendorf, Dorothea’s distinguished mother. To put it mildly, she was a haughty young woman, and feared with good reason, for she had acquired a surprising amount of influence in the English capital. Society had embraced the aristocratic girl with open arms, adoring her airs and graces. Lady Harford grimly smiled to herself as she settled down with her housekeeper. The countess was not called “the Snipe” without justification. She could be a dangerous enemy. Perhaps she might also be an ally, if she thought the cause entertaining. What delight it would be to saddle that toad Ernest with a most deserved wife.
* * * *
Penny had her doubts that a ball was necessary, but who was she to deny Lady Harford her pleasure? However, the money aspect bothered Penny. Since she was, she felt, responsible for much of the situation, she ought to help
