With the air of a dashing bachelor speaking to one safely beyond his reach, he replied loftily, “Of course. No man wishes his wife to be forever looking over his shoulder, if you must know.”
“I believe you are a naughty tease,” she commented lightly before joining Lady Harford. Her fan hid the ironic twist of her mouth.
Withstanding the searching look from her sponsor, Penny watched as the people began to depart, slowly, lingeringly, chatting as they strolled down the stairs, murmuring reminders of upcoming social engagements as they drifted from the house.
Behind them servants swiftly went about removing the remnants of the party. Penny plucked a white carnation from a bouquet to twiddle it between her fingers, then sniffed the spicy fragrance with pleasure.
“I believe it was a success fou, dear mother,” Jonathan said with quiet elation.
“A wild success? Is that how you view it?” Penny questioned, dangling the carnation in her hand as she also went down the staircase toward the front door and escape.
“You will see. Andrew and I shall take you and Letty home now before you fall asleep on your feet.”
“Perhaps the girls can stay here, Jonathan? I would like to speak with them in the morning, for we still have plans to make.” Lady Harford placed a staying hand on Penny’s arm at the bottom of the stairs.
Knowing that morning would be somewhere around noon for them all, Penny shook her head. “We shall come over about one in the afternoon, my lady. That way we can be in our own beds and far less bother to you.” She gave Lady Harford a quick kiss, then gathered her violet taffeta cloak from the footman who had materialized with it.
“You believe it is safe for her to be there with no protection from her aunt?” Lady Harford softly asked her son, anxious eyes on her future daughter-in-law that she had come to love.
“For tonight, I believe,” replied Jonathan, watching while Penny spoke quietly with Letty near the door. “The Crow will take a day or two to formulate new plans, I suspect.”
“I think our strategy must be changed. You and Penny must wed immediately. No date was mentioned this evening, and even the Countess Lieven urged speed. Lord Lanscomb could arrive any day now. Who knows what the next ship will bring ashore?”
“So Penny told me. I confess I am reluctant to press her. I want no silly notions in her head that I wedded her for her money alone. She is lovely and desirable.” He studied the pretty picture she made as she chattered to Letty and Andrew Oglethorpe across the expanse of black-and-white-tiled floor. Her proud head with her beautiful blond curls in artfully tumbled charm rose regally from the violet taffeta billowing about her.
His mother smiled fondly. “I am pleased your heart is captured. Marriage is so much more enjoyable that way.” She tilted her head in a slightly flirtatious manner and smiled broadly when he let out a hoot of laughter.
Penny wished Jonathan might have confided to her what had prompted that shout of laughter while he spoke with his mother. Was it perhaps something to do with the future and of their betrothal? Or was she being excessively sensitive about the matter?
At the house on Upper Brook Street Letty and Andrew joined Penny and Jonathan in the entry. Letty fiddled with the strings of her reticule before looking to Andrew for assistance.
“You see, the thing is, we have decided we do not wish to wait any longer,” he explained.
“Neither of us grows younger, you see,” Letty added by way of clarification.
“And you desire our help?” an astute Jonathan inquired. “We should like very much to have you as witnesses. Tomorrow,” Andrew declared. “Then we shall take ourselves off to the country for a bit before returning to the city.”
“I fancy it shall be a month or two,” added Letty again, looking at Andrew with starry eyes. Turning to Penny, she said, “Although I shall be sorry to miss your wedding.”
“Of course, we shall help you,” Penny said in a soothing. way. “Do not worry about a thing. Lady Harford will doubtless be disappointed.” Penny turned concerned eyes on Jonathan.
“She will survive, and she understands the difficulty of a prolonged wait. Shall we meet, say, at eleven at the clock m the morning?”
It was decided they could all manage that time. Letty floated up the stairs after Andrew departed.
“How do you feel about not waiting, my pet?” Jonathan warily searched Penny’s eyes, watching for a clue to her true feelings. He wondered what she had meant when she said she had no need for a love potion. Had she changed her mind about Stephen? He didn’t like to think so. He knew what he hoped, but was he too optimistic?
“Be serious, my lord. We have only to convince the world, not each other.” She bestowed a faint smile on him, then moved toward the stairs. “I am tired, and if we have to get up at such an ungodly hour, I must be off to my bed.”
Jonathan watched her go up the stairs, a cloud of violet and lavender. He suspected she was quite sincere in what she said. The drive to his elegant little house was a very thoughtful one. How was he to convince her that Lord Lanscomb was an unknown quantity, that he had the power to overset all her hopes and their plans? She might not think Jonathan was serious in his intent to marry her, but it made his goal no less real.
Daily the danger grew for her, for their happiness. Would that he could bring her with him before the cleric tomorrow as well!
* * * *
In the morning the house on Upper Brook Street was total chaos, from the attics to the basement kitchen.
Letty, attired in
