“Oh, famous!” Charis bubbled with delight. “What fun the gossips will have with that tidbit. Shall you send in the announcement, Mama?”
“Your brother will see to it, my love. He is off this afternoon making a number of contacts. Penny refuses to believe that she is in danger of having to face her guardian before the wedding can take place. I urged Jonathan to cajole her into hurrying things along, but he has this absurd notion . . .“ Suddenly aware she had said far too much, Lady Harford closed her mouth, giving Penny an apologetic look. Really, life was most complicated.
Fearing the worst, Penny put on a brave face, returning the subject to that of the morning wedding.
“Since you stood up with Letty, you must consent to stand witness for me,” Charis cried, pleased with her clever idea. “I feel sure that dearest David will wish Jonathan to attend him. Did Letty not seem nervous? I vow, I shall be all atwitter with anxiety that I forget something. Do you know,” she confided,” Mama and I decided that plain white satin trimmed with white lace and tiny pearls would be just the thing?”
Penny smiled and nodded while her heart felt a peculiar twist. A longing for a mother to plan and hope with her came over her with an intensity that near ached. She was alone; she had never realized just how alone until now. On one side of her she had Lady Harford, who politely offered assistance. Her other side was endangered by her aunt, who seemed to become more formidable and menacing by the day, especially when supported by that entire branch of the family. The Winthrops believed in retaining their own.
Sounds from the hall preceded the entrance of the man who had been hovering in her thoughts. Lord Harford stood just inside the door, taking in the little scene. His face could not have been more grim. Lady Harford jumped to her feet, followed by the girls. “What has happened?”
“I just found out that Lord Lanscomb entered London late last evening with that party of Austrian diplomats. They went to the Esterhazy establishment to report. Lanscomb has set himself up at the Clarendon for the time being. I fancy it will not take long for your aunt to seek him out. I think you had better get there first.”
Penny met Jonathan’s gaze quite fearlessly, then walked toward him. “I shall go at once, and hope that he will meet with me.” She gave a peculiar little laugh. “I do not recall ever seeing him, so I shan’t know what to expect. I do hope he is not the dragon I fear. Excuse me, my lady, Charis, Jonathan.” She curtsied, then left the room, looking very alone and forlorn.
Jonathan gave an exasperated look at his mother, then followed Penny across the entry to the front door. “I am going with you. You once admitted that my position carried some weight. Remember?” They left together, his hand firmly at her elbow. Penny found herself being inexorably guided to the curricle that stood before the house.
“My maid?” she murmured in light protest.
“Hang your maid,” he snapped back in aggravation. “We formally announced our betrothal last night. I, for one, do not care a blasted fig for what anyone says at this point.’’
“My, my,” she replied, a faint smile coming to her lips, “we are annoyed this afternoon.”
“You seem to forget that your guardian has arrived in London.” He gave his horse the office to proceed, then spent agonizing minutes weaving through the crush of London traffic.
Penny remained silent until the carriage drew up before the Clarendon Hotel in Bond Street. She walked beside Jonathan into the building with her heart beating far too fast and her mouth as dry as day-old toast.
The request to see Lord Lanscomb was met with a curious look from the man at the desk. He merely nodded, sent a boy off with the card that Jonathan handed him, and they waited.
Penny would have liked to pace back and forth as the gentlemen did. It seemed a good thing to do while waiting. “Pity there is not an accessible fireplace here,” she murmured, to Jonathan’s confusion.
Some minutes later, the boy returned with a request they follow him. When they reached the numbered door behind which her guardian waited, Penny found her courage failing her. She turned to Jonathan, extending a trembling hand. “I do not know if I can utter a word.”
“You’ll do just fine,” he said with more hope than anything else.
The man who greeted them was not quite what Penny had expected in the many times she had thought about her guardian. He was lean and fit, as might be expected of someone who spent much of his time climbing mountains. His hair was brushed with silver, fine lines curved about his eyes and mouth, and elegant side whiskers adorned his face. He looked politely curious, nothing more.
“I am Lady Penelope Winthrop, my lord,” Penny plunged on, not waiting for Jonathan to introduce her. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.” She hoped her curtsy did Miss Nilsson proud.
A wry smile tilted the thin mouth beneath his veritable beak of a nose. “Ah, so we meet at last. I must apologize, I quite forgot you should have grown up by this point.”
“There is a matter of some importance, or we would not have intruded on your first day in London,” Jonathan inserted in apology after introducing himself. He then proceeded to outline, with interjections now and again from Penny, just what had transpired and why they sought his assistance.
“I see. I shall need to discuss this with your solicitor, of course. However, Lady Winthrop has a point in her favor, it would seem.” He massaged his chin, staring off into space
