fear.
Yet, she trembled.
‘Are you okay?’
Glancing up, she met Heath’s concerned brown eyes. Swallowing her anxiety and pushing images of the dark rider to the back of her mind, she struggled to remember what he’d asked.
Oh, riding.
‘Very poorly, I’m afraid,’ she said. ‘I’ve never had much practice and prefer my own two legs and the ground beneath my feet. Georgie is the expert horsewoman in our family. She rides exceptionally well.’
‘And where do you like to walk?’ he asked, ignoring her compliment of Georgina.
‘Oh, anywhere,’ Penelope replied. ‘The meadows. Broadhurst Manor—I enjoy walking the grounds and, of course, the forest.’
‘Perhaps I could join you on one of your walks,’ he suggested, ‘and you can show me some of the countryside. No one knows the country better than one who walks it.’
Penelope beamed, relaxing slightly. ‘I’d be delighted to.’
‘Excellent,’ he replied. ‘I’m thoroughly enjoying Broadhurst and all the sights it has to offer. I do so hope to see much more of it, much more indeed.’
Penelope stayed overnight at Broadhurst Manor, which wasn’t unusual. Being a regular visitor she had her own room set aside on the third floor, separate from the other family members. The chamber was as familiar and comfortable as her room at the parsonage, albeit slightly larger and more elaborate.
After the last of the guests had been bid goodbye, Penelope and Georgina looped arms and made their way upstairs. Downstairs, Harry, Heath and Uncle Henry were left to their port and cigars.
‘Mrs Priscopp is inviting her Anne to visit,’ Georgina observed.
‘She told me.’
‘Well, you simply must secure Mr Lockwood’s affections before that very disagreeable girl gets here.’
‘Georgina!’
‘Well, if I was only suspicious before, after observing you both tonight I am certain of his growing affection for you,’ Georgina said.
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Penelope said, secretly pleased. The corners of her lips itched with a smile.
Georgina eyed her. ‘Oh, I think you know well enough what I mean. Neither I, nor any other, have any hope of Mr Lockwood falling in love with us when he is so obviously enamoured with you.’
Penelope remained quiet but felt like she was glowing from the inside out. The sound of Heath’s laughter wafted up to them from downstairs, warming her heart even more. She felt as if she might actually burst.
‘I shall keep him here for you,’ Georgina whispered conspiratorially, ‘I’ll tell Harry not to let him go until he has proposed! We shall make him our prisoner of sorts!’
Penelope shivered at her words. ‘Georgie, you will do no such thing! We know nothing about him.’
‘Wasn’t it you who said that didn’t matter, so long as his manners and conduct were acceptable?’ Georgina pointed out.
‘Yes. I suppose I did.’
They reached the point on the stairs where they parted for their rooms. ‘Goodnight, Penelope.’ Georgina hugged her, eyes twinkling with mischief and delight. ‘Sweet dreams.’
Once in her chamber, Penelope took her time preparing for bed.
Brushing out her long, pale hair she mulled over the evening, thinking of how attentive Heath had been and how glorious he made her feel. She trembled, recalling the feel of his warm, brown eyes on her, consuming her, and how his smile made her heart flutter and catch in her throat. She wondered what might happen if he ever actually touched her, if his lips ever kissed hers.
How she wished she had a mother to counsel her, to provide guidance in matters of the heart. Her mother had died when Penelope was young, and she had only vague memories of a pretty, gentle lady. Sometimes, Penelope would sit near her mother’s grave and talk to her, even though she knew well enough that ghosts couldn’t talk. But maybe they could hear.
She was just climbing into bed when she heard a noise outside her room. She paused. It came again, a soft flutter
Yet, she trembled.
‘Are you okay?’
Glancing up, she met Heath’s concerned brown eyes. Swallowing her anxiety and pushing images of the dark rider to the back of her mind, she struggled to remember what he’d asked.
Oh, riding.
‘Very poorly, I’m afraid,’ she said. ‘I’ve never had much practice and prefer my own two legs and the ground beneath my feet. Georgie is the expert horsewoman in our family. She rides exceptionally well.’
‘And where do you like to walk?’ he asked, ignoring her compliment of Georgina.
‘Oh, anywhere,’ Penelope replied. ‘The meadows. Broadhurst Manor—I enjoy walking the grounds and, of course, the forest.’
‘Perhaps I could join you on one of your walks,’ he suggested, ‘and you can show me some of the countryside. No one knows the country better than one who walks it.’
Penelope beamed, relaxing slightly. ‘I’d be delighted to.’
‘Excellent,’ he replied. ‘I’m thoroughly enjoying Broadhurst and all the sights it has to offer. I do so hope to see much more of it, much more indeed.’
Penelope stayed overnight at Broadhurst Manor, which wasn’t unusual. Being a regular visitor she had her own room set aside on the third floor, separate from the other family members. The chamber was as familiar and comfortable as her room at the parsonage, albeit slightly larger and more elaborate.
After the last of the guests had been bid goodbye, Penelope and Georgina looped arms and made their way upstairs. Downstairs, Harry, Heath and Uncle Henry were left to their port and cigars.
‘Mrs Priscopp is inviting her Anne to visit,’ Georgina observed.
‘She told me.’
‘Well, you simply must secure Mr Lockwood’s affections before that very disagreeable girl gets here.’
‘Georgina!’
‘Well, if I was only suspicious before, after observing you both tonight I am certain of his growing affection for you,’ Georgina said.
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Penelope said, secretly pleased. The corners of her lips itched with a smile.
Georgina eyed her. ‘Oh, I think you know well enough what I mean. Neither I, nor any other, have any hope of Mr Lockwood falling in love with us when he is so obviously enamoured with you.’
Penelope remained quiet but felt like she was glowing from the inside out. The sound of Heath’s laughter wafted up to them from downstairs, warming her heart even more. She felt as if she might actually burst.
‘I shall keep him here for you,’ Georgina whispered conspiratorially, ‘I’ll tell Harry not to let him go until he has proposed! We shall make him our prisoner of sorts!’
Penelope shivered at her words. ‘Georgie, you will do no such thing! We know nothing about him.’
‘Wasn’t it you who said that didn’t matter, so long as his manners and conduct were acceptable?’ Georgina pointed out.
‘Yes. I suppose I did.’
They reached the point on the stairs where they parted for their rooms. ‘Goodnight, Penelope.’ Georgina hugged her, eyes twinkling with mischief and delight. ‘Sweet dreams.’
Once in her chamber, Penelope took her time preparing for bed.
Brushing out her long, pale hair she mulled over the evening, thinking of how attentive Heath had been and how glorious he made her feel. She trembled, recalling the feel of his warm, brown eyes on her, consuming her, and how his smile made her heart flutter and catch in her throat. She wondered what might happen if he ever actually touched her, if his lips ever kissed hers.
How she wished she had a mother to counsel her, to provide guidance in matters of the heart. Her mother had died when Penelope was young, and she had only vague memories of a pretty, gentle lady. Sometimes, Penelope would sit near her mother’s grave and talk to her, even though she knew well enough that ghosts couldn’t talk. But maybe they could hear.
She was just climbing into bed when she heard a noise outside her room. She paused. It came again, a soft flutter
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