Page 63 of One Night with an Earl

He gazed down at her with smoldering intensity. “You know I want you, but I will respect your wishes. What I seek most of all is for you come to me of your own free will.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. “Sweet dreams.”

Heart pounding, Ana entered her room, closed the door, and leaned against the wood. After a moment of utter stillness, she reached up to touch her fingers to her mouth, reliving the devastating softness of his kiss. She was tempted, sorely tempted, to walk down the hall and knock on his door.

Invite herself inside.

How had the tables turned so swiftly?

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Come along, Penelope. A picnic is just what you need. Nothing like fresh country air to lift a girl’s spirits,” Lady Malvern said, flicking open the curtains in Penelope’s room.

Penelope sat up in bed and shielded her eyes with her hand in protest. “Mama. It’s bright!”

“Nonsense. It’s well past noon and time to rise. Besides, Lord Drake will join us along with Mr. and Mrs. Cummings. You will have another chance before we depart for home later today.”

When Penelope continued to protest, Lady Malvern’s ample bosom rose and fell in barely suppressed annoyance. She turned her attention to Ana. “Miss Gardner, please see that my daughter is dressed and ready. And for goodness sakes, do something about her puffy eyes. She looks like she’s in mourning.”

With a swish of skirts, Lady Malvern departed.

Ana approached Penelope. “Your mother’s right, darling. It’s been two days, and you have been less than enthusiastic. You need to attend this picnic. Rosewater should do the trick for the puffiness beneath your eyes.”

“I slept fitfully again all last night. I keep having nightmares of Lieutenant Smithfield’s mangled leg.” Penelope rubbed her eyes.

The girl hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since reading the young man’s letter. “All will be well, Penelope. Meanwhile, you must not let your mother suspect anything more than she already does.”

Penelope stood. “What do you mean?”

Ana could not put off the truth any longer. Penelope needed to protect herself. Ana vowed to be firmer with the girl in order to protect her.

“Your mother suspects you have romantic feelings for another. She does not know about Lieutenant Smithfield, or that you two have been writing each other, but she is aware of something.”

“Oh,” Penelope said, then sat back on the edge of the bed. “What do I do?”

“Get dressed and attend this picnic. Smile and pretend you have been under the weather but feel better. Eat and drink and converse.”

“You must think I’m selfish. I agreed to come here for you to be in close proximity with Lord Drake.”

Memories of last night came back in a rush. Stargazing with the earl had been as surprising as it had been pleasurable. The earl hadn’t pressed her to come to his room, and he hadn’t forced himself into hers. Rather, he’d left her with the choice. Did he know how close she had come to knocking on his own door?

But meanwhile, Penelope needed to mind her own business.

“Penelope, you must stop your own matchmaking efforts immediately,” Ana said.

A low knock on the door sounded, and a young maid carried in a bowl of rosewater.

“Perfect.” Ana took the bowl. “Now let’s do something about the circles beneath your eyes and then get you dressed.”

…

Ana strolled outside arm in arm with Penelope to join the group on the lawn, where a table was already set with delicacies prepared by the staff for a picnic. The sun warmed their cheeks and seemed to lift Penelope’s spirits. The girl smiled sweetly and greeted Lord Drake and both Mr. and Mrs. Cummings. The rosewater had worked wonders, and Penelope looked youthful in a pale blue dress of fine cambric muslin. Lord and Lady Malvern already were seated on a blanket with plates of food before them.

“We received a surprise today on our way back from a morning ride with Drake,” Lord Malvern said.

“Oh? What kind of surprise?” Lady Malvern asked.

“Two of Rosedown’s tenants married,” Lord Malvern said.

Lady Cummings set her plate down on the blanket. “A wedding? How lovely!”