Page 79 of One Night with an Earl

“Who shall I say is calling?”

“Lady Penelope.”

He opened the door and allowed her to pass. “Wait here one moment, Miss. I’ll see if the lieutenant is up to seeing visitors.”

Ana waited until the butler’s footsteps faded down the hall before opening the front door and waving to the hackney. Seconds passed before the hackney door opened, and Penelope leaped from the conveyance. The hood of her cloak covered her fair hair and most of her face as she hurried inside to stand beside Ana. “I cannot wait another moment.”

Ana shut the door just as the butler returned and eyed them with a suspicious glint. “I didn’t realize there are two of you.”

Ana was quick to speak up. “My apologies. This is Lady Penelope. I am her chaperone, Miss Gardner.”

He nodded once. “Ah, it makes more sense now.”

“What does?” Penelope asked.

“He said his lady has fair hair.”

Penelope practically bounced on her toes. “I’ve waited a long time to see him. Kindly escort me to the lieutenant.”

The servant moved to block Penelope’s path. For the first time, Ana suspected he was not a typical English butler. He may not be a butler at all.

“You should prepare yourself for his injury, Miss,” he said. “It is not something a lady is accustomed to.”

Penelope spoke before Ana had a chance. “This lady is made of sterner stuff, sir.”

With that, the servant led them up a staircase and down a hall until they reached a closed door. He knocked once.

“Enter.”

The door opened, and they stepped inside a dim bedchamber. It was a masculine domain with mahogany furnishings, an Oriental carpet over hardwood floor, and a bed in the center of the room.

Penelope’s blue eyes widened as she took a step toward the bed, seconds before she stifled a cry with her hand. Ana followed her gaze to where a young man lay with his leg elevated on pillows. His eyes were closed, and a lock of fair hair tumbled across his forehead. His chin was covered with a week’s worth of stubble.

Penelope flew across the room. “Timothy!”

The soldier’s brown eyes cracked open. He blinked up at Penelope and focused his gaze. His eyebrows knit together, then eased into an expression of relief. “Can it be?”

“Yes! It’s me! Penelope.”

“Penelope?” He raised his hand to cradle her cheek.

Penelope clutched his hand to her face and sobbed.

“Please don’t cry, my love.”

Ana glanced at Lieutenant Smithfield’s injured leg. It was bandaged at the thigh with fresh linen.

As if reading her thoughts, Penelope asked, “Does it hurt?”

Lieutenant Smithfield shook his head. “Not as much now. They feared infection at first, but the fever has passed, and I’m much stronger now.” He looked past Penelope to Ana. “Who is your friend?”

“This is my chaperone, Miss Gardner. I trust her. She knows everything about…about us. To this day, she’s kept our secret.”

“Then I’m eternally grateful to you, Miss Gardner.”

“I wish you a speedy recovery, Lieutenant,” Ana said.

“The man who answered the door will not reveal your names. He is not an official butler, but a childhood friend.”