Page 31 of The Pleasure in Persuasion

“Dinner?” Lily sat back with a smile. “I’d like that. And I know Gran would, too.”

She would have to make arrangements for someone to watch over the inn while they were away, but it would be worth the trouble if it meant giving Gran a rare evening with friends and good food.

“Excellent,” Penelope said, clapping her hands together. “Shall we plan for Saturday evening?”

Lily nodded her agreement. That should give her plenty of time to find someone to watch the inn and plan what dress she would wear for the evening. Perhaps her green silk? Or maybe the blue organza?

She knew Frederick was going back to London soon, and that it would take more than a dress to compel him to stay, but she couldn’t help wanting to look pretty for him at least once before he left.

Maybe then it would be harder for him to forget her after he’d gone.

Penelope did not speak to Frederick before leaving the inn after her talk with Lily, so when he returned to the house later that evening, he had no idea what sort of welcome he would receive.

He didn’t have to wait long to find out, though. The moment he stepped into the entrance hall, his sister materialized in the drawing room doorway and asked to speak with him.

Frederick held back a weary sigh as he removed his dusty coat and handed it to his sister’s butler. “I spent most of the day laboring under the hot sun, Pen. Can this not wait until after I’ve changed?”

But his stubborn sister shook her head. “Now, please. It will only take a moment.”

He could see by the determined set to her jaw that there would be no winning this battle, so he handed his hat to Higgins with his thanks then followed Penelope into the drawing room.

She sat down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to hers, and although the officious gesture rankled, he did as he was instructed and sat down beside her.

“Listen, Pen, I know you’re angry with me, but—”

She held up a hand, staying his words, and the look she gave him left no doubt that she was the one in charge of this meeting.

“I’m not angry with you, Freddy,” she said. “I’m hurt.”

Bollocks. That was even worse. Much worse.

“I’m hurt that you’ve been lying to me for days,” she continued, her voice quiet, “and that you were sneaking around behind my back, keeping secrets from me.”

Frederick dropped his head and stared at his hands clasped in his lap. “I’m sorry. Truly. I didn’t like hiding this from you, but I didn’t know how to tell you without upsetting you.”

A moment passed and then she sighed. “I suppose I can understand that. I don’t know that I would have taken the news any better than I did, even if you’d told me at the start.”

Frederick looked at her. “You know I hate lying to you, Pen. You’re my favorite sister, and my friend.”

A small smile softened her features, and her eyes had regained some of their usual warmth. “I know.”

“Then will you please end my misery and tell me I am forgiven?”

She patted his knee. “Yes, all right. You’re forgiven.” She speared him with a pointed look, her smile fading. “My original warning still stands, though, Freddy. Trifle with Lily and you will answer to me.”

He opened his mouth to make his assurances, but she held up her hand to stop him.

“Don’t bother with the wounded pout or passionate denials. I saw the way you were looking at her and, worse, the way she was looking at you. Even a muttonhead could see there was some feeling between you.”

Frederick drew in a deep breath, a heavy knot of confused emotion settling in his chest. Penelope’s words were not unpleasant—after all, what man wouldn’t want to hear that a woman like Lily esteemed him?

Still, in that knot with the pleasure and satisfaction were other, less pleasant emotions, like discomfort. Guilt. Unworthiness. For what could a man like him offer a woman like Lily? He was the third-born son of a viscount with no goals, no occupation, no purpose in his life.

Lily deserved a better man than him.

“I won’t deny that there is an attraction between us,” he said, measuring his words, “but I have no intention of acting upon it, or of taking advantage of the situation. I care about Lily, and her grandmother, and I don’t want to do anything to hurt either of them.”

Penelope was silent for a long moment, her gaze downcast, and then she looked at him. “Sometimes we hurt people without meaning to, though.”