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June 6, 1815
Endress Hall
Derbyshire, England
Miss Penelope Watterson uttered what seemed like her fourth sigh of the afternoon. She finished off the row in her knitting then set the wool and the wooden needles on the sofa beside her as her older brother entered the drawing room.
“Good afternoon, Charles.”
Her mother, who sat on the low sofa opposite her, glanced up from the embroidery work she was doing and greeted him as well. “How was your hunting trip, dear?”
Charles, who had been away at a friend’s nearby estate, had just returned within the last hour. His blond hair had a bit of a windblown look to it, and while her own hair held that same golden hue, hers trended more toward honey these days since she kept out of the summer sun.
“It was well enough. Got in some good fishing, but mostly we played billiards, and a few outdoor games then went to the taverns in the evenings.” With a huff, he threw himself into a matching chair. “Anything of importance happen in my absence?”
“No.” Penny snorted. “Nothing of importance or anything else ever happens here.”
For the past three years, the Watterson family had cooled their heels in the Derbyshire countryside, for they had been forced to flee London due to multiple scandals, one of which had led to the sudden death of her father. Charles had taken the title of Baron Endress, and here they had remained. Of course, her brother, being male, had more freedoms than she did, but since her younger sister Sarah had had her reputation torn to shreds by bearing a child out of wedlock, Penny had no prospects for her own future, and that had been a hard truth to swallow three years ago at the age of two and twenty, when she should have been in midst of enjoying a few Seasons.
Not that it was any easier to swallow now.
To say nothing of the fact that their mother had never gotten over her mortification of the scandals. No doubt having all three of her children nearly shunned from society had been quite the blow, especially since it had come hard on the heels of losing her husband when his heart had attacked him.
“Entertainment isn’t all that you might wish it to be,” her mother said while returning to her handiwork. “Keeping busy with tasks that improve the mind is just as important.”
“Perhaps, but if I wish to be married and have a family of my own, something must be done.” And she certainly couldn’t find a man stuck here in the country. Derbyshire society was well enough, but the war had taken a toll on the number of eligible men who were available, and she would rather die than marry a man twice her age or who only wished to secure a mother to the children he already had. “There is no future while I am here.”
“Nonsense.” Her mother shook her head. Since Penny’s father died, her mother’s blonde hair had filled in with copious amounts of silver. “I’ve been told by a reliable source that Mr. Netterton is currently seeking a bride, and he’s handsome enough.”
“Handsome enough, perhaps, but he has two unruly twin boys who are ten years old. I am not looking to take on such a task.” The fact that she might need to do just that put a shiver down her spine. “Besides, I’ve been making plans of my own.”
Though she had been adopted into the Watterson family when she was a young girl of four from a tenant family who couldn’t care for yet another child, the baron and his wife—now her parents—had raised her like one of their own, and they didn’t hold it against her that she wasn’t a true Watterson. Penny loved her family quite fiercely, and since all their trouble began three years ago at the hands of Mr. Adam Coventry, she’d spent that time plotting revenge against him. Viscount’s son or not, he needed to be held accountable for what he’d done to her family, from her father’s death to her sister’s ruination, from her mother’s embarrassment to her brother’s reputation being cut up, and ultimately to the death of her own dreams.
He would pay.
Charles groaned. “Let me guess. You are still planning revenge.” It wasn’t a question, for the whole of her family knew of her intentions.
“Leave it be, Penelope.” Her mother’s mouth went into a hard line. “We have all been trying to move forward with our lives. You need to do the same.”
“Don’t you think I’m trying?” Why weren’t they as upset as she about these circumstances? What he’d done to their family had been horrendous, and then afterward, according to rumor, Mr. Coventry had fled England for America where he’d reportedly made a fortune. Doing what, she had no idea, and neither did she care.
I want to him hurt like he hurt us.
Charles and her mother exchanged a glance. Then her brother cleared his throat. “I rather think you should consign him to the future.” He found apparent interest in buffing his fingernails on his tan-colored breeches. “When I was on my hunting trip, I heard the news that Coventry has returned to London. Something about his father recently dying and him needing to attend to the Maplecrest title.”
Her heart leapt and her stomach muscles pulled at the news. “He’s back in London?”
“So it would seem. Which means he is beyond your reach.”
“Why? Don’t you wish to find satisfaction from him after what he did to your reputation?”
After the news broke that Sarah had been left with a babe in her belly because of that man, Charles had challenged him to an illegal duel. There had been a bit of vicious gossip that they fought over a mistress, but her brother had never talked about that day, and she liked to hope Charles had done the right thing by demanding Mr. Coventry marry her sister, but she had never managed to learn the truth surrounding the scandal, and her family had remained tight-lipped about it, had even forbidden her to refer to the subject again.
“I don’t wish to have that particular scab ripped off by deliberately antagonizing him in a public forum.” Charles narrowed his gaze on her. “And that includes you. Now that he has the title, more eyes will be upon him and anyone he has contact with. I don’t want people to remember sleeping scandals.”
“I can’t believe this.” Penny scrambled to her feet and propped her hands on her hips. “The whole reason we are all stuck here in Derbyshire lies at Mr. Coventry’s, er rather Viscount Maplecrest’s feet.” Why was she the only one incensed by this? “He is the father of Sarah’s child, yet he refused to marry her and hasn’t given over one farthing to help in Lily’s care.” The more she spoke, the more heat infused her cheeks, for there had been a time during her first Season when she’d thought there had been a connection between the viscount and herself, that he could have been the one. “That duel damaged your reputation, and you know you need a wife, to perhaps marry an heiress to help turn things around for this estate.” Knowing what she did now, nothing would ever happen between them.
How could it?
“Penny, stop.” A note of warning rang in his voice.
“No, the problem is that you’ve stopped caring.” Unexpectedly, tears sprang to her eyes in defense of her family. “He can’t be allowed to go through his life, meet all his dreams, get away without recourse for what he did.”
Her mother softly cleared her throat. “Men like the viscount populate the ton, Penelope. There is naught we can do, and I will caution you to keep Lily’s parentage a secret. As far as I know, we are the only people who know who fathered Sarah’s child.”
What was wrong with them? “But at least—”
“I said no and that is the end of it.” Annoyance echoed in her mother’s voice as that woman set aside her needlework and then stood. Charles scrambled to his feet. “No more talk about revenge. Eventually, Lord Maplecrest will have his comeuppance. We must be content with that knowledge. In the meanwhile, we will reside here. Derbyshire isn’t quite the horror you apparently believe, and I’m quite certain your brother can find you a suitable husband from among his acquaintances.”
At the last moment, Penny tamped on the urge to point her gaze at the ceiling. “Then that’s your solution, hmm? Get me married off so I’ll stop reminding you that what happened three years ago isn’t right?”
Again, her mother and Charles exchanged an uneasy glance.
“We have accepted what happened. You should as well, and this is the last I want to hear about it.” With a hard look at her, Penny’s mother left the room, leaving her alone with her brother.
“Why must you constantly upset Mama?” he asked as he reclaimed his chair. “That incident in the past has left her weak and saddened, and it makes her remember Papa’s death, which was difficult enough for all of us.” When he stared, Penny huffed and then reseated herself on the sofa. “It happened, but now we need to build our future.”
“While I agree to a point, I refuse to have my future hidden away in the country.” A quick glance around the room showed signs of wear and a certain shabbiness only genteel homes could. Had Papa not been a good steward of his estate? None of that was ever discussed with her or Sarah.
He snorted. “I don’t see how you can help that.”
“You can take me to London. Rent a townhouse so I can at least mingle on the fringes of society for the remainder of the Season.”
“Are you mad?” Surprise lined his expression, shadowed with a bit of fear. No doubt he was uncertain of her reception in Town. “We don’t need rumors resurrected.”
“I promise not to do anything untoward, and we both know how the ton works. Our scandals were three years ago; society has chewed up many other people in the interim. No one cares about our family any longer.”
At least that is what she hoped would happen.
“It’s still risky, and renting a townhouse is an expense we don’t need just now.”
When had her brother become so dull and without motivation? “Look at it this way. The pool of men widens in London, and shouldn’t I try to find a husband since you and Mama think that is what’s best for me?” She cocked an eyebrow. “If a titled man finds me charming, it could change the way the ton perceives us.”
“I don’t know...”
Clearly, she needed to raise the stakes. “If we do this and I make an advantageous match, that will only help your chances since you need a well-off wife. Imagine the improvements to the manor you could make with an infusion of coin.” However, therein lay the rub, finding a man with a title and influence who would overlook the dreck her family had fallen into.
All due to Adam Coventry’s vile roguish tendencies.
For long moments, Charles remained silent. Then, he slowly nodded. “While I am inclined to agree based on seeing you wed, why do I think you want to go to London to do everything except attract a man?”
The corners of her lips twitched. “I can do many things in Town at the same time.”
Finally, he sighed. “Fine. I’ll make the arrangements for a townhouse, but you must promise me that you will behave. I don’t want you seeking out Viscount Maplecrest for any reason, and if you do, we will return here immediately.”
What he wouldn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. “I agree, but bear in mind that I’m the only one of us who hasn’t done anything wrong, so why should I be punished for it?”
“Indeed.” Yet he wouldn’t meet her eyes.
Why?
After they’d put together a loose plan, Charles quit the room, presumably to write a letter to his man-of-affairs and arrange the rental as well as try to secure a few invitations to various social events for the summer.
“Charles said I would find you here.”
Penny glanced up from her knitting, which she had resumed after she’d won that battle. Just the first in putting her plan of revenge into motion. “I want to finish this blanket before he and I go to London.”
“Then it’s true? You are leaving Derbyshire?” her sister asked.
“For a couple of months.” Or perhaps longer if she did, indeed, find a suitable man to marry. “There are a few things I would like to do and I’m tired of wasting away in the country. There are no men here—men who are interesting that is—and while I think most men are scoundrels, the sad fact is I will need to marry if I’m to do anything with my life.” That was the dismal truth of a woman’s life in their world. They were left with precious little freedoms by themselves without an independent fortune.
“Ah.” Sarah took the chair that Charles had vacated earlier. Though she was but two years older than Penny, she looked more advanced in years. “You don’t wish to be a spinster like me?”
“I don’t wish to be a spinster at all if I can help it. I still have dreams.”
Her sister’s laugh held a tinge of bitterness. “I used to have dreams too, but now I’m a ruined woman with a wrecked reputation and a bastard child.” The smile she gave Penny had a decidedly wobbly edge. “Don’t misunderstand me. I love little Lily, but the future will prove difficult for me as well as her, and what kind of woman am I to do that to a child?” Tears welled in her eyes. “I can’t show my face in polite society, Penny, but you have the opportunity to pull away from all these dark clouds.”
“Meaning?” There was nothing she could do about her sister’s problems, but she could at least make new ones for the viscount, in which he would suffer. How she’d accomplish that, she had no idea, but it would take at least a week or so to plan and pack for London.
“I know you wish to engage Lord Maplecrest in some sort of drama or perhaps scandal, but I’m advising against it.”
“Why?” Did no one care about calling the man into account for what he’d done?
A sigh escaped her sister. She tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. “Nothing is gained by bringing up the ugliness of the past. Let us live the remainder of our lives in peace.”
“No!” The heat of justice burned in Penny’s cheeks. “Don’t you want the father of your child to be held to account? He could at least provide support or use his influence to open doors for her when she’s older.” Though, now that she thought about it, Lily had nothing of Adam Coventry’s looks, but perhaps that didn’t matter?
For a few fleeting seconds, Sarah seemed as if she might cast up her accounts, but then she took herself in hand. “I’d rather he not have anything to do with me or my child. Promise me you will let sleeping dogs lie.”
“I don’t know if I can do that. What he’s done to our family...” Penny shook her head. There was no doubt she doted on the two-year-old girl that had been a result of a rape at a ball three years ago. She felt a weird affinity for her, but she didn’t know why. All she knew was that she was grateful to be adopted by her own family. In that, she and Lily were much the same.
And she wanted the Watterson name to be restored so that the little girl might have some semblance of a chance in her future. It wasn’t her fault she’d come into this world a bastard.
“He deserves the chance to live his life in peace too,” Sarah said in a quiet voice.
“Ha!” How could she think that? “What the viscount did was beyond the pale, and I intend to do everything in my power to make his life miserable.” That old ache in her heart knew a resurgence, for she’d still retained a bit of betrayal from that night. When she’d thought she and Adam might have made a match of it, he was soon found holding her sister in an embrace and Sarah’s clothing in such a state there was no doubt about what had occurred.
Why had he preferred her when Penny would have given him the world had he asked?
Sarah’s eyes were haunted, but from what, she couldn’t tell. “I’m sorry for what happened; I know you wanted him for yourself.”
“That was a long time ago.” And the first real disappointment she’d known in life. “I shall rebound.”
“Out of us all, I have no doubts you will, especially since...” She closed her mouth with an audible snap and waved a hand in dismissal. “Well, it is all water under the proverbial bridge, isn’t it?” With another sigh, she shook her head. “I hope you find what you’re searching for in London. Write to me of your adventures so that I can live through you.”
“I will, but if the opportunity for revenge comes up, I shall take it.”
“I’ll wager Charles will keep you away from the viscount.”
“Why?”
Sarah shrugged. “Maplecrest is a bounder and no good. Let the past rest, Penny. Go find happiness because life is often disappointing. Having been made a parent, I’ve learned some things and realized some others. At times, secrets are better than the truth because it hurts.”
Had her family taken leave of their collective senses? “What does that mean? I am doing this for all of us.”
“Nevermind.” She stood and shook the wrinkles from her skirting. “Come upstairs with me. I’ll help you figure out which dresses and gowns to pack. You should at least look your best for revenge or other things.”
In this she wasn’t wrong.
