Chapter Five

Standing in front of Madame LaVallier’s tasteful Bond Street shop, Penny wondered if she had the strength to go through the doors and face the most famous modiste in London.  A modiste who was notorious for judging those she did not deem worthy to enter her shop but did so anyway, mostly out of foolish pride.  Because right now, if Penny had a choice, she would have much preferred to hurry back into her rented coach and have the driver take her far, far away from here.  Someplace where they did not read The Town Tattler.

Penny had risen late that morning, her late-night chat with Janie leaving her more tired than she had realized.  Then, after a quick breakfast, she had dressed for the day and gone out to pay visits to the shops along Bond Street, hoping to place more orders for gowns, fripperies, and other things “a woman in pursuit of a husband might need.”

All in order to keep up appearances – and deceive Harry – of course.

The express letter that had arrived from her uncle that morning had been very explicit regarding his expectations for her.  According to him, she was moving too slowly.  She needed to do more to entice Phin into her bed – something exceptionally difficult to do when the man wasn’t even in town.  However, according to her uncle, if that meant spending more coin on things such as daringly low-cut gowns, then so be it.  So long as she did not go over her budget, of course.

The tone and direction of Uncle Charles’ letter indicated that he was unaware of Lord Fullbridge’s absence from London.  Meaning that he likely was only reading papers like the Times or the London Daily.  Otherwise, he would have known that Lord Fullbridge was still in the country.  The Times had erroneously printed the story about him attending Lady Covington’s affair last evening while other papers, including as The Town Tattler, had reported correctly that the duke was still rusticating in the country.  Which bought Penny just a little more time to figure out a way to extract herself from this mess.  If such a thing was even possible now.

Especially now with Harry Greer watching her every move.  After last evening, she had no doubt that he was doing just that.  Even if she couldn’t see him.

Penny had been mulling over exactly what to do about her situation when Janie, who had somehow inexplicably taken over the general running of the household from Mrs. Handly in the overnight hours, had come up with a suggestion.  If Penny wished for her uncle to believe that she was following his orders and not flirting with Harry or anyone else for that matter, then the best way to go about it was to somehow snare herself a mention in the Times’ gossip section doing something very specific.  Something her uncle would approve of and could, at least in his own mind, link back to his plan for Penny to wed the duke.  And Janie just happened to know that a reporter for the Times was interviewing Madame LaVallier that very morning regarding the history of her modiste’s shop for an upcoming article.

So before Penny could utter as much as a peep of protest, Janie had Penny pressed, dressed, and out the door with a lowly scullery made masquerading as a lady’s maid since the Gray Lady that Janie had requested from Lady Berkshire had not arrived yet.  Janie had also sent several of the house boys out to “drop fleas in the ears” of several other houseboys in the neighborhood that hinted that Penny was increasing her pursuit of “a special someone” and that they were free to spread the gossip.

It would be gauche, Janie insisted, if Lord Fullbridge was mentioned by name.  Rather, the maid felt that as long as Lord Telford simply believed that Penny was in hot pursuit of the duke, even if the papers he read did not explicitly say as much, he would leave her be, as he likely didn’t wish to tip his hand too soon.

Janie had also pointed out that would leave Penny free to pursue one Mr. Harry Greer if she wished.  In the maid’s opinion, the Runner was the much better choice for a husband, even if he wasn’t a peer – yet.

At the time, Penny hadn’t been clear-headed enough to ask herself how a lady’s maid knew all of this information or how she had been clever enough to plan such a thing.  However, as Penny’s carriage rolled up on Madame LaVallier’s shop just as the Times’ reporter was departing – allowing Penny the chance to offer the man a cordial greeting as well as drop a hint that she was in Town to secure a “special someone” as her husband – Penny did begin to wonder.

Perhaps the maid was far more well-connected to the comings and goings of the ton than Penny realized.  Or perhaps servants gossiped more in London than they did elsewhere.  But that much gossip?  So much so that a lowly maid knew almost everything about Penny’s evening with Harry?  Knowing that her waltz with Harry last night went against her uncle’s explicit instructions to pursue Fullbridge?  Knowing the details of the previous evening to the point where that same maid felt compelled to assist Penny in further deceiving her uncle in such a blatant manner?  Even though Penny had, in fact, shared some but not all of that information with Janie?

It made no sense.  It simply didn’t.  And that bothered Penny.  Quite a lot.

As the footman helped Penny down from the carriage, her mind continued to whirl, struggling to put the pieces together.  None of it made any sense.  Not a bit.  Until she paused in front of Madame LaVallier’s shop in an attempt to gather her wits and calm her mind.

For it was then that she caught a glimpse of the front page of The Town Tattler, the paper clutched tightly in the hands of a passer-by.  And then Penny knew.  And once more, her mind was a riot of random thoughts and nearly paralyzing fears.

There, in Lady A’s infamous “best of the best” gossip column was Penny’s name, and it was linked with Harry Greer’s.

Of course it was.  Because the bloody annoying man was likely behind the entire story.  Probably so that he could use the article as an opening to somehow ferret out her secrets and uncover her uncle’s plot against Lord Fullbridge.

Penny would not put it past Harry to do such a thing.  Nor would she put it past him to somehow infiltrate her staff.  Or rather Lord Willfield’s staff.  Including Janie, which might explain how the maid knew so much.  Then again, for all Penny knew, Harry and the staff at Willfield House were the closest of friends, and they reported back to him daily regarding her activities.  After all, they were all a part of this world while she was merely an interloper.

Now, though, all of London, including Madame LaVallier, would believe that Penny was currently dangling after the most notorious bachelor in London – and a man who, until recently, had been all but betrothed – at least in the papers anyway – to Lady Dorothy Tillsbury.

The only way this could be any worse was if Uncle Charles found out!  However, he didn’t read the Tattler, and as far as Penny knew, neither did Viscount Westerly.  That was her only saving grace at the moment.

Still, as she stood in front of the modiste’s shop after speaking with the reporter, Penny could almost feel the people on the sidewalks stopping to stare at her.  People paused briefly as they strolled past her.  Because unlike her uncle, these people obviously read the Tattler and likely wondered who was this upstart chit who dared to sweep into Town and attempt to snatch Harry (she could not think of him as Mr. Greer after last night, at least in her own mind) away from the much-beloved Lady Dory?

Penny hated this.  Every single moment of it.

She hated being talked about and whispered about.  She hated having people wonder what she had done, or in some cases not done, to merit her inclusion in the gossip sheets.  She hated people prying into her business.  She was, in general, a very private person and this gossip felt like an intrusion of the worst sort into her life.

Penny had endured this sort of gossip before, back in Cumbria when she had first emerged from the wretched boarding school where she had been banished by her uncle for so many years.  She had hated every second of being scrutinized as she endured dress fittings and shopping excursions with Josephine.  Penny had also known this sort of gossip would happen again when she reached London.  But she had assumed it would be in connection with the duke and not a Runner.  And she still hated every second of it.  Even if she was now linked to Harry and not the Duke of Fullbridge.

“Lady Penny.”  Even after only one night, she would know that silken yet somehow still slightly husky voice anywhere.  And, of course, it would be him.  Who else would it be?  Still, she refused to allow him to rattle her again.  “How fortuitous running into you here.”

Despite every bit of social training she had ever endured, Penny whirled on the voice in a flurry of pale pink skirts and white ribbons, her fists clenched in anger and at odds with the light and airy day dress she wore.

“You!  You did this!” she hissed angrily.  “You are the one who made certain that infernal article was included in this morning’s paper!”

Harry looked at her in what could only be described as mild amusement and Penny’s anger flared anew.  How dare he act as if he was not responsible for the gossip swirling around her?  Around them!  And how dare he appear even more handsome this morning than he had last evening, his breeches clinging to his muscular thighs as if they were a second skin and his morning jacket cut so perfectly that there was little doubt about the impressive width of his shoulders?

“What have I done, my lady?”  Though his blue eyes twinkled with merriment, Penny could see a hint of something else there as well.  Could it possibly be embarrassment?  “If you are speaking of the Tattler article, please know that I was just as shocked as you were this morning.  As a Runner, I do my best to shun appearing on the gossip pages as much as possible.”

Strangely enough, Penny believed him and her anger cooled a fraction.  “So you were not responsible for Lady A writing that ridiculous story about us possibly courting?”

Could she have been wrong?  Penny knew she was occasionally impetuous but she was usually not so quick to jump to conclusions.  At least not like this.  After all, what proof did she have that Harry was connected to the article?  None.  Just because he was mentioned in it as well did not mean anything.  After all, they had been seen together by a ballroom full of guests, any of whom might have been Lady A.

Just because Penny was convinced Harry was out to uncover her secrets, that did not mean he actually was.  All of this could simply be a product of her overactive imagination.

Harry shook his head and looked fairly contrite.  “I swear to you on my honor as a Runner, I did not put that story there.  In fact, I am just as appalled as you are.”

“And Lady Dory?”  It hurt to ask, oddly enough, but Penny had to know.

“She and I are not courting, despite what the gossip rags say.”  Somehow, Penny knew Harry was being completely truthful with her just then.  “We are friends and have been for some time, but we have no eye toward marriage.  In fact, I have been led to believe just this morning that Lady Dory fancies another and wishes to wed him.  Not me.”  He raised an eyebrow at her.  “So am I forgiven for something I did not do?  For I do rather like you, Lady Penny, and hope that we might at least be cordial.  I fear it will make moving within the same circles rather difficult if we are not.”

Penny felt her face blush scarlet with shame.  She knew better than this!  What an utter fool she was being!  “My apologies, Mr. Greer.  I fear that I am a bit out of sorts this morning.  It is simply that I do not wish to be the subject of gossip connected to anyone.  Particularly a specific gentleman.  Not even you, kind and gracious as you are, sir.  It is nothing personal and I hope that you believe me.”

At that, Penny wished the earth would simply open up and swallow her.  She was making an utter mess of things.  She only hoped that Harry did believe her.  Just as she had asked.

“I would never dream of such a thing,” Harry finally reassured her and Penny felt herself relax a bit.  “I also understand, for I have the same fear myself.”

This was madness.  Penny knew it now.  She was being an utter fool and giving in to madness, rumor, and innuendo.  Nothing more.

She was twisted into knots over her uncle and that had her seeing ghosts where there were none.  She still didn’t trust this man, and she was almost certain he knew she was planning something, but he didn’t know what.  He couldn’t know.  No one did because her uncle had kept his plans for Lord Fullbridge, vague as they were, such a closely guarded secret.

So there was no possible way Harry could have placed that article in the Tattler in order to force her to reveal her plans.  It was absurd!  Truly, it was!

Lord above, but she was an idiot.  And a babbling idiot at that.

“I am sorry, Mr. Greer.  Honestly and I beg your forgiveness.”  Penny let out a long, slow breath.  “As I said, I am merely out of sorts this morning.  That is all.”

Harry cocked his head to the side and just then, she was reminded of an overly eager puppy she’d had as a child.  Always ready to please and do whatever it could to placate her.  Except that this man was no puppy and though he might not have placed the gossip article, he was still dangerous.  That, at least, hadn’t changed.

“Is there something I might do to cheer you, my lady?” he asked earnestly.  “I’m rather good at such things, you know.”

Had Penny been free to laugh, she would have.  The man was so obviously flirting with her!  And had she been free to do so, she would have flirted right back.  But she couldn’t.  She had to walk away from him now before she did something foolish.  Like risk being caught out with him by a Times reporter, for instance.

“I do not think so, sir, but you are kind to offer.”  She gestured to the shop in front of her, done up in dark purple and royal blues tones with Madame LaVallier’s signature gold leaf trim adorning the window frames.  “I am merely dress shopping this morning.  I plan to attend Lady Ardenton’s ball at the end of the week and I fear I need a new gown.  I am hoping she has something she can make up for me rather quickly.  None of mine fit properly any longer.”

Her gowns didn’t fit because she wasn’t eating and was, therefore, losing weight, but Penny didn’t say that.  Instead, she offered Harry a sunny smile and hoped he took the hint that she wished to be left alone.

Unfortunately, he stayed directly where he was, blocking the sidewalk so that she could not continue into the shop.  At least not without brushing past him and making a bit of physical contact, anyway.

“I was unaware that you were acquainted with Gibson and Amy.  Pardon me.  Lord and Lady Ardenton.” Though his face remained pleasant enough, Penny had the sudden impression that this man was trying to trick her now, though trick her into what she wasn’t certain.

“I am not,” Penny confessed deciding that the truth was better than a lie just now.  “Lady Radcliffe invited me just this morning.  She felt it would do me good to continue getting out of the house with my aun, er, cousin being so ill after last evening.”  The invitation from the duchess had been in the morning’s post and had been a far more pleasant bit of mail to receive than the missive from her uncle.

“I told you she was taking an interest in you.”  Harry’s face relaxed and when it did, so did Penny.  Perhaps he really was only protecting his friends and hadn’t noticed her minor slip-up regarding her non-existent cousin.  Though she rather doubted it.  “You could do much worse for a friend than Julia.”

Penny nodded in agreement.  “I am coming to think that you are correct.”  Biting her lip again, she hesitated about revealing more but decided that doing so couldn’t hurt. “I have few friends, as I’m certain you’ve noticed, Mr. Greer.  That Lady Radcliffe has taken such an interest in me, while surprising, is also something of a great relief.”

Once more, at the mention of his old friend, Harry’s face softened just a fraction and Penny felt a flash of jealousy.  Which was ridiculous.  This man was nothing to her.  So what if he held affection for Lady Julia Radcliffe?  It mattered not to her!  Except that perhaps it did.  Which made her an even greater fool than before.

“Julia knows what it is like to be on the fringes of Society.  It is no secret that her return to London several years ago was difficult for her and she had few friends at the time.  I think that perhaps she sees a kindred spirit in you.”

“Perhaps,” Penny agreed, once more a bit in awe that this man cared so much about protecting his friends.  If only someone cared that much about her, she might not be in the position she was in just now.  “In any case, I enjoy Lady Radcliffe’s company immensely and am quite looking forward to the event.”

That was true, too.  Penny was looking forward to the Ardenton ball.  It was a rather exclusive event attended by what many in London were beginning to refer to as the “Seldon Park Set,” meaning those friends and relations of the Bloody Duke who were routinely invited to his annual summer house party at his infamous country seat, Seldon Park, and were, in general, not on the list of people he considered his enemies.  Or on the list of those he wished to kill or maim for any reason.

Penny had never imagined she might be included in that exclusive club and she still wasn’t.  Not really.  This was merely a glimpse into a world she could never fully join, offered to her by a woman who likely felt sorry for her.  Still, whatever the reason, Penny would attend the ball and not feel the least bit guilty.  Besides, if Lord Fullbridge were to return to London for any event in the near future, it would most likely be the Ardenton Ball.  So by attending, she really was still doing what her uncle had instructed.

“Well, then I shall let you get to it.”  Harry gestured to the shop just behind him.

Penny dropped into a small curtsey, even though she knew she didn’t have to do so.  She was the one with the title and not Harry.  “Thank you.  And again, I am sorry, Mr. Greer.  I should not have accused you of planting that story.  Though I have only just met you, I should have known better.  You don’t seem like the sort of gentleman who would do such a thing.”

“Apologies are not necessary, Lady Penny,” he assured her again as he turned to leave.  “Though if you truly wish to make it up to me, there is one thing you can do.”

“And what is that?”  This time it was Penny who tilted her head to the side in curiosity.

“Save a dance for me at the Ardenton ball, if you please.”  He grinned at her, and despite the shock of his words, Penny felt her stomach dip all the way to her toes in the most delightful manner.  “You are, by far, the best dance partner I have had in recent months.  I should like another turn about the floor with you, if you don’t mind.”

Then, with a quick tip of his hat, Harry left Penny standing on the sidewalk wondering how he had outmaneuvered her so quickly.  So quickly, in fact, that she had never seen his request coming.

She also wondered how she could avoid him in the future and decided that it probably wasn’t possible.  If he wanted to find her, he would.  And there was precious little she could do about it.

Penny was in so very much trouble that again she wished the sidewalk would simply open up beneath her and swallow her whole.  But it didn’t.  Nor did she run away as she had dreamed about earlier.  Instead, she squared her shoulders and marched into Madame LaVallier’s shop, her make-believe “maid” trailing behind.  She could do this.  She had to.  She didn’t have any other choice.

“How long has she been in there?”  Marcus, Viscount Breckenright asked as he squinted at the shop across the street from the alley where Harry had positioned both of them earlier.

“Nearly three hours.”  He glanced over at his old friend who was leaning up against the side of the filthy building in what looked to be a considerable amount of pain.  “I told you to bring your cane.”

If Harry had been given a choice, he would have picked anyone other than the viscount with a lame leg as a partner for this particular spying mission.  However, very few of his friends were available this morning and Harry had no wish to involve Bow Street – or other Runners – in what was essentially a private matter.  And in truth, Marcus could be counted on in a pinch no matter his physical limitations, though Harry doubted any sort of physical heroics would be necessary today.  Really, this was more about playing look-out and keeping him company.

The other man snorted.  “I am trying my best to go without it, if you must know.  I promised Caroline that I would work more to strengthen my leg.”  Then he patted a darkened area of the wall beside him.  “Actually, I have my cane, just in case.  Though, as I said, I’m trying not to use it.  Promises, remember?”

“You make your wife all sorts of promises you cannot keep,” Harry sighed, keeping his spyglass trained on the front window of the modiste’s shop.  He could see figures moving about inside but he could not determine if any of them were Penny.  He doubted it, however.

“Wait until you are wed, my friend,” Marcus chortled gleefully, “and see how many promises you make to your wife that you know you can’t keep just to ensure her happiness.”

That, finally, made Harry risk a glance at his friend, taking his eyes off the shop for a few moments.  “We have been over this, Marcus.  I will never wed.  I am not the marrying kind and I would be miserable husband material.”  He put his spyglass back to his eye and let out a satisfied sigh when he caught sight of Penny still standing on the pedestal in the very back of the shop when someone parted the front window’s drapes a fraction wider.  “Besides, no woman would have me.”

“You mean Lady Dory?”  Marcus snorted in amusement.  “No, she wouldn’t have you in a million years and we both know it.  As does she.  You are not for her, my friend.  She is a far greater hellion than I think any of us realized.  Even Frost.”

“He’ll kill her if she stirs up too much trouble,” Harry countered, his gaze still trained on the shop.  “Or lock her in her room and throw away the key.  She is in it deep enough as it is.”

“Frost?”  Marcus snorted again.  “Unlikely.  He’s far too indulgent with all of his sisters, no matter what they do or whom they do it with.  But we were not discussing Lady Dory.  Rather we were discussing you and what sort of lady might be willing to wed you.  Should one actually exist, mind you.”

“And I have stated repeatedly that I will not wed.”  Harry moved again to make certain Penny stayed in his line of sight as she began to move off of the pedestal, likely planning to change back into her own gown.

“You could marry her,” Marcus offered quietly as a group of chattering women strode past, footmen and maids burdened down with packages trailing slowly behind.  “I saw the way she looked at you at the ball last night.  She was interested.  As were you.  That is a first.”

Harry grunted.  He really had no desire to discuss this with anyone, let alone Marcus.  “She is suspicious of me.”

“Considering that you are spying on her as if she is a common thief, I would say that she has a right to be,” Marcus countered.  “But that doesn’t mean she also doesn’t desire you.  You are not as passionless as you pretend to be, my friend.  All it will take is the right woman and suddenly, things will change.  Caro changed me, after all.”

Harry clamped his lips shut rather than arguing with his friend – mostly because Marcus was right, at least in a way.  In the span of one short night, Lady Penny had changed him.  Somehow, someway, and for reasons Harry could not explain, she made him feel a desire hotter and more powerful than he had ever known.

He had desired women before, but with Penny?  He wanted to take her and possess her and the longer he was here, hiding in this filthy alley, spying on her?  The more he wanted to march right into Madame LaVallier’s shop and kiss her as if his life depended upon it.  Because just then, it felt exactly that way.

But this feeling, peculiar as it was, would pass.  Feelings such as these always did – when he had them, which was not often.  They had to pass.  Else Harry was afraid he might lose his mind.

“Lady Penny Marshwood is an assignment to me, Marcus.  Nothing more.”  Except she could become more.  If he let her.  Because the mere sight of her made him burn with inexplicable need.  Perhaps he was ill.  That would be a more logical explanation for his odd behavior.

Behind him, Marcus shifted and sighed.  “It is perfectly fine to be human, Harry.”

“I wasn’t aware that my humanity was up for debate.”  He switched the spyglass to his other eye.  Penny was gone.  Likely finished with her fittings for the day.  He had missed her departure from the fitting room.  Damn it all anyway!

“Do not be dense,” Marcus snapped, fishing out his cane for support and wrenching the spyglass roughly out of Harry’s hands.  “I know what Dory said.  We all do.  But you are not boring and old, my friend.  Nor are you without passion as you seem to believe.  You are merely sleeping, as we all were before we met the women we were fated to wed.  They woke us up.  The same will happen to you, you know, likely when you are least expecting it.”

Harry snatched the glass back, utterly annoyed, and not only because his spying had been interrupted.  “I am what I am, Marcus.  I am a protector.  A guardian.  I always have been.  And I always will be.  Now enough.  Miss Marshwood is about to leave and I can’t lose sight of her.  I need to know who she speaks with and where she goes from here if we are to protect Fullbridge.”

Once more, Marcus sighed, though he picked up the shoulder bag full of spy equipment that Harry had insisted they bring with them.  “One day, Harry, you will meet the right woman and your world will upend in an instant.  I only hope that when you do, you are not too stubborn to notice when she is in front of you and all but stripping herself naked in the vain hope that you will notice her.”  He nudged Harry’s shoulder.  “There.  Miss Marshwood is leaving.  My carriage is down the block.  If we hurry, we can tail her, though she is likely only returning home.”

Pushing past him, Marcus made his way out of the dirty alley far quicker than Harry would have imagined for a man beset by so many physical ailments.  Perhaps promising Caro that he would strengthen his leg was doing Marcus some good after all.  He might not have been wrong about that.

But he was wrong about Harry.

Because Harry had already met the woman that had awakened the passions inside of him and she had somehow managed it during the space of a single waltz.  And he wanted her.  The more he watched her, the more he wanted her.

Except that he couldn’t have her.  Because he didn’t trust her and she didn’t trust him.

Because they were both keeping secrets, neither of them free to be who they truly were.

But if he was free?  If he could have even a small taste of Lady Penny’s delightful lips?

Then she wouldn’t have to strip naked in front of him to capture his attention for she would already have it.  And he would pray that he had hers as well.