Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(18)
“I asked Raiford if he loved you.”
Lily had taken the first opportunity to steer Penelope to a private room where they could have, as she put it, a “sisterly chat.” Immediately she had launched into an account of the Middleton hunt, determined to make Penny understand what manner of man she was engaged to.
“Oh, Lily, you didn’t!” Penelope put her hands over her eyes and moaned. “But why would you do such a thing?” Suddenly she surprised Lily by bursting into giggles. “I can’t imagine how his lordship replied!”
“I don’t see what is so amusing,” Lily said with perplexed dignity. “I am trying to have a serious conversation with you about your future, Penny.”
“My future is well in hand! Or was, rather.” Choking with dismayed laughter, Penelope covered her mouth with her hand.
Indignantly Lily wondered why the story of her meeting with Raiford at the hunt was causing her sister amusement, instead of making her properly alarmed. “In response to my perfectly straightforward question, Raiford was rude, evasive, and insulting. In my opinion, he is not a gentleman, and is far from worthy of you.”
Penelope shrugged helplessly. “All of London recognizes him as a splendid catch.”
“I beg to differ.” Lily paced back and forth in front of the canopied bed, repeatedly slapping a kid glove in her palm. “What are the qualities that make him a good catch? His looks? Well, I admit he could be considered handsome—but only in a bland, cold, unremarkable sort of way.”
“I…I suppose that is a matter of taste…”
“And as to his fortune,” Lily continued vigorously. “There are many other men who have the means to take care of you and keep you in a fine style. His title? You could easily land someone with even bluer blood and more impressive lineage. And you can’t claim you have any great liking for Raiford, Penny!”
“The arrangement has been made and settled between Papa and Lord Raiford,” Penelope replied softly. “And while it is true that I do not love him, I never expected to. If I am fortunate, that sort of feeling may come later. That is the way of things. I am not like you, Lily. I have always been very conventional.”
Lily uttered a garbled curse and stared at her in frustration. Something about her sister’s prosaic manner was making Lily feel much as she had during her rebellious youth, when everyone had seemed to have an understanding of the world that she could not share in. What was their secret? Why did a loveless arranged marriage make sense to everyone else and not to her? Clearly she’d enjoyed too much freedom for too long. She sat on the bed next to Penelope. “I don’t see why you’re so agreeable to the prospect of marrying a man you don’t care for.” Lily tried to sound brisk, but her voice came out plaintive.
“I am not agreeable, just resigned. Do forgive me for saying it, Lily, but you are a romantic, in the worst sense of the word.”
Lily scowled. “Not at all! I have quite a hard-bitten, practical nature. I’ve been dealt enough knocks to develop a realistic understanding of the world and its workings, and therefore I know—”
“Dearest Lily.” Penelope took her hand and pressed it between her own. “Since I was a little girl, I’ve always thought of you as the most beautiful, most courageous, most everything. But not practical. Never practical.”
Lily withdrew her hand and regarded her younger sister in amazement. It seemed that Penelope wasn’t going to be as cooperative as she had expected. Well, the plan still had to be carried out. It was for Penny’s own good, whether or not she admitted that she needed to be rescued. “I don’t want to talk about myself,” she said abruptly. “I want to talk about you. Of all the swains in London, there must have been someone you preferred over Raiford.” She arched her brows meaningfully. “Such as Lord Stamford. Hmm?”
Penelope was quiet for a long time, her thoughts seeming to drift to some faraway place. A wistful smile appeared on her face. “Dear Zachary,” she whispered. Then she shook her head. “My situation is settled. Lily, you know that I have never asked you for anything. But I am asking you now, from the depths of my heart, please do not take it into your head to ‘help’ me. I am going to abide by Papa and Mama’s decision and marry Lord Raiford. It is my obligation.” She snapped her fingers as if a new idea had occurred to her. “Why don’t we direct our attention toward finding a husband for you?”
“Good God.” Lily wrinkled her nose. “I have no use for men. Of course, they can be great fun on the hunting field and in the gaming room. But other times…oh, men are too bloody inconvenient. Greedy, demanding creatures. I can’t abide the thought of being at someone’s beck and call, and being treated as a forward child instead of a woman with her own opinions.”
“Men are useful if one desires a family.” Like all proper young girls of her station, Penelope had been taught that bearing children was a woman’s most laudable role.
The words gave Lily an unpleasant sensation, stirring up painful emotions. “Yes,” she said bitterly. “They’re certainly helpful in producing children.”
“You don’t wish to be alone forever, do you?”
“Better that than to be some man’s pawn!” Lily didn’t realize she had spoken aloud until she saw the confusion on Penelope’s face. Giving her a quick smile, Lily fumbled for a shawl draped over a chair. “May I borrow this? I believe I’ll go exploring, perhaps take a stroll outside. It’s rather stuffy in here.”
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