The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(45)

“Yes, go on. Go on,” Jane prompted.

I think this is absolutely perfect, darlings. I have some important news to share. I’ll tell you all about it after I arrive. Look for me on Wednesday afternoon. I simply cannot wait to see you both.

Cass gulped. Wednesday afternoon? It was Wednesday morning.

“What do you think her ‘important news’ is?” Jane wanted to know.

“Who cares about that?” Cass nearly shrieked. “Do you know what this means?”

“It means Penelope is on her way here as we speak,” Lucy declared, tapping her finger against her cheek.

Cass tossed the letter onto the tabletop. She searched the room’s ceiling. “What are we going to do?”

“It solves the problem of you producing her for Captain Swift, at least,” Jane pointed out, taking another bite of her muffin.

“But it presents an even greater problem,” Cass moaned. “What shall we do?”

“There’s nothing to do,” Jane replied. “You either have to send Captain Swift on his way or intercept Penelope somehow. Those are the only two choices.”

Lucy snapped her fingers. “No, wait!”

Cass raised her head, a bit hopeful at Lucy’s tone. “What?”

Lucy’s eyes had a telltale gleam in them. She’d thought of something. “This may just be perfect.”

“How could it be perfect?” Jane popped another bit of a muffin into her mouth.

“Do you intend to eat all of those muffins?” Lucy asked her.

“Perhaps,” Jane replied.

“Stop talking about the muffins!” Cass nearly shouted, her anxiety rising with each moment. “What were you going to say, Lucy?”

“Yes, tell us how this could possibly go well,” Jane replied, blinking at Lucy.

Lucy tapped her fingers along the tabletop. “Julian and Penelope would need to be in each other’s company in order to end their agreement, correct?”

“Yes,” Cass replied, narrowing her eyes at her friend.

“And if she comes here, they will be in each other’s company, correct?” Lucy continued.

“Aren’t you forgetting the part where Cass is pretending to be Patience Bunbury and you are calling yourself Lady Worthing? How will you explain that to Penelope?” Jane asked.

“We won’t have to,” Lucy replied.

“What are you talking about?” Cass asked.

Lucy shrugged. “We’ll simply hide.”

“Hide?” Cass rubbed her eyes.

“Hide?” Jane nearly spat out her muffin. “You have truly gone mad now.”

Cass shook her head. “What do you mean, hide?”

“When Pen arrives, we can arrange for her to see Julian. They’ll end things. Pen will then come in search of us and we’ll ensure we’re alone with her. I cannot imagine she will want to stay at a house party with her former betrothed, can you?”

“Why don’t you just tell Pen that Cass is pretending to be Patience Bunbury?” Jane asked, her eyes also narrowed.

“Oh, I doubt she’d like to know that we’ve ruined the identity of her most valued friend,” Lucy replied.

“Lucy is right about that,” Cass agreed. “Besides, she asked me to tell Captain Swift she was with Patience not become Patience myself.”

“I’m glad you agree with me, Cass, because—”

“Wait just a moment. I said you were right about that. I do not, however, agree with you on the rest of it.” Cass shook her head. “The idea of hiding from Pen is ridiculous.”

Lucy scrunched up her nose. “Why? I quite like it.”

“I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I actually agree with Lucy,” Jane said.

Cass bit her lip and glanced at her friend. “You do, Janie?”

“Yes, I do. Penelope has never seemed to give a toss about Captain Swift. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is utterly relieved. And if you meet with her alone, you’ll be able to keep her from knowing that you’re pretending to be Miss Bunbury.”

Cass held her breath. It all seemed too easy. “I suppose there is no harm in trying. But I must insist that if Pen is upset after speaking with Julian, we will stop this entire thing. I will not see my cousin hurt.”

“Agreed,” Lucy said with a nod.

Cass turned to Jane. “Will you meet her at the door, Jane? Make certain she’s comfortable?”

Jane nodded. “Of course, and I’ll ensure she’s shown into a private room with Captain Swift immediately.”

“Perfect!” Lucy declared.

Cass swallowed. It sounded perfect, but the old Cass, the unbold Cass, was already worrying about it all. Oh, what would happen if it all went terribly, horribly wrong?





CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE


After breakfast, Julian made his way into the conservatory. He needed to find his hostess to tell her he was leaving. God only knew how long it would take for Penelope to arrive. He couldn’t stay here any longer after the mistake he’d nearly made with Patience last night. Patience was gorgeous, her body was perfect, her face, ethereal. The way she’d looked in that low-cut gown. Julian shuddered. When she’d asked him to walk with her in the gardens, a warning bell had tolled somewhere in the back of his mind. It wasn’t a good idea to remain close with her. Their interludes at the party had shown him that he was unnaturally attracted to her. He wanted her. Badly. But only a scoundrel would kiss one lady while he was supposed to be engaged to another. No, he would not do any such thing … until he had broken things off with Penelope. And that wasn’t likely to happen if she never arrived. He would return to London. Penelope would turn up eventually. He certainly couldn’t keep chasing her across the countryside. It had been a bad idea to come here. He knew that now.