The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(48)

*

It took the better part of five entire minutes for Cass to stop coughing. Now she was quite certain one or both of her lungs would never be entirely the same again.

“Are you quite all right, Cass?” Pen asked, flying to her side, concern etched across her features.

“Oh, I … yes, yes. Quite all right,” Cass managed to choke out. “Did you say you told Captain Swift you’re Patience Bunbury?”

Pen nodded happily. “I most certainly did.”

“But, ah, aren’t you supposed to be at her house party?” Cass continued. It was all so confusing.

Pen fluttered a hand in the air. “I suppose so, but no matter.”

“Did he…” Cass cleared her throat again. “Did he ask you where Penelope Monroe was?”

The catlike grin remained on Pen’s plump face. “He did not.”

Cass glanced at Jane, who nodded. “That’s right. He didn’t.”

“I’m telling you, it was a brilliant idea,” Pen continued. “Ever so clever of me, I daresay.”

Lucy pressed a fingertip to her temple. “Tell me, Penelope, though I’m certain it should be obvious, why exactly did you think telling Captain Swift that you’re Patience Bunbury was a—how did you put it?—clever idea?”

Pen smiled widely. “Why, of course it’s perfect, don’t you see? It was obvious to me the moment he saw me that he didn’t recognize me. It has been seven years, after all. I decided that I’d tell him I was Patience and that way, perhaps, we might be able to get to know each other a bit better. To be quite honest, I’d intended to break things off with him up till now. That was the news I mentioned in my letter. But seeing him again made me feel a bit sorry for the chap. I mean, he doesn’t like hunting or fishing or any of the things Father likes. I think he’s quite cerebral and dull to be honest.”

Jane clapped her hand over her mouth and then raised her eyes toward the ceiling.

Pen kept talking. “But I had to admit when I saw him again that he is exceedingly handsome, and he did almost die. I would hate to toss him over without giving him a chance. I realized pretending to be Patience was perfect once I saw him. Pretending to be Patience for the remainder of this house party will give me the chance to get to know him and ask him some questions, without all the pressure of supposedly being engaged.”

Cass and Lucy exchanged glances. Then they lifted their eyes to Jane. “What did Captain Swift say when Penelope introduced herself as Patience Bunbury?”

Jane tugged on the fabric near her throat again. “He … uh … he said he’d very much like to see Lady Worthing as soon as she has a free moment.”

Penelope took a large gulp of tea and looked around expectantly at all of them. “Who is Lady Worthing?”





CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE


“I must go with you, Lucy.” Cass paced in front of the windows in Lucy’s bedchamber.

Somehow the three friends had managed to finish their tea with Penelope and send her off to her rooms. They’d given her some thin excuse about Lady Worthing being another guest at the party. Then, they’d quickly retreated to Lucy’s bedchamber to plan their next move.

“I’m not certain that’s a good idea, Cass,” Jane warned.

“Did Julian seem angry?” Cass asked, biting her lower lip.

“Angry? No. It was a bit more like … confused.”

“No doubt he’s confused.” Lucy tapped her finger against her cheek.

“No, Lucy. Stop it,” Cass said.

“Stop what?”

“Stop thinking whatever you’re thinking. You’re coming up with an even more ludicrous scheme than the last one, and I won’t have it. It’s time to tell the truth. I’ll go with you to see Julian. I’ll be honest with him. It’s time.”

Lucy shook her head. “But if you tell him the truth, he’ll know you’re Cass.”

Cass pressed a fingertip to her temple. “Yes. I know. That’s the point.”

“Are you going to tell him that Penelope is really Penelope, too?” Lucy asked.

Cass straightened her shoulders and firmed her resolve. “I’m going to tell him everything. He deserves the truth. This has all gone on long enough.”

In the end, Lucy relented, perhaps only because she couldn’t think of anything more outlandish to do to extricate them from their present predicament. Perhaps because Jane had chimed in and agreed with Cass that it was time to tell the truth. Perhaps it had been a mix of both, but at any rate, Lucy sighed and said, “Very well, let’s get this over with.”

They made their way downstairs to the blue drawing room and sent Jane in search of Julian to tell him that Lady Worthing was waiting there to speak with him.

As they waited, Cass and Lucy both sat staring out the window.

“What if we—” Lucy offered.

“No.” Cass shook her head.

“But I could—” Lucy said.

“Absolutely not,” Cass replied.

Lucy opened her mouth to try again, no doubt, but the door cracked open and Julian strolled inside. Cass took a deep breath.

Lucy stood to greet him, a shaky smile on her lips. “Captain Swift.”