The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(50)
As soon as Pen was on her way, Lucy motioned to Cass and Jane. “This way.”
“Why?” Cass replied, her brow furrowed. “Where are we going?”
“We must go to the gold drawing room. It’s next to the blue one. We’ll be able to hear their conversation if we pin our ears to the wall.”
“Oh, Lucy. That is horrid. We cannot do that,” Cass said, frowning at her friend.
“What?” Lucy shrugged. “It’s not as if I enjoy eavesdropping. I am forced to. We must know what they say to each other so we can keep our own stories straight. Besides, you told me yourself that you didn’t tell him you’re Cass yet. If you’re so worried about all of this, why didn’t you tell the truth when I left the room?”
“Because I’m detestable.” Cass moaned. “I’m detestable and so is eavesdropping.”
“I don’t disagree with you, about the eavesdropping bit,” Jane said. “But Lucy’s right again. We have to know if they discuss Patience and if Captain Swift tells Penelope he’s already met her.”
“We are abominable!” Cass replied. “We are all going straight to hell for everything we’ve done this week.”
This time Jane shrugged. “I am already destined for that warm place. I’ll see you both there. We’ll drink brandy and curse and have a marvelous time.”
Lucy laughed. Cass shook her head.
Five minutes later, Cass stood in the gold drawing room, her ear pressed against the damask wallpaper right alongside her friends’.
Julian’s voice drifted to them. “Penelope?”
“Captain Swift.”
“I don’t know why you impersonated Miss Bunbury and it probably doesn’t matter. The fact is that I came here to find you, to tell you that we cannot possibly marry.”
Cass held her breath. What will Pen say? What will she say?
“You’re telling me we cannot marry?” Pen’s voice was surprisingly unanimated.
“Yes. I’m sorry.” Julian’s voice was a bit less harsh. “Truly.”
A tiny bit of laughter floated through the wall. “Oh, Captain Swift. You are funny. I actually had come here to tell you we cannot marry.”
Cass, Lucy, and Jane all turned wide eyes to one another. Cass clapped her hand over her mouth, then quickly pressed her ear tighter to the wall to hear the rest.
“You … did?” was Julian’s reply.
Pen sighed. “Yes.”
“Why?” Julian asked.
“I was hiding from you, to be honest,” Pen replied. “I finally decided I had to find you and tell you the truth.”
Julian’s voice moved farther away. He must be walking or pacing. “That’s why you weren’t in London when I arrived?”
“I was there, just hiding,” Pen admitted.
This time they both laughed.
“May I assume then that you are not angry with me and won’t be asking your father to call me out?” There was a smile in Julian’s voice.
Another sigh from Pen. “I cannot say my parents won’t be disappointed, but I’ve every confidence I can convince Father not to kill you. You’ve survived the war, Captain Swift, one bullet to the chest is quite enough. Don’t you agree?” Pen’s voice sounded equally light.
“Of course I intend to speak to your parents and explain,” Julian said. “I felt it imperative to speak with you first, however.”
“Completely understandable and commendable of you,” Pen replied.
“Then we may part as friends?” Julian asked.
“As far as I’m concerned we were never anything but,” Pen assured him.
Lucy, Jane, and Cass all expelled their pent-up breath at the same time. Cass braced a hand against the wall. She wanted to melt into a puddle on the floor. How? Oh, how had this worked out so well? It was a miracle to be sure.
“They’re leaving,” Lucy reported, her ear still pressed tightly against the wall.
“Yes, the door is definitely opening,” Jane agreed, her ear back in place, too.
Cass leaped away from the wall. “I must go. How does my hair look?” She tried to pat her coiffure in place.
“What? Why?” Lucy pushed herself away from the wall and faced Cass.
“Yes. What are you talking about?” Jane asked.
Cass rushed toward the door. “Now that I know that Pen is quite all right, I must go. Julian said he was going to come looking for me, well, Patience that is, and…” Shyness overtook her for a moment. She stopped and bit her lip.
“And?” Lucy prompted, her eyes wide.
Cass smiled widely. “And kiss me senseless.”
Lucy rushed over and pushed her toward the door. “For heaven’s sake, then, by all means, go!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Julian strode straight out the door of the drawing room and ran smack into … Owen Monroe? His old friend? Cassandra’s brother? Here of all places?
“Monroe!” He clapped the future earl on the back. “Good to see you, old chap.” Owen had been one year ahead of him at Eton. They’d known each other for an age.
Monroe looked as if he’d seen a ghost, something Julian was becoming more and more accustomed to when people recognized him. “Swift? By God, it’s you!”