The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(53)

Garrett took a deep breath. He knew gamblers. Gamblers couldn’t say no to a bet, at least that was the wager he was willing to lay all his chips on at the moment.

He gestured to the cards scattered across the nearby table.

“I’ll bet you one hand of piquet. If I win, you play along. If you win, you don’t.”

Monroe narrowed his gaze on Garrett and then looked at the cards. He settled his hands on his hips and expelled his breath. “This is ludicrous, Upton, you know that? We’re talking about my sister here.”

Garrett nodded. “I’m certainly not about to argue that point. Ludicrous is an apt word for it.”

Monroe turned to look at the cards. Garrett could see the internal war he was waging reflected on his face. “Damn it, Upton. Deal.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE


After rushing from the gold drawing room, Cass had been unable to find Julian. Instead, she’d hurried upstairs to see Pen, who was busily packing her bags, her maid and chaperone at her side.

“I daresay this is the quickest trip to the country I’ve ever made,” Pen said with a laugh.

“You’re leaving?” Cass asked, her mouth a wide O.

Pen waved a hand in the air. “Yes. The coachman says if we get back on the road right away, we should make it home before supper. It won’t be dark for a while yet.”

“How was your talk with Captain Swift?” Cass asked cautiously. Oh, she hated herself for having to pretend as if she didn’t know what had happened.

“It went much better than even I expected,” Pen said with a smile. “We both let each other down quite easily and pleasantly.”

Cass bit her lip and glanced away. “And you’re … all right with that?”

Pen’s smile was bright and genuine. “More than all right. I’m thrilled.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Cass said.

“I know that. I want to leave.”

“Because Patience Bunbury needs you?” Lucy strolled through the door, a catlike smile on her face.

Pen turned to face Lucy with a wide smile on her face. “Something like that. Oh, Your Grace, you won’t think I’m hideously rude rushing off like this, will you? I just … I haven’t felt so free in an age. I can’t wait to return to London.”

“Will you tell your parents that you won’t be getting engaged?” Cass asked, a lump in her throat.

“Yes,” Pen replied. “Captain Swift says he intends to formally tell them but I cannot wait to let everyone know I’m officially free.”

Cass had to smile at her. She would never understand her cousin but Pen and Julian didn’t suit. She’d known that forever.

“Your talk with Captain Swift went well, I take it?” Lucy asked.

Pen nodded. “Yes. Odd that he said he came here to find me. Getting shot must have made him a bit mad. No matter. I’m going back to London. There is a certain gentleman there I have my eye on.”

Lucy laughed. “Then, by all means, go and Godspeed.”

“Are you quite certain you’re all right?” Cass asked. She hadn’t been able to stop biting her bottom lip all day.

“You should be asking Captain Swift, not me. I’m fine. I’m relieved actually.”

“What do you think your parents will say?” The bottom lip remained firmly wedged between Cass’s teeth.

“No harm’s done. There was never an official engagement. No one need claim to have cried off.”

“But people knew you and Ju … Captain Swift were set to marry once he returned,” Cass said.

Penelope shrugged. “I’ll simply say I changed my mind. The heart is fickle, darling, don’t you know?”

Cass swallowed. No, she didn’t know. She didn’t know at all. Her heart had never been fickle.

In the end, Pen and her entourage bundled themselves back into the coach and left in the late afternoon having only stayed at the house a few hours. Cass watched her go with Lucy and Jane at her side.

“Now that was utterly convenient.” Lucy sighed. “There’s no other word for it.”

“All these years I’ve been convinced that Pen would marry Julian and then, just like that, it’s over.” Cass shook her head. “I almost cannot believe it.”

“Believe it, because now you must explain to Captain Swift what happened. You cannot remain Patience Bunbury forever,” Lucy said.

“No, I cannot,” Cass agreed. But she could remain Patience Bunbury for one more night and that’s exactly what she intended to do. Tomorrow morning, first thing, she would tell Julian the truth, no matter the consequences, but tonight … Tonight she wanted to kiss him.

*

Dinner was torturous. Cass sat three seats down from Julian completely unable to talk to him and nearly obscured from seeing him. Lucy had said it would be better this way. “The less chance you have to speak, the better, until you’re ready to tell him.”

Cass had agreed but it didn’t make the three-hour meal any less excruciating. Not to mention, she had to sit there and endure her brother’s glower the entire time. Owen, her big, strong, handsome, blond brother, was looking at her with murder in his eyes. Garrett had sent Cass and Lucy a note earlier telling them that Owen had arrived. Garrett had managed to get him alone and explain the entire escapade, but Owen, apparently, had only tenuously agreed to go along with the scheme, and that only because Garrett had bet him to keep his mouth shut over a hand of cards. Apparently, Upton had won.