Page 68 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
“Will you show us your mask?” one of the maids requested.
She held it up and every one of them smiled in pride and delight.
“You look lovely, Miss,” the bold maid breathed.
“I’ve left a note for the countess,” she told them all. “Please tell her, when she comes down. And tell her that we shall see her at the Rowlands.”
It was only half a lie, but she still felt guilty as she followed Mrs. Caradec out to the purposefully unlit front of the house.
They stepped to the side, staying in the shadows of the portico. From the other side, a figure emerged. Penelope watched the cloaked figure step down the walk to the waiting coach. In the dim light, she could see only the cloak and the feathers of the mask, bouncing slightly as she walked. The figure climbed into the coach and it set off.
She and Mrs. Caradec waited, not moving. It took several minutes for the vehicle to reach the end of the square and move out into traffic. They waited. A smaller, dark coach pulled from a lit-up walkway, several houses up. They hurried out to it as it paused and were inside in a flash as it continued on.
“Did you see that figure slip out of the garden and follow the first coach?” Mrs. Caradec asked. “That was a good notion.”
“No. I couldn’t see a thing.”
“Well, it rid of you of at least one follower.” She grinned. “And now you see why I said you must wear the costume out of the house,” the other woman said wisely. “The household always wants to catch a glimpse of you if you are going to a special event.”
“I never would have thought of it,” Penelope admitted. “I’m so grateful for your help.”
“Yes, I’m afraid I’ve had a dab hand at subterfuge for quite a long time,” Mrs. Caradec said cheerfully. “But you are not so bad at it, yourself. And do not doubt it, you are doing the right thing. Someone needs to look into that cousin of yours, and I would feel the same weight of responsibility. But you shall not do it alone, never fear. And in any case, this is a refreshing first for me. I’ve dressed as a ragamuffin ever so many times, but never a young lady disguised as a peacock!”
They laughed and the drive went quickly, as they were not going far. Penelope recognized the modiste’s shop as they drove by, but was surprised when they circled around and entered the alley at the back.
“TheMadameknows we are here?” she asked as Mrs. Caradec climbed down and approached the back door with a set of keys.
“She does. She was a bit hesitant, but she doesn’t wish to lose the Countess of Tensford as a client.” The woman gave Penelope a grin as she opened the door and indicated that she should go through. “Even less does she wish to disappoint Hestia Wright, or her assistants.”
A couple of low candles were burning. Mrs. Caradec shed her cloak, then helped Penelope out of the peacock costume and into the extra.
“A bee?” she asked as she slid the pale, yellow silk underdress over Penelope’s head. “What made you choose this?”
“Something a friend once said,” she told her. “About a queen bee, who takes what she wants from her males, then leaves them behind, to return to rule the hive.”
“To rule the hivealone,” Mrs. Caradec corrected, as she tied a black and yellow striped extra layer over the back of her skirt. “For she has no equals, and all the others are workers, who live only to serve her, isn’t that right?” She sighed and reached for the light wings that attached to the sleeves. “For all that it does sound tempting sometimes, most of us are not meant to live our lives alone.”
“Some of us seem determined to do so,” she said bitterly.
Mrs. Caradec handed her the mask, complete with blackened eyes, a honeycomb texture and antennae. “Tuck this inside your cloak pocket and no one will be able to tell you are in a costume at all.” She put her hands on her hips and Penelope shrank a little at her direct look. “Now,” she said. “I will tell you some things, as Whiddon isn’t here yet. I’ve heard that you and Sterne are dancing around each other. I’ve seen a bit of it, myself, as well.”
She held up a hand when Penelope would have objected. “Sterne is a man of character, but a man, nonetheless. That means he’s more than a bit stubborn.”
“Lady Tensford did say something similar,” she admitted.
“Believe me, I know it feels as if you are pounding your head against a wall, at times. Caradec gave me fits before he came around.” She laughed. “Of course, I gave him a few, as well. I recommend it, as a course of action. Give as good as you get.” She narrowed her gaze. “But don’t bite your own head off, just to spite your face.”
Penelope blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“I just mean to say that Sterne has his own devils. Give him time to work through them. Men like that require patience. Once you’ve decided he’s worth the trouble—then hang on. For I’ll tell you one thing—you might go off in a snit, back to Gloucestershire, to rule your hive alone, but men are not so quick to imagine themselves alone. Sterne will triumph over his demons one day. He wants you—any fool can see it. He just has to talk himself into it. Eventually, he’ll come around to the idea of marrying, and if you’ve refused him, he’ll settle on someone else. Perhaps not right away. But he will. And how will you feel about that?”
A tight vise of dark emotion clutched at her chest.
“That’s what I thought,” Mrs. Caradec said knowingly. “So, don’t give in to hasty defeat. Reach for patience. And fight for what you want.”
Penelope wiped away tears. “Thank you,” she whispered.
The other woman patted her hand. “Thank me with an invitation to the wedding. I’ve never spent any amount of time in Gloucestershire.” She began to fold up the peacock costume and place the pieces in the basket.
