Page 45 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“You see, I told you it wouldn’t be so bad,” Penelope said to Barbara, holding her hand as she spoke to the young woman. “And to think, you were scared.”
“I was not scared,” Barabra grumbled, pushing her lips into a pout. “I was merely… cautious.”
“For no reason,” Penelope pointed out. “Admit it, you’re having fun.”
Barbara rolled her eyes. “It has hardly been two hours. It’s a little soon to say such things, isn’t it.”
“You can deny it all you want, but I can tell that you are.” Penelope winked at the young woman. “Your lies are unbecoming.”
Barbara groaned. “Gosh, you are annoying.”
“I prefer to think of myself as charming.”
Barbara was doing her best to glare but she could not keep her smile at bay. This had Penelope laughing, a sensation that felt rather good and was much needed.
As things currently stand, I could do with a reason to laugh.
She hoped that the chaos of the garden party would distract her. Two hours into the weekend, the party now in full swing, and it should have been doing just that. Also, with her sisters having arrived earlier than the rest of the guests, Penelope had plenty to keep her mind busy with.
Indeed, a quick glance about the garden and she confirmed that everything was going exactly as she planned. The guests had arrived. The drinks and food were being taken advantage of. The music was pleasant, the chatter was loud but not overbearing. And from the looks on the faces that she could see, everyone was having a wonderful time.
Despite it all… still, she could not escape from that singular thought that threatened to break her each time it pushed to the fore of her mind as it had been doing since last evening.
“Do you know who she reminds me of?” Evelina said with a coy smirk.
“What are you talking about?” Penelope’s eyes had begun to wander, searching further than she wanted, desperate to find theone person who she was just as desperate to avoid. But with her sister’s words, she was forced back into the conversation.
“I think you know,” Evelina said, flashing her eyes next.
“Who?” Barbara looked between them. “Who do I remind you of?”
Evelina beamed. “You, Penelope. That is who.”
“Really?” Barabra asked, appearing delighted by the comparison. She had since met each of Penelope’s sisters and despite Penelope’s initial reservations, she had warmed up to them in the same way she had Penelope.
The young woman had changed much these past few days. She was still shy and awkward. Still unsure of herself and clearly would have preferred to have been alone in her room. But that she was trying so hard was noticeable, and that she was willing to at least pretend that she was enjoying herself was a huge step forward.
“The two of you are so similar you might be sisters,” Evelina said rightly.
“Do not be ridiculous,” Penelope scoffed.
“Oh?” Evelina cocked an eyebrow at her. “I seem to remember not so long ago that you, little sister, had to be dragged by yourthumbs, kicking and screaming the whole way, if we wanted to get you out of the house.”
“I was not!”
“Remember the Manchester Ball?” Evelina pressed
“What was that?” Barbara asked excitedly. “What happened?”
Evelina laughed. “Penelope forced herself to attend the first ball of the Season – which she made a huge fuss about, of course. And once she did attend, she immediately looked for her chance to flee.”
“Penelope! You did not tell me this,” Barbara laughed.
“It is because my sister, as she so often does, is exaggerating.”
“And what part am I exaggerating, exactly?” Evelina rebuked.
