Page 24 of One Night of Temptation
She allowed the fantasy to take hold. She could kiss him, hold him, invite him into her bed. But he was a man of honor, a rector, a man in need of a wife.
What if that could be her? The idea of being a rector’s wife rooted and grew. She imagined helping him with his parishioners, joining him when he visited their houses, when he tended to those in need.
Cold reality iced over her. As if she’d be allowed to marry someone like him. Her parents would likely find that worse than being ruined.
Not for the first time, Penelope wished she’d been born someone else. Someone who could marry whom she wanted. Someone who could love and be loved.
Someone who could be happy.
“Good night, Pen.”
“Good night, Hugh.” She rolled away from him and squeezed her eyes more tightly closed. The future she’d hoped would be brighter had just dimmed.
Chapter 6
Apounding on the door roused Hugh from sleep.
“What’s wrong?” Pen’s worried voice brought him fully awake.
“I’ll find out.” Wiping a hand over his face, he rose and reached for his waistcoat, which was draped over the back of the chair. Pulling it on, he buttoned it on his way to the door.
Con stood in the corridor, wearing a concerned expression. “There you are. I was worried when you didn’t answer next door.” He inclined his head toward the room Hugh was supposed to be occupying.
“Change of plan,” Hugh said. “The fight was unsettling.”
Con nodded. “Someone came looking for her. Someone in a red vest.” He gave Hugh a knowing look.
Damn.If he was wearing a red vest and asking about Pen, it was a Bow Street Runner, which meant her family was searching for her. Hugh tensed. “Where is he now?”
“I sent him on his way, told him there wasn’t anyone like that here.”
“He believed you?”
“Seemed to, but who knows with them,” Con said, lifting a shoulder. He spoke with several people downstairs, and if any of them saw her… Well, I wanted to let you know straightaway.”
“I appreciate it. We need to go.” Hugh wouldn’t put absolute faith in the Runner giving up. If he questioned anyone else—anyone who’d seen Pen earlier—there would be trouble. Furthermore, while Hugh trusted Con, he wasn’t entirely sure Con’s staff couldn’t be bribed to divulge secrets they’d been sworn to keep. “Thank you for your hospitality. Do you by chance have a cloak we could borrow? I’ll return it tomorrow.”
“Might be one hanging by the back door. You should go out that way.”
Hugh nodded and Con left. Closing and relocking the door, Hugh leaned back against it, his mind churning.
“What’s wrong?” Pen asked.
“That was Con. A Bow Street Runner came looking for you. Your family has called for help. Con turned him away, but we should go.” He strode to the chair and donned his coat.
“Where?” Her voice held alarm, and her face had gone pale.
“To my church.” Unfortunately, that meant traversing St. Giles in the middle of the night, which could be dangerous. Even so, it could be done. “We’ll need to disguise you,” he said.
She dropped the coverlet. “Are you sure we need to leave?”
He nodded. “The sooner the better.”
She got up from the bed and began to coil her braid atop her head. She reached for pins on the small table next to the bed and secured her hair.
“There’s a small room at the church with a reasonably comfortable bed. I stay there sometimes, particularly if I’m needed in the vicinity overnight.”
She smoothed her hand over her hair and then along the front of her gown. “Ready.”
