Page 6 of One Night of Temptation
“When I was last at your church, Maisie and I planned my…disappearance.” What else could she call it?
“Was that last week? I seem to recall your mother and the other ladies coming to make their usual donations. I don’t remember seeing you, however.”
“You were hardly there,” Penelope said. “Your curate said you had other matters to attend to. That happens quite often when we come.”
Mr. Tarleton dropped his head for a brief moment and when he lifted it, he wore a wry smile. “I’m afraid I try to avoid those occasions. Please don’t take it personally. I just can’t abide their false charity.” He stopped abruptly, pressing his lips together. “My apologies. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I appreciate their donations.”
She thought she understood what he meant. “I can’t imagine our cast-off clothing is very helpful.”
His eyes flickered with surprise and then something else. Something warmer. Admiration maybe. “It is for the money I get when I sell it.”
Penelope lifted her hand to her mouth as her eyes widened. Then she laughed. He stared at her in bemusement. “Is that funny?” he asked.
“No. It’s horrible. I’m so sorry we cause work for you. I laughed because… Well, when I think of my mother’s reaction if she knew you sold her cast-offs, I would be hard-pressed not to laugh.”
“I hope you won’t tell her.”
“I won’t.” Because as amusing as her mother’s outrage might be, Penelope wouldn’t want to be the bearer of such aggravating information. “What sort of things would you like to receive, instead of cast-off clothing?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Aside from money, my parishioners can always use food, serviceable clothing, books, and other educational materials.”
“So the shuttlecock set my mother brought last month is entirely superfluous?”
“Not at all. It’s provided hours of entertainment for two boys who have next to nothing,” he said quietly before taking a drink of ale.
She’d never encountered such empathy, especially in a man. “I’ll add toys to the list.”
He peered at her over the rim of his tankard. “Do you really plan to bring those things?”
“I do. What’s the point in charity if we can’t truly help?” She lifted her mug and took a sip. Still bitter, unfortunately.
He scrutinized her briefly. “Lady Penelope, you are forcing me to revise my opinion of Mayfair ladies.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
The edges of his lips curved up in a half smile, and Penelope’s insides swayed even more than they had earlier. Here was a man—finally—who stirred her. “I do believe so. Now tell me what you and Maisie planned.”
“The planning was entirely Maisie’s doing. I’d confided in her about my hopeless situation. My father has been pursuing an advantageous match for me all Season, and when he settled on one, I became desperate to avoid it.”
“Forgive me, but I am not well versed in how the Marriage Mart works. Is it typical for a father to pursue a match?”
“I’m not sure it’s typical, but in my father’s case, he saw it as necessary. I shall only be allowed to marry a man he approves of, and he will only approve of someone if it benefits him.”
Mr. Tarleton’s lip curled. “I’m not sure I like your father.”
“I’mquitesure I don’t.” She feared him, however. “If I don’t wed someone he approves of, he’ll cut me off entirely. And while I am enjoying this newfound freedom today, I’m in no position to embrace it on a permanent basis.” Had she actually admitted all that out loud? She resisted the urge to clap her hand over her mouth. Mr. Tarleton made her far too comfortable—perhaps more comfortable than she’d ever felt.
“You could, but it would be an overwhelming life change,” Mr. Tarleton said evenly. “One of the things I do here in the parish is help people find work.” He hesitated. “Would you want to work?”
Work wasn’t something the daughter of a marquess considered. “I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know what I would do. The only things I am good at are embroidery and watercolors.”
He gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m sure those aren’t theonlythings. If you can embroider, I warrant you can sew. I have helped many seamstresses find work. Your living arrangements would be quite different from what you’re used to, of course.”
She could well imagine. Or not. Was she actually considering living in St. Giles? The thought of being on her own without support of any kind was absolutely terrifying. She looked down at the table. “And now I’m ashamed to say I don’t think I could do it.”
“Lady Penelope, there is no shame in recognizing your limits. Let us focus on the matter at hand. Maisie provided you with a plan to avoid the marriage you don’t want.”
Penelope wanted to hug him. Had she ever met a more understanding and compassionate person? “Yes, by ruining myself—not in actuality, of course. We decided that an overnight disappearance coupled with the ransom notes making the abduction public would achieve that goal.”
