“Perhaps she’s swept up in the excitement. Secret meetings and the drama of family opposition can turn a chit’s head.”
“It’s not like that,” Harry said obstinately. “Sophie loves me. We’re going to get married.”
Pen sighed again. “Over Leath’s dead body. I don’t know the man, but everything I’ve heard says that he won’t yield. If he’s decided you’re not the right husband for his sister, you’ll never get his approval.”
“Then we’ll act without his approval,” Harry said sharply, causing a footman stacking chairs at the other side of the empty room to glance up.
Pen looked shocked. “Harry, you’ll ruin us all.”
He sucked in a breath and lowered his voice. “Right now, all I want is a chance to see Sophie.” He read his sister’s reaction. “You have my word that my intentions are honorable. You won’t be assisting a rake’s stratagems.”
Pen’s expression was pensive and something went on behind her eyes that he didn’t understand. Then to his relief, after a long delay that had him nervous as a cat on a stove, she nodded. “Very well. For the moment, you have my cooperation. God help us if this comes undone.”
“What did Harry want?” Cam demanded, once they were in their carriage away from listening ears.
Nervously Pen glanced across at him. Of course that perfect gentleman Camden Rothermere sat with his back to the horses. God forbid he should ignore etiquette and sit beside her.
“Well?”
Pen was grateful that the lamps inside the carriage remained unlit for the short journey to Rothermere House. Cam always knew when she lied.
“You’re sounding very lordly,” she responded, bristling at his tone. And eager to evade the question.
Her eyes had adjusted enough to see him fold his arms across his powerful chest. She didn’t need to see his expression. It would inevitably be implacable. “Humor me.”
“Why should he want anything? After all, we’ve been separated for the best part of ten years.”
“If he didn’t want anything, you’d tell me.”
Devil take him, he had a point. Pen reminded herself that she’d promised obedience. Still, she couldn’t betray her brother. “What do you think he said, Cam?”
Cam stretched his long legs across the well between the seats. He’d looked magnificent tonight. Tall and distinguished, a striking man even in the company of spectacular Richard Harmsworth. Pen had fought desperately hard to hide her bedazzlement. Unfortunately, she had a feeling she’d overcompensated and convinced Cam’s friends that she didn’t care a fig for him.
Genevieve had been friendly and Richard had always been a darling. Sidonie and Jonas Merrick clearly thought that Cam’s marriage was a mistake.
She reminded herself that anything, even a cold reception from Cam’s friends, was better than the exposure of her secret. How the world would laugh at the awkward duchess unable to hide her adoration for her indifferent husband. Worse, Cam would feel sorry for her.
“Tonight I heard a disturbing rumor that Harry sets his sights on Leath’s sister,” Cam said.
“I don’t know Leath or his sister,” Pen responded with perfect honesty. To hide how her hands trembled, she slid them under her velvet cloak.
“Leath’s ranged himself against me.”
“Surely he can’t do much harm,” she said.
“Surely he can. Support has dwindled to nothing on a number of my projects, not least that canal scheme that Elias has invested in. I have wool and coal in Derbyshire and a mill in Manchester that I’d dearly like to link, not just for my own prosperity but for the people of Fentonwyck.”
“But you’re Sedgemoor.”
“And Leath’s spent his life building political influence, whereas I’ve been out of the country for the last few months.”
She hid a pang of guilt. Cam had neglected his interests because he’d been haring after her. “You’re back now. You’ll sort it out.”
“Sorting it out means smoothing his resentment,” Cam said austerely. “Your brother’s plans to seduce the man’s sister won’t help.”
“I imagine not.” She kept her voice calm. “I have no control over Harry.”
“Just don’t encourage any delusions about his courtship.”