The Accidental Countess (19 page)

“I’m telling you, it was a brilliant idea,” Pen continued. “Ever so clever of me, I daresay.”

Lucy pressed a fingertip to her temple. “Tell me, Penelope, though I’m certain it should be obvious, why exactly did you think telling Captain Swift that you’re Patience Bunbury was a—how did you put it?—clever idea?”

Pen smiled widely. “Why, of course it’s perfect, don’t you see? It was obvious to me the moment he saw me that he didn’t recognize me. It has been seven years, after all. I decided that I’d tell him I was Patience and that way, perhaps, we might be able to get to know each other a bit better. To be quite honest, I’d intended to break things off with him up till now. That was the news I mentioned in my letter. But seeing him again made me feel a bit sorry for the chap. I mean, he doesn’t like hunting or fishing or any of the things Father likes. I think he’s quite cerebral and dull to be honest.”

Jane clapped her hand over her mouth and then raised her eyes toward the ceiling.

Pen kept talking. “But I had to admit when I saw him again that he is exceedingly handsome, and he did almost die. I would hate to toss him over without giving him a chance. I realized pretending to be Patience was perfect once I saw him. Pretending to be Patience for the remainder of this house party will give me the chance to get to know him and ask him some questions, without all the pressure of supposedly being engaged.”

Cass and Lucy exchanged glances. Then they lifted their eyes to Jane. “What did Captain Swift say when Penelope introduced herself as Patience Bunbury?”

Jane tugged on the fabric near her throat again. “He … uh … he said he’d very much like to see Lady Worthing as soon as she has a free moment.”

Penelope took a large gulp of tea and looked around expectantly at all of them. “Who is Lady Worthing?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“I must go with you, Lucy.” Cass paced in front of the windows in Lucy’s bedchamber.

Somehow the three friends had managed to finish their tea with Penelope and send her off to her rooms. They’d given her some thin excuse about Lady Worthing being another guest at the party. Then, they’d quickly retreated to Lucy’s bedchamber to plan their next move.

“I’m not certain that’s a good idea, Cass,” Jane warned.

“Did Julian seem angry?” Cass asked, biting her lower lip.

“Angry? No. It was a bit more like … confused.”

“No doubt he’s confused.” Lucy tapped her finger against her cheek.

“No, Lucy. Stop it,” Cass said.

“Stop what?”

“Stop thinking whatever you’re thinking. You’re coming up with an even more ludicrous scheme than the last one, and I won’t have it. It’s time to tell the truth. I’ll go with you to see Julian. I’ll be honest with him. It’s time.”

Lucy shook her head. “But if you tell him the truth, he’ll know you’re Cass.”

Cass pressed a fingertip to her temple. “Yes. I know. That’s the point.”

“Are you going to tell him that Penelope is really Penelope, too?” Lucy asked.

Cass straightened her shoulders and firmed her resolve. “I’m going to tell him everything. He deserves the truth. This has all gone on long enough.”

In the end, Lucy relented, perhaps only because she couldn’t think of anything more outlandish to do to extricate them from their present predicament. Perhaps because Jane had chimed in and agreed with Cass that it was time to tell the truth. Perhaps it had been a mix of both, but at any rate, Lucy sighed and said, “Very well, let’s get this over with.”

They made their way downstairs to the blue drawing room and sent Jane in search of Julian to tell him that Lady Worthing was waiting there to speak with him.

As they waited, Cass and Lucy both sat staring out the window.

“What if we—” Lucy offered.

“No.” Cass shook her head.

“But I could—” Lucy said.

“Absolutely not,” Cass replied.

Lucy opened her mouth to try again, no doubt, but the door cracked open and Julian strolled inside. Cass took a deep breath.

Lucy stood to greet him, a shaky smile on her lips. “Captain Swift.”

“I want to know one thing,” Julian said, eyeing them both with a look that was a mixture of confusion and suspicion. Cass’s heart dropped. Here it was. Julian might well hate her in just a few short moments.

Lucy swallowed audibly. “Yes, Captain Swift?” She bowed her head.

Julian nodded toward Cass. He crossed his arms over his chest and tapped his booted foot on the rug. “Why is Penelope Monroe claiming to be you?”

*   *   *

Cass had to sit. That was all there was to it. Never in her wildest imaginings of how this conversation would go did she think it would happen this way. She blindly searched for the arm of the chair behind her and dropped into place, the breath whooshing from her body as she landed.

Lucy recovered much more quickly. “Whatever do you mean, Captain Swift?”

Julian’s brows were arched. “I mean, I met with Penelope not an hour ago in this very room and she told me her name was Patience Bunbury.”

Lucy blinked at him, her mind obviously whirring with ideas. She placed a hand to her throat. “She did?”

“Yes, she did.” Julian tapped his boot again.

Lucy cleared her throat and inclined her head. “And did you ask her why she did that?”

Julian stopped the tapping. “No. In fact, I was so shocked I pretended I didn’t know who she was. But why would she say such a thing?”

Lucy’s voice was high and thin. “I’m not sure, Captain Swift. Are you quite certain the lady in question was, in fact, Penelope?”

“I’m quite certain she was not Patience as I’ve already met Patience.” He motioned toward Cass again. “And she looked very much like my memory of Penelope Monroe. A bit older, to be sure, but she hasn’t changed much.”

Cass fought her nod. No, Pen hadn’t changed much. But Cass was stricken dumb. She couldn’t talk, could only listen as Lucy rapidly answered Julian’s questions and asked him her own. How had this happened? It was madness.

Lucy straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I have yet to see Miss Monroe today, Captain Swift.” Cass winced at the new lie. “But I assure you, I intend to go in search of her immediately and get to the bottom of this.”

Lucy swept up her skirts and headed for the door, obviously in a rush to leave before she had to come up with an even more elaborate story.

“Miss Bunbury, will you please keep Captain Swift company while I find Miss Monroe?”

Cass opened her mouth to protest but shut it again when she saw the look on Julian’s face. As if he … wanted her to stay. “Of course,” she murmured lamely.

Moments later, the door shut behind Lucy, and Cass screwed up her courage. Now was the time. Finally. She could not allow this farce to continue a moment longer. Julian would only hate her all the more for it later. Not to mention the fact that only the truth would serve to explain all of this once Pen appeared.

“Captain Swift, I—”

“I’m glad Lady Worthing left us alone,” Julian said, crossing over to the settee and sitting next to Cass.

Cass blinked. “You are?”

“Yes. Quite.” He smiled at her. “I’m not certain what Penelope is up to, but her lying to me like that has just served to reinforce my decision to end things with her. She’s not the same girl I knew in my youth.”

Cass nearly whimpered. She glanced away. “I suppose she’ll have a good explanation.”

“What possible explanation could she have for impersonating another woman? It makes no sense. It’s positively mad.”

That was it. The tiny bit of courage Cass had screwed up drained from her soul in that instant. She couldn’t tell him. Not now. Oh, she was a horrible coward.

“You didn’t…” Her voice wavered. “You didn’t have a chance to break things off with her?”

His laugh was scornful. “How could I when she was telling me she was someone else entirely? It was laughable.” He narrowed his eyes. He turned to face Cass. “You don’t suppose she discovered my intentions? That she lied to me to keep me from saying what I meant to?”

Cass went hot and cold. Oh, God. He was questioning whether she’d kept his secret. “She didn’t hear it from me, Captain.” She hung her head. There at least was one truth in the midst of all the lies.

He paced across the rug, his arms folded behind his back. “No. No, of course she didn’t. And even if she suspected, it is still mad to pretend you’re someone else in order to keep from hearing bad news.”

Cass could only nod. The lump of guilt and regret in her throat was choking her. She couldn’t utter a word.

“As soon as Penelope returns I intend to confront her. She took me by surprise before. I didn’t know what to say. I thought perhaps Lady Worthing might know why she was acting so strangely.”

Another nod from Cass. “That is probably best.”

“I will tell her that our engagement is off. And then…”

Cass glanced up. “And then?” She swallowed hard. “France?”

“Well, yes … But first, first I intend to find you, Miss Bunbury, and kiss you senseless.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The plan was put into motion quickly as most of Lucy’s plans were. Julian was asked to remain in the blue drawing room. Pen was informed that her intended had recognized her after all and would like to speak with her again. She was a bit disappointed, but she readily agreed to meet with him once more. She took off to the blue drawing room, escorted by one of the housemaids.

As soon as Pen was on her way, Lucy motioned to Cass and Jane. “This way.”

“Why?” Cass replied, her brow furrowed. “Where are we going?”

“We must go to the gold drawing room. It’s next to the blue one. We’ll be able to hear their conversation if we pin our ears to the wall.”

“Oh, Lucy. That is horrid. We cannot do that,” Cass said, frowning at her friend.

“What?” Lucy shrugged. “It’s not as if I enjoy eavesdropping. I am forced to. We must know what they say to each other so we can keep our own stories straight. Besides, you told me yourself that you didn’t tell him you’re Cass yet. If you’re so worried about all of this, why didn’t you tell the truth when I left the room?”

“Because I’m detestable.” Cass moaned. “I’m detestable and so is eavesdropping.”

“I don’t disagree with you, about the eavesdropping bit,” Jane said. “But Lucy’s right again. We have to know if they discuss Patience and if Captain Swift tells Penelope he’s already met her.”

“We are abominable!” Cass replied. “We are all going straight to hell for everything we’ve done this week.”

This time Jane shrugged. “I am already destined for that warm place. I’ll see you both there. We’ll drink brandy and curse and have a marvelous time.”

Lucy laughed. Cass shook her head.

Five minutes later, Cass stood in the gold drawing room, her ear pressed against the damask wallpaper right alongside her friends’.

Julian’s voice drifted to them. “Penelope?”

“Captain Swift.”

“I don’t know why you impersonated Miss Bunbury and it probably doesn’t matter. The fact is that I came here to find you, to tell you that we cannot possibly marry.”

Cass held her breath.
What will Pen say? What will she say?

“You’re telling me we cannot marry?” Pen’s voice was surprisingly unanimated.

“Yes. I’m sorry.” Julian’s voice was a bit less harsh. “Truly.”

A tiny bit of laughter floated through the wall. “Oh, Captain Swift. You are funny. I actually had come here to tell
you
we cannot marry.”

Cass, Lucy, and Jane all turned wide eyes to one another. Cass clapped her hand over her mouth, then quickly pressed her ear tighter to the wall to hear the rest.

“You … did?” was Julian’s reply.

Pen sighed. “Yes.”

“Why?” Julian asked.

“I was hiding from you, to be honest,” Pen replied. “I finally decided I had to find you and tell you the truth.”

Julian’s voice moved farther away. He must be walking or pacing. “That’s why you weren’t in London when I arrived?”

“I was there, just hiding,” Pen admitted.

This time they both laughed.

“May I assume then that you are not angry with me and won’t be asking your father to call me out?” There was a smile in Julian’s voice.

Another sigh from Pen. “I cannot say my parents won’t be disappointed, but I’ve every confidence I can convince Father not to kill you. You’ve survived the war, Captain Swift, one bullet to the chest is quite enough. Don’t you agree?” Pen’s voice sounded equally light.

“Of course I intend to speak to your parents and explain,” Julian said. “I felt it imperative to speak with you first, however.”

“Completely understandable and commendable of you,” Pen replied.

“Then we may part as friends?” Julian asked.

“As far as I’m concerned we were never anything but,” Pen assured him.

Lucy, Jane, and Cass all expelled their pent-up breath at the same time. Cass braced a hand against the wall. She wanted to melt into a puddle on the floor. How? Oh, how had this worked out so well? It was a miracle to be sure.

“They’re leaving,” Lucy reported, her ear still pressed tightly against the wall.

“Yes, the door is definitely opening,” Jane agreed, her ear back in place, too.

Cass leaped away from the wall. “I must go. How does my hair look?” She tried to pat her coiffure in place.

“What? Why?” Lucy pushed herself away from the wall and faced Cass.

“Yes. What are you talking about?” Jane asked.

Cass rushed toward the door. “Now that I know that Pen is quite all right, I must go. Julian said he was going to come looking for me, well, Patience that is, and…” Shyness overtook her for a moment. She stopped and bit her lip.

“And?” Lucy prompted, her eyes wide.

Cass smiled widely. “And kiss me senseless.”

Lucy rushed over and pushed her toward the door. “For heaven’s sake, then, by all means, go!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Julian strode straight out the door of the drawing room and ran smack into … Owen Monroe? His old friend? Cassandra’s brother? Here of all places?

“Monroe!” He clapped the future earl on the back. “Good to see you, old chap.” Owen had been one year ahead of him at Eton. They’d known each other for an age.