Love for all Seasons

by Knight-Catania, Jerrica

  “What did he do to you?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “H-he didn’t do anything to me,” Penny replied, trying to keep her wits about her. It wasn’t easy, with her brother seething so close by.

  “You’re lying.”

  “Why does everyone accuse me of lying all the time?” she exploded.

  “Because you are lying, Penny.”

  He had her there, blast it all.

  She closed her eyes, willing the tears not to come. She wanted to stay angry, to stomp her feet and slam doors and let everyone know that she was not a child anymore—that they couldn’t control her and make her do their bidding as they always tried to do. But of course, all those things would make her look even more impetuous and childlike.

  All she really wanted was Papa. He never would have been so protective and unreasonable with her. Even if he knew something unsavory about Flit, he would have led her to her own conclusions. He wouldn’t have forbidden her from exploring the courtship. He had trusted her, which was a lot more than she could say for any of her siblings.

  It didn’t matter though now, did it? Papa was gone, and there was nothing she could do to get him back. She would have to deal with Devlin, at least for the time being.

  “Are we finished here?” she asked, her tone icy and her eyes turned down. She couldn’t even bear to look at her brother just then.

  “I want your promise, Penny. Promise me you won’t pursue him. Promise me you will turn him away when he comes calling.”

  “And if I don’t?” Now she met his dark brown eyes head on. He wasn’t happy with her, that much was obvious by the small vein that always popped out of his neck when he was angry. She could only see a bit of it before it disappeared behind his cravat, but it was out, nonetheless, throbbing with his fury.

  “Don’t test me, Penny.”

  Oh, that was rich. She pasted on a smile full of sarcasm that didn’t come close to reaching her eyes as she stood from the chair. With a curtsey, she said, “I wouldn’t dream of it, dear brother.”

  And with that she ran from his study and didn’t stop until she reached her own chamber, where she promptly slammed the door as hard as she possibly could.

  Drake bounded down the front steps of his townhouse the next morning, a spring in his step that hadn’t been there before. He knew why, of course. He was just having trouble believing that he’d become so smitten with a woman in such a short amount of time. It wasn’t like him. At least, it wasn’t like the grown-up version of him. As a young man, he’d certainly fallen prey to many a lovely lass and gotten himself into a bit of trouble as a result.

  But this was different. He was older now. He knew exactly what he wanted and needed in a partner, and he was prepared to say that Penny—with all her youthful exuberance and sharp wit—met all those criteria. It helped that she was incredibly beautiful and a damned good kisser.

  The corners of his mouth turned up as he thought about their kiss in the garden. Something else tried to turn up too, so he quickly shifted his thoughts away from the kiss.

  A slight breeze rustled through the trees as he made his way around Grosvenor Square. A lark sang his morning melody and—

  Drake stopped short when someone stepped into his path and then smiled widely when he recognized his old friend.

  “Devlin!” he exclaimed, offering his hand to shake.

  But Devlin didn’t take his hand. Rather he stood stoic and quiet, his arms folded across his chest. It made Drake a bit uncomfortable, so he gave a little chuckle and said, “Swallowed your tongue?”

  “Stay away from my sister.”

  Well, this was unexpected. “I beg your pardon?”

  “Penny,” Devlin clarified. “I want you to stay away from her.”

  Drake raised his eyebrows. He was caught between confused and annoyed, and he wasn’t quite sure how to respond to his friend’s demands. Obviously, he wasn’t going to stay away from Penny. She was the first girl to spark his interest in too long a time. He wasn’t about to walk away from her so soon. Perhaps getting to the bottom of Devlin’s concerns…

  “Allow me to buy you a drink, Devlin,” he ventured. “We can talk this out, I’m certain.”

  “I don’t need you to buy me a drink. I need you to promise me—man-to-man—that you will stay away from Penny.”

  Drake shook his head. “I can’t promise you that.”

  “Does she know about Clarisse?”

  Damn. “Is that what this is about?”

  “Does. She. Know?”

  Drake’s shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. “Not yet.” If she did, she’d probably run for the hills and never look back. Not many young debutantes cared to become a mother overnight, especially to a child that was very near her age.

  But he knew that wasn’t the whole of Devlin’s argument. This situation went far deeper than his illegitimate child. Although, since both the offended parties were dead and gone now, Drake hadn’t thought it would be an issue he had to worry about.

  “I didn’t even realize you knew about Clarisse,” Drake admitted.

  Devlin’s thin lips turned up into a sneer. “Oh, I know all about Clarisse…and her mother. And what you did to Simeon. I won’t have my young, innocent sister subjected to that kind of treatment.”

  “People change, Devlin.” And he had changed. Quite a bit, from that seventeen-year-old boy who had toyed with other people’s emotions as if it were a parlor game. He’d been young and foolish, and he’d spent many years in self-loathing and regret. After all, he hadn’t expected to become a father at eighteen.

  There was a softening to Devlin’s expression—it was brief, but Drake saw it, before it turned stony again.

  “I’m not willing to take any chances with my sister,” Devlin said at last. “There are plenty of women out there—”

  “None like Penny,” Drake couldn’t help but interject.

  Devlin’s nostrils flared and he took a threatening step forward, his finger coming up to emphasize whatever he was about to say.

  “If I hear that you so much as send a glance in my sister’s direction, I’ll call you out.”

  “It’s been almost fourteen years, Devlin. Don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit?”

  That was apparently not the right thing to say.

  “I am the sole guardian of my sister, and as much as I’d love to see her happily settled, it’ll be a cold day in Hell before I allow her to settle with the likes of you.” He took one step closer, until they were practically nose-to-nose. “Give me your promise.”

  There was a twisting in Drake’s heart. A churning in his gut. But what was he supposed to do? The truth was, he’d only known the girl for less than forty-eight hours. Surely he could get over this infatuation as quickly as he’d formed it. Either way, he had no choice. He nodded, a wave of sadness coming over him at the simple gesture.

  Finally, he choked out the words that Devlin wanted to hear. “You have my word.”

  Devlin, obviously satisfied, turned on his heel and stalked off down the street. Drake watched until he was out of sight, and then he stood there a few minutes longer, trying not to think of Penny. Trying with all his might to get her out of his head, to forget about their moonlit night and their kiss in the garden. He’d be lying to himself if he said it would be easy to get over her—this girl he barely knew.

  But he had no choice. He would have to try. Perhaps the best cure for his woes would be to head for the country. It had been a few weeks since he’d been home, and Clarisse would be eager to see him.

  The thought of seeing his darling girl brought a smile to his face, even if she was the reason he’d been forbidden from seeing Penny.

  It was near midnight, and Penny should have been sound asleep by now, but no matter how she tried, she simply could not fall asleep. She hadn’t slept the night before, either, so she was starting to feel as if she was going out of her mind. And truly, if she voiced some of the ideas she had in her head, her
family would probably have her shipped off to Bedlam in an instant.

  Wilhelmina jumped onto the bed and reached out a paw to her. Clearly, she wished for Penny to stop her pacing long enough to scratch her under her chin.

  “All right, you fussy girl,” she said as she approached the bed.

  Mina lifted her head, and Penny obliged her by putting her fingernails to work. As she scratched, her mind wandered back to Flit. There had to be a solution to this problem—to Devlin, more accurately. She loved her brother, but really, he was being so barbaric about all this. Drake was a perfectly wonderful man. What could possibly be so awful about him?

  Penny smiled. Nothing. There was nothing awful about Flit with his stunning blue eyes or that smile that made her want to melt into the ground.

  “Meow!”

  “Sorry, Mina,” Penny said as she resumed her scratching. “I got lost in thought.”

  Mina’s only reply was a satisfied purr.

  “What do you think I should do, Mina?” she asked of her feline friend. “Perhaps I should send him a letter. No, you’re right. Devlin would probably intercept it and then he’d surely lock me in my room, allowing no contact with the outside world.” Penny sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Then should I wait to see him at a social gathering and sneak off with him to another private garden assignation?” She shook her head. “If someone saw us…”

  Penny sat thoughtfully for a moment, the wheels in her head turning. Suddenly, she turned to her cat, aghast. “No, no, Mina, that is an absolutely preposterous idea!”

  Penny knew the thought was her own, of course, but it was easier to pretend that it was Mina’s, no matter how silly it sounded.

  “I couldn’t possibly. Goodness, what would everyone think? And what if Flit turns me away? Too much could go wrong, Mina!”

  Mina meowed again, her tone implying that Penny was absolutely mad. And maybe she was, both for talking to her cat but also for actually contemplating this hair-brained scheme.

  “Mina, you are absolutely right. It’s time I stop letting everyone else run my life. Now, help me get dressed.”

  Drake stared at the ceiling above his bed and cursed for the hundredth time that night. Damn Devlin and his upper-handed nature. And his unforgiveable spirit. And his over-protectiveness of his youngest sister. Didn’t he know such behavior made Drake want Penny even more? That it was driving him to insanity thinking about the fact that he couldn’t have her, and making him think of ridiculous schemes to get her?

  He rolled onto his side and closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. It was past midnight and he planned to be up early to head for the country. He’d never be able to wake up if he didn’t fall to sleep right now.

  Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.

  Damn it all to hell! He threw the covers off of him and jumped from the bed. He lit the small lamp on the little writing desk and sat down to begin a letter.

  Dearest Penny,

  I am certain you know already that I have been forbidden from seeing you, and you cannot know the pain this has caused. I do not understand your brother’s decision, yet I must respect it. I have no other choice. He has threatened to call me out should I so much as glance your way. A bit rash, if you ask me, but I must admit, I’m a rather lousy shot. Were your brother to succeed in ridding the world of me altogether, I should not want that to be on his conscience, or yours.

  Please know that once upon a time, there was a gentleman who dreamed of loving you for the rest of his life.

  Yours,

  Drake

  He stared at the letter, wishing he could send it but knowing that if Devlin were to find out about it, there would be hell to pay. So he crumpled it up and then walked to the fireplace where a few embers still burned low. He tossed the letter in and let his head thump lightly on the edge of the mantel as he watched it turn to ashes.

  A light tap on his window, followed by another, drew his attention away from the fireplace. Had it started to rain? From across the room, he couldn’t tell, so he made his way to the window. But as he approached something came crashing through the pane, shattering glass all over the floor.

  What the devil?

  He rushed around the bed to the other window, threw it open, and called into the darkness, “Who’s there? Show yourself!”

  It was silent for a moment, not a sound or movement to be detected, until finally a slight figure, cloaked in black velvet, stepped out from under the tree into the moonlight.

  “Penny?”

  “Shhh!” she hissed back. “Yes, it’s me. Let me in, will you?”

  Dear God. What in all of heaven and earth had brought her to his window at this time of night? It didn’t really matter now, did it? He had to get her inside as quickly as possible, and then he could figure out what to do with her.

  He pulled his robe around him and tied the belt tighter than was necessary. It wasn’t easy to run through the house in his bedroom slippers, but he didn’t have time to don anything else. If anyone saw Penny…

  As he approached the front door, his housekeeper came bustling down the corridor, her keys clanking loudly at her side. Thank God. Drake hadn’t even thought about the fact he didn’t have the key to open the door.

  “Is everything all right, my lord?” Mrs. Farleigh asked, her pudgy face contorted with horror. “I heard all the commotion from all the way downstairs!”

  “It’s fine, Mrs. Farleigh. Just open the door, will you?”

  She went very still and quiet, her beady brown eyes blinking up at him. “I’ll fetch a footman, my lord.”

  “Oh, good God, Mrs. Farleigh!” He grabbed her arm as she turned to go. “Give me the blasted key. I’ll open the door myself.”

  “If you insist, my lord.” She fumbled for the key, and when she finally found it Drake rushed to open the door.

  Mrs. Farleigh let out a loud gasp when she saw Penny on the other side. “It’s a girl, my lord!” she exclaimed.

  “Yes, Mrs. Farleigh, I’m aware of that fact.” Drake pulled Penny inside and slammed the door shut. “Please bring tea.”

  “There isn’t time,” Penny said, bringing a halt to all the bustling activity of the last few minutes.

  Drake turned to her, his brows shooting up. “I wasn’t aware we were in rush, Miss Bartlett, seeing as it’s the middle of the night.”

  For the first time, Drake saw concern register on Penny’s face, as if she doubted her actions. And she should. What was she thinking coming here in the dead of night? He would find out soon, that was for certain.

  “Tea, Mrs. Farleigh,” he said definitively, and then he grabbed Penny by the elbow and ushered her into the small parlor just off the foyer. He closed the door, cutting off his housekeeper’s protests to their being alone, and turned to face Penny.

  He’d had every intention of scolding her for her actions, but when he saw her silhouette in the moonlit parlor, he decided he needed to do something else first.

  He crossed the room to her in a mere three strides, took her in his arms, and kissed her senseless.

  Not that she needed to be kissed senseless—she seemed to lack any sense as it was. But Drake didn’t really care much just then. Relief flooded his heart as she pressed against him and kissed him back. They drank of each other, as if they had been wandering the desert for years, so thirsty they were for each other’s kisses.

  Finally, Drake pulled back and pushed her away, remembering how foolish she’d been and how angry he was with her. “What the devil were you thinking, coming here in the middle of the night?” he growled. “Do you know the danger you could have put yourself in? Do you understand the repercussions if you had been seen?”

  “I wore my darkest dress and my black cloak,” she defended. “I was practically invisible.”

  Drake snorted. “You could never be invisible.”

  She clearly didn’t know how to respond to that, so she simply stared at him for a moment, before pressing on. “My brother has forbidden me from carrying on
a courtship with you.”

  “Yes, I’m well aware of that,” Drake replied gravely.

  Penny blinked at him. “He spoke with you?”

  “Just this morning. He threatened to call me out if I so much as glanced in your direction. If he knew about this meeting…”

  “He’d simply murder you in your sleep,” Penny finished.

  It was supposed to be a joke, but Drake didn’t find the situation funny in the least. He didn’t know how or why, but he was certain Penny was the woman for him—the woman who would make him happy for the rest of his days.

  But he had more than just himself to think about. He had a daughter. And he’d be damned if he was going to do something foolish that could leave her an orphan.

  He turned to Penny, the heavy feeling of defeat settling on his heart. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “But I can’t take that risk.”

  Penny’s sweet, pink mouth dropped open in shock. “But…”

  “You need to go home.”

  “But I don’t want to go home!”

  Drake tried not to smile at her petulance. Really, she was being a child. So why did he find it so endearing?

  “I know you don’t, and I don’t want you to either, but it’s what you must do.”

  She shook her head defiantly. “No. What I must do is convince you to leave with me.”

  Now it was Drake’s turn to be shocked. “I beg your pardon?”

  Penny closed the short distance between them, the swoosh of her crinoline skirts loud in the quiet room. She took his hands in hers and pulled him closer to her for a quick peck on the lips.

  “I’ve packed a few things, and there’s a hack waiting for us outside. He’ll take us all the way to Gretna Green. We just have to say the word.”

  Dear God. What was he getting himself into? Why was he even considering such a foolish trip? He barely knew this girl, yet he felt as though he’d known her his entire life. She would be the perfect wife for him, and while she was far too young to be a mother to Clarisse, she’d surely make a fine companion for her. She was everything he’d wanted and dreamed of for so long—an answer to years of tedium and loneliness and frustration at raising a girl all on his own.