A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 15

"What am I to do, Betsy?" She sighed. "If I go to him, he will certainly try to lord it over me in that despicable way of his. But if I do not...I fear what he will do."

Betsy merely replied with a grunt, and Penny rested her head on her folded arms with a groan.

"Papa, you have to come home. This is so difficult to handle on my own, and Eddie is being mulish. I am at a loss on who to turn to for help, even doubtful if anyone will even come to my aid. You have to come."

She felt exhaustion sweep over her in waves. If only Eddie got over this infatuation, for that was what she believed it was-a mere infatuation-they would not be in this situation. Perhaps what she had to do was try to steer his attentions away from Jane Rosebury and focus them on some nice, safe girl who would be good for him.

She began a mental count of all the young ladies she could think off. There was Mary, Lucy's childhood friend, but Mary and Edward never seemed to get along, and besides, she knew her brother preferred fair-haired women whereas Mary was dark and rather plump. Then there was Kate Ingram...perhaps, but Eddie had never given the pretty blonde a second look, even though it was quite clear the girl was madly in love with him. Perhaps there could be some way to draw his attention to her? She could invite Kate over for tea next Sunday and try to play matchmaker.

She would recruit Lucy's help, of course; the plan would not work without her younger sibling's cooperation.

Eager to get on with her plan, she pushed off the fence and grinned at Betsy. "I believe there may be hope yet, Betsy. I can only pray everything works the way it is supposed to. But it is a good plan, isn't it?"

"Have you taken leave of your senses?"

Penny shrieked in surprise and turned hastily to see the Duke leaning indolently against the wall of the stable, a mocking smile playing across his lips. She turned beet-red in embarrassment, wondering just how much of her foolish conversation he had overheard.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at him to cover her mortification. Leaning there, she could not help but notice how out of place he looked in his immaculate outfit set against the farmyard.

He merely lifted an eyebrow at her tone. "I believe I asked a question first. Don't you know it is insufferably rude to reply a question with another?"

He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a halt beside him. The touch of his fingers burned through the thin sleeves of her blouse, searing her with a strange, pleasant feeling. Her emotion must have been visible on her face because he smirked in satisfaction and released her arm.

She resisted the urge to run her fingers over where his touch had burned her, unwilling to let him see how much the contact had affected her. She simply carried on walking, willing him to go away and leave her alone. She could not deal with him, not today, certainly not in addition to Lucy being miserable because the Earl had failed to visit as promised, Eddie keeping a stony silence, and thinking about Mr. Barstow's ill-timed proposal.

To her dismay, he simply carried on walking beside her, steadily unnerving her with his silence. She could feel his gaze on her, adding to her discomfort even further.

Finally, she could bear it no longer. "Well? Are you simply going to be silent?"

"I do not expect to carry on a conversation whilst you are supposedly working," he replied. "You just said you had no time to chat, so I am content to wait till you are finished with your chores."