A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 2

"Oh, Lucy!" Penelope sighed and moved towards the door, deciding that she would deal with Edward first before paying any more attention to Lucy's irritable habits.

"Personally, I think Eddie is being silly." Lucy rose to follow Penny, climbing the stairs and on to Edward's room. "Making eyes at an engaged woman is most absurd when there are more girls who are willing to lift their skirts should he even bother to ask. I have told him so numerous times, but does he listen to me? No, of course not. After all, I am only eighteen and a silly female, so my opinions could count for dust."

Penny prayed earnestly for patience, feeling exhaustion wash over her in waves. "Lucy, please stop talking. You are making things worse. And I am horrified to learn you have known about Eddie's trysts with that woman and have not even bothered to tell me about it. I shall deal with you later. Be sure of that."

Lucy's eyes sparked in defiance. "What good would babbling to you have done? You never listen either. You and Eddie treat me like a child most of the time, so I didn't see the point in telling you."

Penny muttered a soft curse under her breath and paused to glare at her sister. Lucy smiled guilelessly, pouting those lips that had inspired many a young lad to write sonnets in her honour. She looked so adorable and innocent that whatever scathing words Penny had been about to utter died on her lips.

She sighed instead and shook her head sadly. "Go see to supper, Lucy. The potatoes and onions need peeling, and please see that the pudding turns out properly this time? I need to speak to Eddie now, but I shall be down shortly to assist."

Lucy pouted prettily and stormed off without a word. Penny rolled her eyes and knocked on Edward's door. Hearing his reply, she opened the door and went in. Edward was seated at his writing desk by the window, scribbling something on a sheet of writing paper, the waning evening light forming a halo around his blond hair. He looked at her, smiling anxiously.

"Hullo, sis. What brings you to my room?" His eyes studied her expression, a worried frown crossing his handsome features when he noticed how worried she looked.

At twenty years old, Edward was the closest thing Penny had to a confidante. Most times, when the stress of running the household rested too heavily on her shoulders, Eddie had always stepped in to help. He was a good lad, having inherited their mother's cheerful disposition and, like Lucy, her fair hair and good looks that had every single young woman of marriageable age within a certain social class sigh in longing whenever he bestowed a smile upon them.

Edward paused to kneel before his sister as she perched on the edge of his bed, stunned into silence at his passionate words. "Jane loves me as I love her. I don't care what the world will say, but I have taken a solemn vow to find a way for us to be together. I cannot bear to lose her to that man."

Penelope heard these words in shock and dread. This had gone far beyond her imagination, quite far beyond anything she had previously thought, and it did not bode well. She shut her eyes and prayed once more for strength and wisdom on how to put a stop to a disastrous relationship. "Eddie, she is betrothed. To a duke no less. And she is a Viscount's daughter, far, far above our station and means. Society will never accept a union between the two of you. Please, I beg you to reconsider the path you wish to follow."

"I do not care about what society thinks. I love Jane and will have her. Society be damned!"

"Then I urge you to think of Lucy. She is due for her coming out ball and has high hopes of marrying a gentleman of high society. If you do this thing you have planned, her hopes will be dashed, for you will have ruined us all!" Penny said urgently.