A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 23

After a few tries, they finally found the entrance once more. Penny cried out in relief and made to hurry out of the dreadful maze, but Phillip detained her.

"One moment," he said, touching her arm lightly. She looked at him askance, and he nodded towards the tiny gathering at the entrance. Penny looked and stifled a groan. Stuff and bother! This night was just getting worse every passing moment.

"You go first. Tell them you got lost at first, but finally found your way. I will remain behind until the excitement dies down so as not to raise questions. Be sure to mention you were alone the entire time."

He turned and disappeared back into the maze before she could respond. She sighed and prayed no one would notice anything amiss, then went stepped out to join the small group clustered at the entrance.

Edward noticed her first. He frowned and hurried over to her. "Where the devil have you been? We were about to go in search of you." "Don't use such foul language, Eddie," Penny replied sharply. "I went in search of you, of course. Then I, unfortunately, lost my way and had quite the time finding my way back."

Lucy and Miss Rosebury hurried over, the latter scanning the dim entrance. "Did you by any chance come across His Grace?" Jane asked, "Miss Lucy says he went in a few moments after you."

"No, I must have gone quite deep. I did not see him." Penny hoped her face did not give her away. As it was, she could not bring herself to look the lady in the eye, as guilt weighed heavily on her. She looked to Lucy instead and found her sister looking at her thoughtfully. She flushed guilty and almost groaned aloud as Lucy's face took on an expression of complete astonishment. Wisely, Lucy said nothing.

Jane turned to Lord Westbrooke and grasped his arm. "We simply must go in search of him. He could be lost, and it is so dreadfully dark in there."

Penny bit her lip and looked down, wondering how she could distract them enough to wander away from the wretched maze. Quite unexpectedly, Henry unwittingly provided a solution.

"Newbridge can look after himself," he said, giving Jane's arm a reassuring pat. His eyes fell on Penny briefly, and he flashed a knowing grin, provoking yet another guilty blush from her. He returned his attention to Jane and murmured, "Besides, I do not think he will be too pleased if we go in search of him. Come, my dear Miss Rosebury, it is almost time for the refreshments. We will await him at the table. Miss Inglewood, you will join us?"

Penny simply nodded, too embarrassed to speak. She simply allowed herself to be led away, Lucy and Edward trailing along. As they took their seats, she glanced back towards the maze. He had emerged but simply stood there at the entrance, his gaze fixed on her.

*********

"I wonder where the Duke could be," Jane murmured from her seat beside Penny. Penny turned to her, just in time to see her exchange a tender look with Edward. He smiled at her, his feeling for her so obvious; Penny's heart sank.

A footman appeared at Lord Westbrooke's elbow and murmured something. Henry nodded and rose to address the small group. "My mother wishes us to join her. I believe she wishes to meet Miss Inglewood."

"Of course." Penny laid down her napkin and rose, grateful to have a diversion. "I would like to meet her as well."

***

The petite, fair-haired woman majestically established in a wrought iron seat placed at the centre of the lawn whom Henry introduced as the Dowager Countess looked nothing like how Penny had imagined her to be. She still looked beautiful and even younger than her real age of fifty-five. Lady Westbrooke was surrounded by a small group of guests, but they all politely stepped, watching with curious gazes as Penny, Lucy and Edward, led by Henry joined the group.

Penny swept into a deep curtsy, wincing as her leg protested the posture, conscious of the older woman's intense study of her person. When she rose again, the Countess smiled at her and patted the empty seat by her side.