A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 31

Seeing the woman's face cloud in confusion, she hastened to add, well aware of how strange it seemed that a duke and his duchess travelled without the usual army of servants. "That is, my maid took ill on the journey here, so I sent her home...with my...husband's valet for company."

Feeling flustered by the deception, Penny looked at the steaming bowl of soup, but her appetite had fled. However, she took the meal from her hostess and smiled.

"Thank you," she murmured, stirring the contents, the aroma wafting into her nostrils. "Do you know if the Du...my...husband returned yet?"

The woman beamed at her. "Shall I find out for ye?" "Yes, please. Thank you, Mrs?"

"Mrs. Potter, at ye service, yer grace. And don't ye worry about the maid. Our Molly will be right glad to serve you while ye are here." The woman dropped a brief curtsy and moved towards the door. "Molly will be back with some fresh water for ye. If ye need anything, just ask."

"I will. Thank you."

The minute the door shut, Penny set the bowl on the table and rose, hastening to the window. Her heart sank at the sight of the rain still falling heavily. She worried about Phillip; he was sure to take ill if he remained outside in this terrible weather. She turned from the window and hurried to the door, yanking it open and moving quickly into the hallway and down the stairs.

The innkeeper was busy issuing orders to his staff and welcoming guests in the main room, the place bustling with stranded travellers also seeking shelter from the storm but he hurried over quickly as soon as he spotted her descent.

"Your Grace! Is everything not to your satisfaction?" he asked, a worried frown on his face as he watched her come down the flight of stairs. "Do you require something perhaps?"

"No, no..." Penny hastened to reassure the man with a smile. "I simply wondered if my...husband had returned yet." The word husband seemed to stick in her throat, and she prayed to God to forgive her for the deception.

Mr. Potter shook his head and gestured outside. "No, my lady, he has not."

She blushed once more and rose hastily, feeling the burn of humiliation. He mocked her! Mocked her for showing some measure of sensitivity for his health. Dear Lord, the man was incorrigible.

"I simply wished to ensure you do not take ill, Your Grace. That would be a dreadful hindrance, and I would be loath to leave you behind while I continue the search," she said frostily, turning from him and striding to the bed to retrieve her box, stuffing the discarded contents back in hurriedly.

She heard him chuckle, much to her consternation. He was obviously enjoying her discomfort, the nasty man. Annoyed, she rounded on him and treated him to a scorching glare. "And I certainly do not appreciate the deception. We are not husband and wife, thank heavens. There was no need to lie to those people. What would happen if someone who knows you happens by here?"

His eyes darkened, and he leaned forward to glare at her. "Would you like to be branded a trollop, Miss Inglewood? A light skirt traveling not only without a chaperone but in the company of a gentleman. In his arms, no less. I lied to save your bloody reputation. Though it appears I should not have bothered."

Penny fell silent, hating that his words were true, and now she would have to apologize to the blasted man. Being used to acting as chaperone for Lucy and needing none for herself, she'd hardly given thought to how her journey would look in the unmerciful eyes of society especially in light of the scandal Edward and Miss Rosebury's elopement was sure to cause.. Fiona had tried to warn her, but she had been too preoccupied with worry for Edward to pay much attention. She cast him a covert look from beneath her lashes. He was busy undoing the laces of his boots, looking thoroughly displeased at the entire situation.