A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 49

His jaw tightened in anger. "You dare accuse me of breaking my word? You have deceived me with your acts of innocence when in truth you are nothing but a seductress..."

The sound of flesh striking flesh reverberated throughout the room. The imprint of Penny's hand burned bright red where it had struck Phillip on the cheek. She took a step back, her palm hurting from the impact, but that ache was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

"How dare you call me names when I have done nothing but try to protect someone dear to me?" Despite her fury, her voice was quiet though it carried quite well in the shocked silence that followed. The bright red imprint of her fingers stood out against his cheek, and she felt a measure of satisfaction knowing she had caused him some pain.

"I will have you know that I would rather submit to the most excruciating agony than ever agree to marry you," she continued, her tone cold with barely controlled anger. "Each moment I have spent in your company has been nothing but the deepest agony, and I am glad my torment has finally been put to an end. You sicken me, Newbridge, and I want nothing to do with you. But know this, my dear lord duke, I will not stand idly by and watch you kill my brother, for though I am but a woman, I will make your life miserable if you do anything to cause him harm."

Out of breath but triumphant, she spun on her heels and stalked from the room. Let him mull over that, she thought to herself in satisfaction.

Phillip watched her exit the room, the urge to go after her strong within him, but he resisted and instead, idly reached up to feel the spot she had struck him before soundly denouncing him. Oddly enough, rather than feel anger towards her, he felt something quite different, something he had no wish to put to real thought. For the first time that morning, he felt his resentment and anger dissipate into nothingness, and he cursed himself for allowing her opinion to hold sway over him.

"Well." Henry chuckled merrily, filled with admiration for the slight woman who had just soundly put the Duke in his rightful place. "If I weren't madly in love with her sister, I would have proposed right this moment. What an admirable woman!"

Edward shook his head slowly, still staring at the door his sister had just exited. "I have never seen or heard her behave like this," he murmured, a grin spreading across his lips. "Wonderful!"

"She is just as strong-willed as her mother," Sir Inglewood said gruffly, his chest puffed with pride for his eldest daughter. He turned to Phillip. "You, sir, are nothing but a mere scoundrel, and I was gravely mistaken in assuming you a man with any honour. You have called my daughter names and threatened harm upon my son. Granted, my son wrongfully went about wooing your betrothed, but to seek to rob him of his life is an action that is as abominable as it is cowardly."

Edward laid a hand on his father's shoulder. "No Father. His grace is not to blame. I would seek some form of revenge if I were in his shoes." He looked to Phillip, his expression contrite. "I have wronged you gravely your grace, I accept full responsibility for any action you wish to take against me." He stooped and picked up the glove. "You will name a time and place, your grace?"

***

Penny leaned against the tree for support and shut her eyes, taking in deep breaths of air in an effort to calm herself. After leaving the room, she had found herself walking past the now busy courtyard and out into the countryside, the fresh breeze and still atmosphere calming her down. Damn Phillip for his arrogance and pig-headed logic. He had no right to challenge Edward. Dear God, what on earth could she do to stop him? A wave of helpless fury washed over her. For she realized that despite her brave threats, there was precious little she could do to stop him should he insist on fighting Edward.

There was a flurry of movement behind her, and she opened her eyes. A tiny bird had landed on a branch right above her head and was regarding her curiously as though trying to decide if she was harmless or not.

"Appearances can be deceiving little bird," she muttered to the bird, wincing when it spread its wings and took to the air once more. As she watched it fly away, her gaze landed on a lone figure coming towards her, his great coat billowing out behind him in the breeze.

She groaned and shut her eyes again. What did Phillip want now, and how had he known where to find her? she wondered wearily. She had grown tired of his constant insults, and no doubt he had come to lash out at her for slapping him. She could hear the crunch of boots approaching and tensed up, ready to do battle once more.