A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 50

"Excuse me, but are you all right, Miss?" Her eyes shot open in surprise, and she found herself staring at the tall stranger standing only a few feet away. He was tall, even much taller than Phillip, and well-built with a full head of red hair and the most intense grey eyes she had ever seen.

"Miss?" he repeated, taking a step closer, his face furrowed in concern. Penny realized she was staring and blushed deeply.

"Yes, yes, I am all right. I was just getting some air. Thank you." He relaxed and smiled in return. "Good. I noticed you leaving in a hurry at the inn, and I wondered if you were all right. You seemed upset." "No, I am quite fine, sir." A particularly cold breeze washed over her, and she shivered, realizing she was not quite dressed for the outdoors. "I should be getting back though."

He noticed her shiver and nodded in agreement. "Aye, it is quite cold this morn. May I have the pleasure of seeing you safely back?"

A stab of apprehension filled her. Even though her reputation may be soundly ruined, she had no desire to compound matters by being alone in the company of a strange gentleman regardless of his good intentions. "Thank you, but I am certain I can find my way back easily."

"Of course." He bowed courteously. "Forgive my forwardness." She smiled briefly and stepped around him, hurrying back the way she had come. Occasionally, she would steal a glance behind to see him still standing by the tree, watching her.

The minute she entered the inn, Jane accosted her; no doubt the girl had been waiting for her return. Jane grasped her arm, her face white with fear. "You have to stop him! Edward had agreed to duel with Newbridge. You must stop him before he gets himself killed. Please!"

Penny stared at Jane in astonishment. "Edward agreed to the duel? What on earth was he thinking?" She did not wait for a reply but hurried towards the room, her sister-in-law right on her heels. "Where is he now?" "He is with your father. Sir Inglewood is trying to persuade him to rescind the agreement, but Edward is being horribly stubborn. He says he has to do this, but what happens if he is hurt? Phillip will surely kill him then. You have to do something!"

Edward had agreed to duel with Phillip? Penny thought in dismay, instinctively quickening her steps as horror threatened to overwhelm her. She had not considered that Edward would actually agree to the duel. "Where is Newbridge?"

"He left as soon as the agreement was concluded. Lord Henry went after him. I do not know where he has gone, but he can go to the devil for all I care."

The vehemence in her tone made Penny pause, and she cast a thoughtful look at the young woman who stared back at her defiantly. She could hear raised voices coming from behind the closed door of the parlour, and lifting her skirts, she hurried inside.

"Edward, how could you?" she berated him angrily. "You have endangered your life unnecessarily. Have you no thought for your family? For your wife?"

"There must be some way we can get the Duke to change his mind." Jane looked to Penny for help. "There must be something we can do."

Penny shut her eyes and thought for a moment. What could possibly make Phillip change his mind?

*********

Stranger

Dinner was a silent affair with each person lost in thought, mechanically filling stomachs though minds were far away. Penny glanced around the little group seated in the new private rooms her father had secured earlier and was grateful that tonight at least she would not have to deal with Phillip and his surliness. Now, if only he could be absent from her thoughts as he was physically, she would be content. But the looming danger of the duel weighed heavily in her mind as she pondered over and over what she could do to stop it.

The fleeting thought of disguising herself to take Edward's place crossed her mind, but it was quickly discarded. That was the stuff of those Gothic romances Lucy was so fond of. For one thing, Edward towered over her by a good two feet, not to talk of her limp. Phillip would see through her ruse, and a shudder passed through her as she imagined his reaction. All hell was sure to break loose, and goodness knew what he would do afterward. Besides, she had no knowledge of gun fighting or swords for that matter, and how on earth would she be able to convince Edward to let her take his place?