A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 6

A Brave One

"Ooww!" Lucy shrieked in pain, rubbing furiously at the spot on her hips where the pin had pierced her flesh. She glared down at her sister's dark head bent over the gown she was pinning in place. "You pricked me again. This is the fifth time you have done this. Whatever is the matter with you today?"

Penny flushed and looked up, her mouth stuffed full of pins that she could only mutter something intelligible. She reached for the gown once more, but Lucy pulled away, pouting.

"No, no more. Especially if you intend to keep using those horrible pins," she muttered crossly, stepping down from the small stool on which she had been standing, moving closer to the looking glass to admire her dress once more.

"I honestly do not know why you are so distracted, Penny. You have been so moody all morning, not that you are cheerful at any time, but you hardly noticed when I dipped my bread into my tea at breakfast, and you always notice that."

Penny carefully took the pins out of her mouth and tried to rise, grimacing at the stab of pain in her right knee from staying in a kneeling position for far too long. The cold weather always awakened the old injury, and she had come to dread the coming winter months for this very reason. Glancing at her slipshod attempt at pinning the gown, she sighed. She would have to do it all over, something she most certainly did not relish.

"I'm sorry, Lucy," she replied. "I'm just a tad worried about Eddie is all. Have you seen him since breakfast?"

Lucy stared at her reflection, smoothing down the elegant skirt of the white gown. She smiles in utter satisfaction at the way the gown accentuated her ivory skin, the soft cloth gathers beneath the bust, setting off her bosom to full advantage.

"Eddie? He mentioned something about seeing to his traps. So perhaps he has gone there. I say, Penny, do you think you can finish making this gown by evening? I want to look splendid for the ball."

Penny felt contrite at once. That night was Lucy's debut, and she would not cast a dull cloud over it. "Forgive my moodiness, Lucy. Never fear, I shall finish the dress on time. All that remains is the ribbon at the waist. Come, I need to take out the pins on the left side and do them up again."

Lucy's face broke into a delighted smile, and she clapped her hands in delight, her eyes sparkling at the thought of the evening's delights. She remounted the fitting stool, barely managing to keep still while Penny took out the pins.

"I am so excited! This ball will be talked about for ages, and I certainly cannot wait to meet Lady Margrove's nephew. I hear he is an earl and quite rich. I say, Penny, do you suppose the Duke will be present? I certainly hope not. Mary says she has met the man, and he is absolutely unlikable, the sort to cast a dreadful pall should he put in an appearance. I hear he is quite handsome though..."

Handsome he certainly is, Penny mused as she carried on with the fitting. But he has such a cold, cold heart, probably as black as the hair on his head. An unbidden image of the man swam before her mind's eye, and she remembered marvelling at those wide shoulders that seemed as though they would rip the seams of his elegantly tailored coat. And he had nice hands too, even though she had only noticed them when he had grabbed her arm painfully.